After The Party

There were a number of things I had planned to do today, not least go through the notes from Adrian Mead’s Insider’s Guide to TV Drama class, held last weekend, and see if there was anything other bloggers had missed out in their posts about the day. As it is, today has so far seen me coping with the clocks going forward to herald the start of British Summer Time, as well as recovering* from celebrating Henry’s birthday party last night.

Last year I posted:

Everyone should have a friend like H. He’s one of those people who doesn’t seem to have any axes to grind and instead simply gets on and enjoys life.

and it still holds true.

He had hired both floors of a charming little pub in Westmoreland Street, sandwiched between Marylebone High Street and Harley Street with a buffet and a free bar provided for his very wide circle of friends. There were people there from his first job over twenty years ago, from his current job, all mixing with friends and family. From his media work there were the usual writers that congregate when he meet up for the odd drink or two, our friends from the BFI and Granada, along with actresses from the Carry On films and a couple of Bond girls, making it a very eclectic mix.

Amongst the guests was the agent whose Actress Client still wants me to help write her autobiography. They’ve been trying to find a window when the three of us can get together. Hopefully it’ll be soon. Also present was the delightful Julie Stevens** who recently decided to sell up and is in the process of moving to Provence. So this was something of a farewell, at least for now. After saying her goodbyes late in the night, she mentioned to one of the other guests that she was “sad to leave her boys behind”. Having given us her new address in France, it means there’ll be cards and flowers waiting to greet her at her new home.


* Having drunk two pints of lager shandy before switching to soft drinks... What a lightweight.

** Known to fans of The Avengers as Venus Smith – who alternated with Honor Blackman’s Cathy Gale as Steed’s partner in the early episodes of the show’s second series – and as a presenter of Play School and Play Away to everyone else of a certain age.