Sex Shops and Chick Peas

My office, Advent's office, in London is in central London in the city of Westminster. More specifically it's on Charing Cross Road near Oxford Street at the edge of Soho.

In London, Soho isn't short for anything like, for example, South of the Hoes. Rather, it has been historically known for being exactly where the hoes are. 

Soho is on the gritty side and has been for a long, long time. In days past it was notorious for skulduggery, thieves and prostitutes. It is the location that Robert Louis Stevenson chose for Mr. Hyde's hyde-out. Allegedly it still has hookers but I haven't seen any; I don't hang out much after work. There are tons of restaurants and pubs and live music venues including the legendary Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club.

Soho also has "Licensed Sex Shops" a.k.a. Ye Olde Dildoe Shoppes. Our office is right above one. 

I've been wondering what the process of certifying a sex shop for licensing would be exactly...

Inspector: Pardon me madame. I'm from the Ministry of Socially Accepted Perversion. I need to take a look around, if you don't mind terribly.

Shopkeeper: Please do. Always happy to comply with the Ministry.

Inspector: Very nice, very nice. Keeping the batteries fresh I see.. Oh no. This will never do. Look at the matted fur on these handcuffs. I'm going to have to write you up for that one.

Shopkeeper: Oh dear.

(The role of the shopkeeper to be played by Terry Jones in drag, of course.)

My favorite thing about Soho so far is the abundance of vegetarian-friendly dining. My favorites are a place called Beetroot (note how they reward the word "beet" with an extra superfluous syllable). Food for Thought - a very hippy traditional vegetarian vibe - and another spot called Hummus Bros. These "bros" have the best hummus I've ever had. They make the staff wear t-shirts that read "Give Peas a Chance". I sort of want one but I'm pretty sure the request would be frowned upon by the skinny pea-ladling hipsters behind the counter. 

I love the chick pea.