Still here

Apologies for the lack of posts the past month. The last few weeks have been hectic and I'll be back posting a few items over the next few days.

Fear not - am still alive!

Where's Christopher Robbin and Alice?

Have to say that yesterday I went to one of the most surreal things I've ever been to. For a variety of reasons I was invited to a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace...

Now, it's really not my kind of thing, but the invitation was for me plus guest and figured it would be sort my Mum would love. Dress code is lounge suit, morning dress or military uniform (no medals) for men, and suitable dress (trousers suits are allowed) and hat for the ladies. Chains of office can be worn!

So, with invitations in hand we join an incredibly over dressed queue and enter the Palace via the front gates. It's a strange event. There are hundreds of people and it's rather like a society wedding without the service. We have a wander and get some sandwiches (cut into fingers, no crusts), some cake (the chocolate cake is lovely and is complete with a little gold crown on top) and a cup of tea (special Twinnings Royal Garden blend). The Queen appears and does a walkabout, chatting with various predetermined people. Mum manages to get quite close and has a good view of the Queen. We are both a little amused that my Mum has the same hat as 3 others standing near her in the crowd - she must be lot more trendy that she thought.

We have a wander round the grounds - which are lovely. Most women, Mum included, take the opportunity when having a stroll to take off their new shoes for a moment. It is a little amusing to see all these women, hatted and in new outfits, nearly all taking off their shoes for a little respite from the standing around.

We wander back to get a cold drink and before you know the National Anthem strikes up and it's time to leave. We walk out through the front gates of the Palace to the bemused looks of gawking tourists and head, along with several others, for a very overdressed stroll through St James Park.

A pleasant afternoon - not really my thing but I'm glad I've been. Weather was warm, and those in military uniform or top hats must have been sweltering - especially the Yeoman of the Guard as many of them weren't exactly in the first flush of youth.

Overall, it is a surreal experience - not least because of the music selection of the band. You'll be stood having a cup of tea listening to some Mozart. That will end and the next tune will strike up - hold on, that's a Beatles medley containing When I'm 64, Sgt Pepper and With a Little Help From my Friends. Then there'll be some more chamber style music, followed by the Lambeth Walk or Living La Vida Loca. The most bizarre was walking through the gardens and suddenly realising the band were playing Staying Alive - perhaps Her Majesty is a secret Bee Gees fan.

High Fashion

On the way back from Birmingham popped into the Bicester Outlet Village. No particular reason other than to break the journey.

Walking round something caught my eye. The were a small group of women wearing full traditional Muslim dress, complete with the veil. That in itself was nothing strange, not even in Bicester Outlet Village. What did cause me to raise a wry smile was they were carrying loads of bags from all the high end fashion stores - Calvin Klein, Jimmy Choo etc. Couldn't help, given their attire, but wonder why spend the money?? Presents??

Tonight, Matthew, I will be Noel Edmonds

Did my 'riveting' 30 min slot on the induction course at work - day 2 and the 'prime' post lunch spot for half an hour on financial management is always a tough sell.

Highlight was when the phone on the desk rang - in true Deal or No Deal style - half way through my talk. Ought to make it a regular occurence for this slot!

Fat Pig

Toddled along to the Trafalgar Studios last night to see Fat Pig, the play by Neil LaBute. Set in America it's a four hander about how friends react when a bloke dates a 'big boned gal' - it also looks at how he deals with it, does he admit that the large lady is his date?

It's an interesting and funny piece; much of which is due to the quartet of fine British actors as the actual characters are pretty vile. Neil LaBute is a writer who can divide opinion - many think he is simply honestly highlighting much of what happens in the real world, other feel he's a misogynist.

An added bonus for this performance was a Q&A session after the play with LaBute and the four actors with the somewhat 'inspired' selection of Venessa Feltz as the chair. To be honest it was poorly handled by Feltz who let the audience, especially one or two people, to be far too vocal. I'd much rather have heard more from LaBute and the actors rather the vague pretentious twaddle of some of the audience - especially as LaBute and the actors came across as witty and intelligent, well aware of the issues the play threw up.

The cast are excellent and contains Kris (BT ads) Marhsall, Robert (Mitchell and Webb) Webb, Joanna (Gavin and Stacey) Page, and Ella (not sure) Smith. Webb and Smith are particularly good as the main couple.

