A very quick meeting with Karl this past weekend

On Sunday evening, me and my partner were out at a restaurant in the Poole area.

We were seated and my partner quickly said: "Is that Karl Pilkington over there?"

Me: "Where?" I turned my head around to the area where she was looking.

Now, my eye sight isn't the best, but it's a smallish restaurant. He was part of a group of about six. However, I didn't want to stare, so I turned away.

My back was to them... my partner had the better view.

"What's he doing?"

"Staring intently at the menu... he looks confused," she replied.

Naturally, I wouldn't disturb someone while they're eating, so I didn't give too much hope to getting a photo or even a hello.

She gave me the odd update, but nothing really interesting to note. After our main, I decided to go to the loo, which conveniently gave the chance of a better look. I'm a tall man (6ft 5in) so I was hoping that'd garner a glance from the table, but nothing.

When I got back, I said to her "Yeah, has to be him. He lives here, right?"

Anyway, they left just before us but, again, I didn't want to turn around, so I didn't get to see much else. My partner mentioned that one of the party had a walking stick and was guided out.

When it came time to pay our bill, I asked the waiter: "Quick question – that was Karl Pilkington, just then? From An Idiot Abroad and did stuff with Ricky Gervais?"

He was young, so I think I took him by surprise. "Uh, I'm not sure..." Another staff member walked past at that point and he asked if she knew. She also wasn't sure, just that she knew one of them as a "Mr Jenkins" who comes with his family and guide dog.

They weren't much help. We made our way out front to try to get a cab, and to my surprise just ahead, Karl's group were standing about 50 yards away. I knew what my partner meant when she mentioned the individual who was guided out, he was obviously blind.

"That's weird, I said. Waitress said he had a guide dog, but it's just a group of people."

My partner nudged me. "We'll edge closer."

A car pulled up beside them and the blind man went first, helped by Karl. No time like the present, but as I got closer, the cold-night air brought a weird feeling.

The person who helped the man into the car definitely had too much hair and his height only reached the bottom of the passenger door window. He shut the door and I said "Hi, would it be alright if I get a quick pho..."

They turned around as I said this.

Only turns out, little monkey fella.