Do you remember how 'shocking' this photo was in 1983?


Gosford Park
Been a while but here’s some catch-up.
Played croquet at a big country house last weekend. There was Pimms, fresh chutneys and cake. On the way to the country we bumped into Nik Kershaw in the potted meats aisle of his local supermarket. I recognised his face but couldn’t put a name to it until DG (huge Kershaw fan and general 80’s pop aficionado) dropped his shopping basket and rushed over to Mr Kershaw and began to pester him to sign his DG underwear (he did the same thing to Howard Jones last year at the Caravan Show). Nik Kershaw popularised the snood during his 'spell at the top' in the 1950's but now only dogs seem to find the snood fashionable.
There was a horticultural quiz (which Darren won) and at sunset the hostess arranged for two gigantic hot air balloons to sail over us and drop scented petals into our hair.

On Sunday I did nothing. At all.

Yesterday I went to the ancient Indian city of Leicester. I met Paul Smith's accountant, I chastised an engineering company for dodgy contract dealings in Iraq and I nearly finished the first Lucifer Box novel on the train home. I wore a single breasted light grey suit (not Paul Smith) with black brogues.
In the evening mad Liz turned up with warm fresh-baked scones wrapped in a tea cloth (to stop them sweating). Liz is our favourite spinster and will be moving to Blackpool with us to be our live-in housekeeper.

It's Darren's birthday on Thursday so I'm just popping out to the Barbour shop to collect a pair of monogrammed green wellies I ordered for him.