THEY were sitting behind me on the 9.30am bus from Pear Tree Park & Ride – Joan and Clifford, a Woodstock couple, enjoying the early months of his retirement from a lifetime in the car building industry. Tuesday is their regular day in the city.

However, Joan explained it was never an expedition where they held hands, wandering together from place to place like love-struck teenagers. He did his thing; she did hers, and they met for a snack lunch before going their different ways until an agreed hour for a return home.

She anticipated much would be happening in Oxford. For a start it was International Women’s Day; there was a Fairtrade event in the Town Hall, and it was Shrove Tuesday, so pancake races could not be ruled out.

He displayed a lack of interest in all three, especially the first mentioned. He made disapproving remarks, while asking when International Men’s Day would come round.

She ignored his comments but said she would pop in at the Fairtrade show because she had promised her granddaughter she would pick up literature for a school project. Besides, Fairtrade deserved support.

“See you at the usual place – 12.30 sharp,” said Clifford as we left the bus, naming a snack bar only yards away.

“No you won’t,” Joan replied firmly. “You’ll be at The Mitre in High Street at 1pm. You can treat me to a special lunch – with wine. After all it is International Women’s Day. A few flowers would also be appreciated.”

He sighed. She smiled. I chuckled.

SHROVE Tuesday had been given only a passing mention, but it was much in my mind. Not for its religious significance but for the pancakes that traditionally accompany the event.

But first I felt I should also see what was happening at the Fairtrade event in which the Midcounties Co-operative was playing a leading role. Like Joan, my social conscience was waving its flag.

The Town Hall Assembly Room and the Old Library were filled with visitors.

There were stalls, but not as many as I might have expected; a parade of Fairtrade clothes – the models recruited mainly from Oxford Brookes University by my chum Sarah from Indigo, a cocoa farmer from Ghana, explaining how Fairtrade had changed her life, and a display of African drumming, all adding to the feel.

Very interesting, but a special smell grabbed my nostrils: the unmistakable yet delicate aroma of pancakes. These were being dished out free of charge – with maple syrup, sugar, lemon, honey and ice cream – to all who would sample them.

There was no shortage of takers. Perhaps pancakes were a reward for my social conscience. On the other hand, perhaps not.