"That's good," Ernie replied with an encouraging smile. "I know I'd go spare if I didn't get out at least once a week for something that isn't hospital-related. Least I can do is do the same for a friend."
He tilted his head to better see something he'd noticed from the corner of his eye, and grinned. "And speaking of 'taking you out', I think there's a bloke at that other table thinking of doing exactly that."