Last night I went to the newly emasculated Bushranger for the first time since its make-over this summer. I wanted to see what the food was like since the re-launch and also catch the Liverpool v Man Utd match. The food was very acceptable - tasty haddock and chips with a delicious rocket salad (since you ask). And the game wasn't bad, although Liverpool lost and Stevie Gerard broke the footballer's bone du jour - his metatarsal. But a strange thing happened early in the second half.

A woman on the table next to me leant over to ask a question:
"Did you come here tonight just to watch the football?" She said with vague incredulity.

"Yes - and to get a bite to eat" I replied.

"Really. You see I'm writing an article and I'm just looking around and its all men."

This was true.

"It's a bit worrying really".

"Worrying?" I couldn't really see what she was on about "You're worried about men going to watch football in a pub? Modern life must be simply terrifying for you."

"Oh it's not that." She said. "It's just a bit sad isn't it"

"Thanks very much"

"Oh no - not you.."

"Oh right - how do you figure that.."

At this point her companion returned and our conversation ended. But I was a bit taken aback. Did this woman think that she was on to something? Has she tapped into a zeitgeist defining truth about modern men - that single men go to pubs and watch football? Look for that exclusive in the Daily Mail sometime soon.

And where will she be off to next? I can see her down at the Last Night of the Proms asking incredulous questions: "Did you only come here to bob up and down and wave flags?"