September brings one reluctantly down to earth. A gentle easing in is how I decided to do it via the FT Weekend Festival at Kenwood House. Nothing too heavy would do for the moment I decided. Not for me ‘So what does the FT really think?’ or Deborah Meaden on ‘Questions and business pitches at the ready?’. Not even ‘BREAKING NEWS on the FT Festival line-up! William J Burns, Director of the US Central Intelligence Agency and Richard Moore, Chief of UK Secret Intelligence Service’ – appearing together for the first time ever at a public event.
An Uber deposited me at the gates of Kenwood on Saturday morning and not long after I took my seat, zen-like, artisan coffee in hand, for my first speaker of choice – John Lithgow.
The lady next to me was on my wavelength: “Yes, I’m doing the same – going lite today” she told me.
I mentioned my itinerary which included ’50 Years of Disco’.
“That’s on my list too” she said. “I wonder when that starts from exactly?”
“I’m sure they’ll tell us – but it’s got to be before 1974?”
John’s mellifluous tones washed over me pleasantly: “Roald Dahl”…”The Royal Court”, and on 3rd Rock from the Sun: “The most fun you could possibly imagine: When does that happen now? .. It’s a milder drink.”
“What about Dahl’s antisemitism though?” Janine Gibson asked.
“Well, the play’s about the difficult and thorny issue of any person creating art” he replied.
Janine persisted on the same theme.
“You know, he struck me as an outsider wanting in – that heartburn in a person’s nature can be grounds for something else developing” JL replied.
Notions I’d had of side stepping the big stuff were showing signs of fading.
Continue reading “Facing it”
“I don’t know about you, but I feel like I’m on holiday, not in Maida Vale” I said to The Brunette – my dinner companion for the evening. Contemplating the decor of our newest local restaurant immediately imbued a sense of relaxation and calm. Dark wood, mirrored strips on walls – a nod to Japanese lacquer – minimal tables and a soupçon of light jazz to be heard in the background provided the comfort of the traditional with the frisson of the new.
Manners maketh man and most certainly add to the enjoyment of dinner out on a Wednesday night. Politely we were asked what we’d like to drink. We discussed the options with Toru the owner: “Try the sparkling Sake” he told us, “It’s light, not too strong, I think you’ll be okay.” He was right; gently floral, the colour of effervescent water it was to be relished for itself rather than any unwanted effects.
We took our food recommendations from Ken: “This is nothing special” he repeatedly told us. Yellowtailed carpaccio with truffle oil, grilled asparagus with sesame dressing defined with threads of chilli as a starter told us otherwise.
I woke surrounded by Tiger print. Red and pink Tiger print. Had it all been a dream? A glance at the receipt and an inspection of photos on my phone said otherwise.
I tweeted H: ’Unfortunately it’s sold, so I can’t get it for you.’
“It’s gives you a break, that’s the most important thing” Kamila told me as she explained the Jean d’Estrées Vitamin C Facial. “And, that’s what we’re about too, we like people to come here – men, women, couples, groups of friends, basically everyone can be together and get everything done. We’re like a one stop shop for relaxation through treatments.”
Conversations with Strangers 