It started with me bursting through the door and telling him a joke as he made my cuppa.
Lately we've been discussing all manner of things from the weather - "It's so cold I think the potato on my savoury might be frozen" - to politics - "Simon who?".
Then the other day he took things up a notch as I walked in. "I want you to find me a girlfriend," he said.
Now, obviously, I was a little surprised at the request.
Firstly, our relationship has not previously strayed beyond the professional, basically in case he is distracted and my mocchachino becomes a soy latte or some other insipid caffeine-based beverage, heaven forbid!
Secondly i wondered what about me made him think I would be able to fulfil such a task.
I mean, did he think my winter-sensible, fleecy-lined tracksuited appearance indicated I was some sort of suburban pimp wih a long list of ready, willing and able ladies to step into the role he was offering?
Having said that, my East End of London roots started rumbling deep within, and I spied an opportunity for gain.
"How about I find you a girlfriend and you give me free coffee for a year," I ventured.
"Six weeks," he shot back, deadpan.
For a brief moment a friend came to mind. She had casually mentioned a few days before it would be nice to have a special someone to share outings, go to dinner etc.
I wondered what she would think if it all panned out and she discovered I'd effectively traded her for six weeks of free coffee. I mentally slapped myself hard.
"Three months but with a potato-topped savoury thrown in" I threw back with a laugh as I gathered my cuppa and headed home.
Later I filled Mrs P in on the brief moment of jest and learned a bit of a valuable lesson.
Yes, she agreed there was a humorous side to the chat, but pointed out it was not really appropriate even if I viewed it as "guy talk".
She's right, of course. I do agree women have had enough and sometimes we blokes, even old farts like me who mean well, forget ourselves.
So in future i will try harder and try to stick to bringing jollyment (is that a word?) to our world.
But to sum up the little chat with my mate at the bakery. Quite simply it all boiled down to one thing. We both wanted something. I wanted coffee and he wanted a girlfriend.
Except I think he might have wanted a bit of sugar with his.
