Saturday night Mrs M and I were waiting for Mrs M sister to arrive in HK. While mooching around the IFC we decided to try the cafe which is part of the new cinema. We approach the desk and are told the tables are all full and we need to wait. We can see empty tables. We point out the empty tables. But you see those tables are only for dinner, not desert. So we are shown the 3 tables available for desert dining. This is 9:20pm. We can see one couple close to finishing up so we encamp next to their table, ready to pounce. I can hear the chocolate cake calling me, whispering what sweet delights it holds. The people at the table take their cotton-pickin' time. One goes to the bathroom. Then the other. My distress is made obvious to them via the ancient technique of loud sighs and stares. Eventually these people leave what by rights was our table 5 minutes ago. We sit and look for a waiter to order. Both Mrs M and I have sweet tooths and are keen to test the delights that await. The waiter comes. At first I think I mis-hear him. It's like he said they were closed. I ask again. Sorry sir but last orders are 9:30pm. It is 9:31pm. Yes, this is the same waiter who 10 minutes previously told us to wait for the table. The manager comes over. Surely you can squeeze our order in, we just want coffee and cake. No sir, last orders 9:30pm. But there were empty tables that were clearly not going to be used for dinner. That one there. And that one at the back. You could have taken our order while we were waiting. I'm very sorry but no more service. Mrs M and I have been in this situation before. There is no arguing. No reasoning. The place shuts at 9:30pm and that's it. Forget about the numerous patrons likely to look for a bit of cheesecake after their movie finishes at 11pm. We missed out by 1 minute and that's that. We get up to leave for some ice-cream at Ben and Jerry's instead.

And watch with a smile as the couple that had been hovering over our table sit down for some desert.