SAT 28th FEB : LONDON versus NEW YORK DINNER PARTY

So a classic dinner party in Westbourne Grove was enjoyed Saturday night: turning up around 7.30, varied crowd of people all bringing more booze than is recommended for monthly consumption, chaps spend the first hour in the kitchen, the girls in the living room, dinner arrives about 9.30, boy girl boy girl, Thai curry, now onto the wine, some discussion against Atkins diet and the heavy night everyone seemed to have the night before, after dinner smoking marathon, marijuana and devil's dandruff, dice game, host collapses and is put to bed, concerns about running out of booze and cigarettes, they run out, too many taxis arrive, I get offered bed, hear the hostess retire upstairs and start giggling, a little tidying of cheeses, retire myself to find hostess collapsed on landing, 15 minutes of coaxing to get her to lie on bed across host, switch lights off, go find a hidden beer - just to get the edge off.

A little different to the dinner party I had in New York where we turn up (the Lady would only let me bring one bottle), we have to serve ourselves a drink, dinner is prompt, much discussion about the food and the Democrats, Lady tells me not to eat so fast, table is cleared, no more wine is offered (less wine having been poured than was brought to the party), the hostess yawns and slips into pajamas. Had to pop down to Bar & Books just to get the edge off.