We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember Jon Fairbairn
saying something like:

As in helping two surfaces to 'mait' or join together, the play on words
being 'mate' or assistant.

You mean, the play on words is exactly the same as if it
were spelled "Plumber's mate"?

Sure it's not "Plumber's Moat"? An ex-plumber MP with a country house,
perhaps.