Friday 13th November, 2015

I think you will agree that I hardly ever whinge, but I have to tell you I’m a bit knacked today.  Long old week.  Doesn’t help that I went back and forward to Edinburgh twice.  Even though I managed to avoid having to go for a run up Arthur’s Seat on Monday morning with my nephew and the fact is of course I love going back to my homeland, putting that Scottish accent on when I’m there takes it out of me a wee bit I don’t mind admitting.  Anyway, if you’re in Edinburgh and havn’t responded yet plans for my party on the evening of the 3^rd December are shaping up well, by which I mean I’ve managed to secure that case of Chasse Spleen 2000, persuaded the curry house to let me bring it in and now all I need to work out is how I’m going to avoid a diplomatic incident when I insist on opening and decanting it myself….there’ll be sediment you see.

Talking of parties, and my, how I enjoy moving from the sublime to the ridiculous, daughter number 2, Jimmy, was back from Bristol for a few days on a “reading” week the first half of which was spent on a jolly in Amsterdam.  But she seems to be working very hard now, manfully tackling an essay on Iconoclasm without asking me to write most of it.  Armed with a degree in Archaeology and Anthropology the world will of course be her oyster and last weekend I thought the moment was ripe for a discussion on what she was thinking of doing when she graduates in 18 months time.  I shouldn’t have really.  “I’m going to learn some real life lessons” she told me.  Her very words. I braced myself.  “I’m going to live in the Caribbean for two to three years.”  Oh man.  What is it about my kids?  

I suppose I should have realised something like this was on the cards.  For some time now she’s been convinced she’s a Rastafarian trapped in a white girl’s body and spent a decent chunk of her gap year on the beaches of St. Lucia ( not saving turtles ).  In my defence this weekend she’s heading up to a 21^st birthday party of a friend of hers who lives in in Castle Howard ( dress theme Surreal ) so I might be forgiven for thinking she was becoming more “Establishmentarian” if you will allow me to use the word a little liberally.   Anyway, her 21^st is also coming up shortly and I’ve hatched a plan.  Jimmy doesn’t know this yet so if you see her, mum’s the word, but I’ve booked a table for Sophie and me, Jimmy and a bunch of her friends at The Plantation Caribbean Bar & Restaurant in Bristol in a few weekend’s time.  Maybe you’ve been there?  Ackee and Salt Fish, Jerk Chicken and Coconut Pancakes, jugs of Rum Punch and at 10pm on come Dappa Don and The Playaz, Bristol’s best known reggae band.  Now that’s a party.  Bridehead Revisited eat your heart out.