In the pink

TheBloke (TM) and I don't get out by ourselves very often. However, this weekend, Mr and Mrs Nunn were visiting, which provided us with the perfect opportunity for them to have some quality toddler time, whilst TheBloke (TM) and I had some quality alcohol time.

We decided to go to a bar in London called The Alchemist. It makes what it calls "molecular" cocktails - all a bit Heston Blumenthally - lots of smoke and special effects. I am a sucker for a cocktail, and even more of a sucker if it does something interesting.

The only problem is TheBloke (TM). Neither of us are big drinkers, nor have an encyclopaedic knowledge of cocktails. I tend to stick to the firm favourites (Long Island Iced Tea - mostly because unit-for-unit, I reckon you get the biggest bang for your buck), whereas TheBloke (TM) likes to try something new.

No matter which country in the world we're in, no matter what the cocktail might be called... he ends up with the girliest-looking cocktail in the world. Now, you know me and my lack of fondness for gender-stereotyping; I can only assume TheBloke (TM) is channelling his inner feminist because no matter what he orders, it is always bright pink.

Desperate to break the curse, TheBloke (TM) has previously ordered the manliest-sounding cocktail on menus across the world: a gruff-sounding Caravan (pink), a Gunfire (pink with sparklers) and a Football (pink, sparklers and whipped cream).

This time, not to be fooled, deftly sidestepping such traps as cocktails called Bubble Bath and Wow Woo, he ordered a cocktail intriguingly called The Colour-Changing One. What could possibly go wrong?

It started so well! He was presented with a no-nonsense glass with a huge rock of ice in the middle. He was then handed two scientific beakers, each with a different coloured liquid. One was blue, and the other was clear. His instructions were to mix them. All he needed to make this even more brawny was a hi-vis jacket and some safety goggles. Because he is cavalier when it comes to safety equipment, he didn't even need these!

This is what happened when he mixed the two beakers.

Pink. Pink and bubbly.

Not to be outdone, his next cocktail was called Red Dead Zombie. Can't get gruffer than that, right? It was pink. Pink and bubbly. Again.

Mine, on the other hand, had a rugged piece of bark poking out.

I think it's clear which one of us is more feminine in this relationship. *scratches balls*