The jolliest of lunches in the Turf Club, after a quick Progress around No 1. I say quick, it was actually a crawling hobble to take drink with William, who has reverted to proper food for his picnic at last. There was no Bento box of 8 different types of Sushi in sight, and of course, he produced decent fizz, Rose, and engagingly, for me, proper-size Gin and tonics. Then I bumped into the newly-weds, who had just arrived from France, but despite some two weeks of little sleep and much hooch, they looked fab. There was only one teeny flaw in their plans for ongoing chilled relaxation, which involved the Bride’s travelling bags being nicked from inside the other travelling bag. Passports, permits, licences, phones, and a portrait of your truly reading their wedding vows, all gone. I suggested that it was OK not to worry about the passports, because the picture of me is priceless… they seemed to think this unhelpful.
On the way back from them, I spotted the considerable picnic that Howdens Bloodstock was throwing for its clients. I waved a cheery Hail Fellow, but they blanked me, possibly and not unreasonably because I am not a client. However, I later learned that this five-day beano across three or four car parking spaces, aimed at glad-handing various client groups, did not include some of the oldest, wealthiest and longest-standing private insurance clients on their books. Frankly, they were miffed.
Then off to see the dazzling Nix, whose sense of mischievous innuendo is always a dangerous thrill. They had a tent and her daughter appeared to be feeding four different men of varying degrees of hunkiness. I didn’t stay, as there appeared to be some testosterone on display, or perhaps they were just hungry and could see the chilled prawns actually grilling on the plate in heat.
Then to a very generous lunch, full of cracking people, where I behaved very out of character and had vegetarian ravioli for a main course. Delish. Everything was excellent, but sadly the Scones served at Tea had first been seen at Waterloo and then reused as WWII munitions.
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