Drinks with Lord Mayor of Westminster

This evening was the Inter-Club drinks with the Lord Mayor of Westminster, held at Westminster City Hall.

I was late getting there, but given that the event was a champagne and canapes reception, I suppose I didn't have to be all that worried about being on time. Indeed, the event was in about perfect full swing when I arrived a half-hour late, and so I was instantly able to greet people I knew and start up conversations with new ones.

The Lord Mayor was much younger than I would have expected, although he said that was indeed why he wanted to have this event, to make sure that younger folks got a chance to come meet the Lord Mayor, and give him a chance to talk to people who weren't just old politicians. He was wearing a tailcoat and his funny medal that all Lord Mayors do, and it made me think of how funny it must be to be a Lord Mayor, and have to get dressed up in silly costumes all of the time.

He gave a short speech which was actually quite witty, but then I guess he's used to this, as he said he goes to about 1,000 events a year and gives about 500 speeches a year. I've no idea what the Lord Mayor really does, but it seems like a funny nice position to go to a lot of events! As for his own explanation of what the Lord Mayor does, he said that he's officially the first citizen of Westminster, which only really comes into play when going to church at Westminster Abbey, as he's the last person to arrive, and also the first to leave. Even to the point where he once held up the Prime Minster, as the stewards wouldn't let Gordon Brown leave, reminding him that the Lord Mayor of Westminster goes first!! (When he related that tale, he said with a chuckle, "I'm sure you're all Conservatives, so you'll appreciate this story." Indeed, I suppose it's a fair assumption when talking to a wealthy blue-blood crowd like ours!)

He also gave us tours of the plate room, which was a tiny little room full of various maces and other fine silver gifts. Kind of interesting in that it was behind a HUGE safe door, making me wonder how much all of the things in there were worth!

I wasn't overly impressed with the people there that evening, spending most of my time talking to old familiars. However I did meet one chap, Jordan, who was a barrister although also quite short. Yet he was such an engaging and outgoing sort, I couldn't help but find him rather attractive. Although when we were posing for pictures, he made a show of making me bend down and him standing on tip-toes...I think at a certain point you've just got to learn to be comfortable with your height!

After the evening began to wear down, a bunch of the guys suggested we retire to the RAC. So we all jumped in cabs and went to the Long Bar, where it was kind of interesting to see what the famous Long Bar was like. I don't know, as every time I go to the RAC, I'm impressed with how functional it is (it's actually got a multitude of places you could see wanting to spend time), but on the other hand, it's a bit too much like a high-end hotel. I suppose that it's a good thing that everyone likes their own club best, but give me the faded elegance and the grand chandeliers and the old library of the O&C any day! It's nice to go visit other places, but I love my place best.

In between conversations with all of the boys (who kept making sure we had plenty of wine), I actually had the most lovely time talking to a girl from the Lansdowne Club, who was an author of non-fiction children's books. At the moment she was writing a book on the history of baking, which I thought sounded absolutely charming. She was just fascinating all-around, as how often do you meet children's book authors?

I was surprised when the RAC started winding down at around 10:30 PM, and so, not wanting the evening to end too early, someone suggested we all go to Home House. So we all jumped in cabs and went there.

Home House was like nothing I'd ever seen before. After all, all or our clubs are lovely and grand places to spend time, but Home House was an absolute labyrinthine maze of rooms, with an old side and a new side, and each one an example of incredibly expensive and tasteful interior decoration. The whole place vaguely thumped with the sounds of DJ music, and yet there were quiet corners to be found everywhere. We passed through spas on our way to bars made of chrome that looked like futuristic cars, and then wandered up stairs with mobiles made of snare drums hanging in the middle. I find it hard to explain what a crazy place it was, but at that hour of the evening, it was just a surreal trip into a place I doubt that few members of the general public ever get to go.

I spent ages towards the end of the evening talking to a nice young man, Tristain, who continued in the usual pattern of all British men by talking to me for ages and then saying at the end of the evening, "I hope I see you again sometime." At this stage, should I be at all surprised?

Finally, it was getting late, and I know I was getting tired. Quite a few boys were insisting that I stay, but I was just so tired I slipped into the ladies, and then slipped out again when they weren't looking. Didn't bother with formal good-byes, as I didn't want to put up with the arguments to stay. Although then when I tried to slip out, I couldn't find my way out! (Yes, the place was that big and confusing). Luckily, I ran into a member of staff who seemed amused at my predicament, and showed me the way out. Saw the unlicenced minicab waiting outside, but I wasn't going to be a party to that, so waved a black cab down off the street. I guess we were further away from home than I thought, as the cab ended up going on the motorway to get home, but would you believe that he still dropped me at my front door for less than £20? (And very graciously waited until he saw that I was safely inside?) I love where I live, as it seems that in central London, you are never more than £20 from home!