Blog Archive ~ June 2010
Draft No.11
I've just arrived back from Majorca, having spent sixteen days working on the 11th draft of Only Time Will Tell, the first volume of The Clifton Chronicles, which I think, though nothing is set in stone, will be published next March. I go away again in a couple of weeks time, to do what I call a final read-through, before it's seen by the publisher.
It's a mad, mad, world
I attended the Mad Hatter's Ball at the Hurlingham Club last night, and conducted the auction on behalf of The Children's Trust, Tadworth, for children with multiple disabilities, which raised £23,500. One of the Lots was a male model who would have lunch with any lady who bid the highest. 'Desmond the Hunk', who doubles in Bond films, went for £1,250 to a very attractive blonde whose husband not only thought it was amusing, but paid the £1,250.
Developments at Addenbrooke's
My wife Mary is Chairman of Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and last week opened the hospiThe weekend starts here
On Friday afternoon I visited the London International Fine Art Fair at Olympia, and at one point wondered if I was having a private viewing, it was so empty. I left feeling some concern for the exhibitors who, with only a few exceptions, must have had a disastrous week. I travelled on to Cambridge, and on Saturday it was non-stop.
An early start
On Sunday, I returned to London to do Andrew Pierce's LBC radio show, and expressed the view that for me hasn't changed since election day, I would have preferred Cameron to have led a minority party in the Commons, which I believe Labour and Liberal together would have been embarassed to bring down, for fear the British people would not want another election.
Old Boys and Old Masters
Attended my Old Boys (Wellington School, Somerset) lunch at the RAF Club in Piccadilly yesterday. The guest speaker was that magnificent actor, David Suchet. He told us that he looked upon himself as a character actor, and because of his looks he could never hope to be a Hollywood sex symbol.
From Majorca to Stratford
I'm just back from Majorca, having completed the 11th draft of Only Time Will Tell, the first volume of The Clifton Chronicles, which now goes to my line editor who has the terrible job of picking up any factual mistakes, for example, names of airports, dates of historic events, and even capitals of countries etc.