You may not agree with LaBute - and the play has an honest rather than happy ending - but he raises an interesting issue; a man would get a lot more grief from his friends for going out with a fat woman than a woman would for going out with a fat bloke. The fat bloke in me is grateful - but that doesn't make it right!

British Grand Prix - Race Day

Back to Silverstone for the race!

Things are different to yesterday. Firstly we had to queue to get in to the car park - being sat stationary for about 15 minutes wasn't too bad, but it signals the day will be different with the bigger crowd.

Secondly, the weather. It is wet and windy! Very windy, which makes the rain seem a lot worse. Our seats are excellent - we are on the pit straight level with about the 15th/16th on the gird and we are on the very last row. This gives an excellent view - we are also bang opposite a large screen TV so can follow the race - but offers no protection from the weather. At all! The wind is straight at us and watching the short the GP2 race makes us very wet. Amusement is offered by someone in front - dressed only in jeans and T shirt - who tries to ease into a bin liner to offer some protection from the rain. He seems to have forgotten to bring XXXL.

We go and find some shelter and fortify ourselves with yet more sausage based meals. Slightly less damp we settle in for the race. Ever in support of the underdog I decide to cheer on Force India - they seem to need it - and I was disappointed at none of the merchandise stalls could I buy any Force India stuff. Surely a missed opportunity for them.

The race is noisy - you can't quite appreciate just how noisy 20 F1 cars can be - and although the weather is foul from a spectator point on view, it makes for a great race. Cars are spinning, tyre strategies come into play, and David Coulthard - in his last British GP - doesn't even make it round one lap. Force India start well but don't finish.

In a masterpiece of wet weather driving Lewis Hamilton wins. The crowd go mad and heave a collective sigh of relief when he takes the chequered flag - he's been miles ahead but throughout the race you just have a sneaky feeling he's going to have a rush of blood to the head and spin into a gravel trap at any moment.

Overall a great day and, though damp, really enjoyable. Silverstone as a race track is excellent, but as a spectator facility is poor. Some of the logistics seem to be run by people lacking common sense - when leaving the crowds are delayed by several bin lorries parked and taking up half the pathway which just seems stupid - and it simply can't cope with 90,000 people. We make a swift exit but get stuck getting out of the car park for about half an hour, which is pretty good - though I later learn that someone else I know spent a lot longer trying to leave! It's a pity really that the circuit so poorly serves the spectators as the actual track allows for great racing and the place if simply stacked with history - it's just not fit for 90,000 and they ought to visit other venues, like the Millennium Stadium, to see how things can be done (although not the new Wembley which is, considering the money spent, actually quite poor for fans). Nonetheless, a fascinating couple of days and thoroughly enjoyable - well worth the effort, and the rain!

British Grand Prix - Qualifying

Somehow I've ended up at the British Grand Prix!

Once again spare syndrome has struck. Last week I was told there might be a spare ticket going for the Sunday - eventually turns out the tickets are for the whole weekend! So, rather earlier than is strictly necessary on a Saturday morning, I head up the M40 to the old airfield on the Bucks/Northants border that is Silverstone.

I'm not really a petrolhead - the occasional viewing of the World Rally Championship or Top Gear is as far as it goes for me - but the person I'm with knows their stuff and so I won't be ignorant the whole weekend.

The weather is breezy but apart from a brief shower it is dry. Silverstone is flat and the wind means that the weather barrels across the sky at great speed. It's reckoned about 60,000 turn up for qualifying day and the place is comfortably busy - quite how it will be tomorrow with the capacity 90,000 will be interesting. Although we get in (and leave) very easily I can already foresee problems with larger numbers. For example, the male toilets are incredibly badly designed with only one entrance/exit - they look new but have the owners not been to other stadia to see how best to design such places? And if you're a vegetarian then you are screwed re catering - most food on offer seems to be a variation of sausage.


The weekend is against the background that Silverstone has lost the British GP to Donnington Park - mainly to do with facilities. It seems as pity are the racetrack is excellent - it's one of the few in motor sport that allows overtaking - at the sight lines are fine. The number of helicopters flying around is incredible - every UK based chopper must be here.

An interesting day, but who knows what tomorrow will bring - especially looking at the weather forecast!