In the previous episode:  Yukker, Beer & The Black Panther [Part One], Mephisto meets Yukker, an expat from Yuksland.[United Kingdom, England to be precise]. Mephisto recounts his meeting, first impressions, and being inducted to inebriated Friday nights, that lead up to the sorry saga that is about to unfold in this post.

This was not the first time Yukker has been to Australia, he had been out two times before, only this time the move is permanent. Not working, not knowing anyone, and feeling lonely he started hunting down the bars and watering holes in Sydney. He discovered joys such as The Lord Douglas, The Lord Dudley, The Clock Hotel, The Zanzibar, The Arthouse Hotel, Lowenbrau, and The Fringe Bar, where today’s sordid tale started.

So Chereme, to continue the tale, it was Friday afternoon, I cannot remember the exact date, but it was in June, last year. It was a sunny day, a few weeks out from Yukker’s impending nuptials [and bucks party]. I met Yukker at The Carriage Works,  and we drove to Paddington, where he parked his car in the backstreets, before we lobbed ourselves off to The Fringe Bar. It was 4 pm, and the working day has not yet finished for the majority of the masses, so we had the backroom to ourselves.

We started with a schooner. You know what a schooner is don’t you Chereme? You’ve been out here, you must have drunk one? Anyway, it was a schooner to get the party started, and away we went. To break the monotony of schooners, Yukker handed me the drinks menu, deferring to my knowledge of Australian wines and my good taste, I picked a bottle. This was quickly followed by more schooners and a round of shots.

“Ooh!” I hear you say.

“Well, yeah! What can I say?” And so we continued with the schooners, another bottle of red, and and another round of shots. I couldn’t afford all these drinks, and Yukker was shouting, so I just ignored my guilt and, and…before you know it, it was 8 pm, the room was filling up and Yukker was bored. He wanted to find another bar.

Yes, another bar. I was in for a rude shock.