Heidi has ever jolly this week.  Still trying to master moving in some direction, she perseveres.  She really is pushing those little legs but the ground is too “sticky” for her to move forward.

 

We received an invitation a couple of weeks ago, to go to the CLIC Sargent Ruby Ball this weekend, which was being held at The Brewery in London.  Rachel wanted to stay and look after Heidi, so Frances agreed to accompany me to the capital.

 

Friday 21 November 2008 saw us head from Yeovil Junction to London Waterloo and then tubed across to the Travelodge, not far from the venue.  Amazingly, we arrived there in good time (given the circumstances) and got changed into evening dress and arrived promptly for the “unlimited champagne reception” following a short trip in a taxi. There were a few people already there as we walked up the red carpet into the Reception area, so we were not the first.

 

Up the large staircase to the Reception, we consumed a reasonable amount of champagne, which required our glasses to be refilled regularly.  Not too much though. There were magicians wandering around joining various groups of people to do some tricks and Jamie came to us.  He performed a few simple ones that were fascinating to watch as he was so close.  He even slowed down the tricks so we could try and see what he was up to, but still he got the better of us.

 

One of the best tricks was that Frances held a pack of cards in the palm of her hand, whilst he tried to distract us.  Still holding the cards in her palm he asked “where they were now?” to which she replied “in my hand.”  He asked if she was sure and she said yes, only to find  some seconds later that he’d replaced it was a block of glass…..  amazing really and good fun.  He also had a wallet that when he opened it a big ball of flame went up into the air, and I want one of those for Christmas.

 

There was a photographer there taking photos, and printing them on to an OK! Magazine template, and you dropped a donation in the wine bucket which was stuffed full.  After some confusion we walked away with three copies as one went missing for a bit, and more was printed out.  There is one on this ‘blog anyway.

 

We started to meet some CLIC Sargent staff and we were introduced to Wetherspoons staff whose table we were on.  It was nice to chat to people about the article and Fred, and everyone seemed pleased we were there.  I understand that there was an increase in direct debit instructions to CLIC Sargent as a result of the articles and that there had been two “significant” one off donations recently too.

 

At 1930 the curtains went back to reveal the dining tables and so we went down.  Food was really good and comprised starter of mature feta, wood roasted pepper and sweet potato terrine served with a bloody Mary shot; main was daube of British beef with crushed potatoes and shallots, served with steamed root vegetables and a red wine jus; and dessert was chocolate and praline cheesecake served with chocolate and mocha kernel  All washed down with red and white wine by the bucket load.

 

We all entered the £20.00 draw which amazingly costs £20.00 for a ticket.  Frances won a prize of a bottle and gin and bottle of vodka which she kindly shared with me.  Both bottles remain intact though as there was plenty of other refreshments around.  I had the Millers 1L gin.

 

After dinner there were guest speakers whom  were very interesting and later an auction went on.  The Bogus Brothers came of for some dancing and then the evening finished with a DJ until we were kicked out at 0100h.  Always good to be one of the last I think, and keeping on our family’s tradition.

 

Tired (but not hung over) we headed back on the train at 0920h on Saturday and I got back home at 1400h, and went to bed for several hours.

 

June, Rachel’s mum has been down this weekend to assist with Rachel and Heidi and they have been out doing Christmas shopping so the office at home looks like a department store stock room.

 

Heidi has enjoyed all the activity immensely and I reckon will be crawling in the next few weeks.  She will also hopefully accept Christmas lunch not pureed, but mashed finely but we will see at what speed she will go at, as she sets the pace in the house now.