Moveable Feast at the Lansdowne

Tonight was the Inter-Club Moveable Feast at the Lansdowne Club, an event we all weren't even sure was happening until a few days in advance of it. Despite applying for tickets nearly a month before, the club didn't get back to us until Monday to let us know the dinner was on for Thursday. How odd!

Still, the dinner was on, and although my friend Doro wasn't going, she still had fun teasing me about it, saying on the morning of the event, "Fingers crossed the Landsdowne will throw you in the arms of a good catch. And, I still maintain that Super Social Scottish Guy has a bit of a thing for you."

I laughed and replied that of course I knew that Super Social Scottish Guy has a thing for me, as he always finds some excuse to get in touch with me and confirm that I'll be at every event he goes to. Indeed, shortly afterwards, I replied to her, "Just got the requisite FB chat message from Super Social Scottish GUy before the event... "Please remind what time our romantic date at the Lansdowne starts 2nite?"

Argh. I really hope I don't have to outright shoot this boy down at some point, as it would kill me to do that...awkward all around!"

So, my plans were settled for the evening, I was going to try to avoid the Super Social Scottish Guy as much as possible! In the end, I barely spoke with Super Social Scottish Guy all evening. I don't think I was actively avoiding him, but I definitely didn't make a huge effort either. I didn't just want to have to face any awkward situations...

Although, it was not like he was the only one finding weird reasons to get in touch. As I was getting ready to go out, I was surprised when my phone rang, and it was the Young Dutchman calling! Asking as well what time dinner was, and telling me that he'd be delighted to see me there.

Indeed, he was the first person I ran into as I came in the door, and just enjoyed chatting with him for a bit there. He's such a sweetie, I adore him so.

As for the dinner, it was a really good time, excellent for socializing and meeting some new people. Admittedly, in terms of
meeting eligible young men, I totally struck out. The first guy I sat with said, "Oh New York! I actually proposed to my fiancee at the top of the Empire State Building, so it's a really special place for us!" (He was to my left. On my right was Italian Guy, who is one of my favourite people to talk to, but he got stuck in conversation with the girl on HIS other side, so we didn't actually get to catch up until after the dinner). So anyway, not much of a connection there, but oh well, onto the main course...

So the chap who sat down next to me to my left excitedly exclaimed once he realised I was American, "Oh that's brilliant, as I've just finished my A-levels and was planning on applying to some American universities!" Okay, strike out two, although we did have a nice time talking about my undergraduate institution, Dartmouth, which is always a fun topic of conversation for me. (On my right was Mark, a member of the Hurlingham who I've met at the Lansdowne before, and was on his way towards engaging in his usual pattern of getting totally blotto for the evening, and therefore not really worth talking to). Now, onto dessert.

On my right was a young chap from the O&C, and he claimed not to be much involved but wanting to get more so. Alas, I'd stupidly forgotten to bring business cards with me, so I stole his name card and then sent him a friend-request the next day on Facebook. He took ages to get back to me but eventually did so, hence that's one more O&C member for the roster!

On my left was a guy who I actually had a fine time chatting to, so much so that at the end of the dinner we were actually one of the few remaining at the table just continuing to chat. At which point he said, "You're fabulous! Would you mind if I introduced you to my wife?" Ah, so it was strike three for three!! (His wife was lovely as well though!)

And hilariously, everyone I met that night sent me a friend-request on Facebook the next day, and I was having an amusing time watching my news feed, as tons of other people sent each other friend-requests as well. It was apparently a good evening for getting to know each other!

Poor Tristan arrived just in time for after-dinner drinks, as apparently he'd been stuck in his office the entire time and had
missed the whole thing! He was so annoyed, but hopefully calmed down after a few drinks...

I spent most of my time talking to Italian Guy, who was absolutely cracking up when I once again related the story of the guy who was terrible in bed. That may have gone spectacularly horribly as a relationship, but I must admit I've gotten some great cocktail party stories out of it! Manolo was doubled-over, saying that I had to write a book of my adventures, as he didn't know anyone who had such good stories as I do...

At the end of the evening, packed Tristan off in a cab with Sarah Walker (I always think the two of them would be a brilliant match, but I've never gotten the impression that anything has gone on between the two of them), and I found myself sharing a cab with a few other folks headed towards South Kensington and Earl's Court.

Weirdly, the traffic was horrific, due to some construction happening around Knightsbridge. So after we'd been stuck in the cab for over £10 and just made it out of the tunnel under Hyde Park Corner, we got out, and I found myself walking nearly the entire way home with a nice young chap who also happened to work for Accenture. We had a great time bitching about the company, and just generally had a nice late- night walk home. I gave him my name so he could contact me on the company e-mail system, which he did later the next week (although seriously to talk about work!) Oh well, but it was a pleasant evening overall!