Well, had a splendiferous evening last night at the Orwell Shortlist. Commiserations to good mate and comrade, Madam Miaow aka Anna Chen and also to Laurie Penny. The winner was Winston Smith blog. The night was good, the free booze flowed as did the conversation.
Splinty Sunrise bought the latest tome by Peter Hitchens (Hitchens…. won the journalism prize!!) which was duly signed by the man (Splinty clutched that book like his life depended on it though I suppose I did threaten to pinch it and sell it on ebay). Raincoat Carl the Optimist also bought Kenan Malik’s book that was also signed by the author.
I was rooting for Freedom for Sale by John Kampfner to win the book prize (his previous book, Blair’s Wars was excellent). Alas, he didn’t win. I have to say Raincoat Carl the Optimist was very inventive in making up words though that’s probably known as slurring your words (sorry comrade but there were some crackers you came out with!)
I was fascinated by the ceiling in this room where the event was held
The Left blogging contingent left the gathering as the event was finishing and as the evening was young we sought out another drinking hole where we could partake in further consumption of alcholic beverages. Along the way Red Maria spotted John Bercow walking down the road and we all waylaid the Speaker.
Aforementioned book along with Peter Hitchens signature
We found a pub. Much merriment was had. Have to say I haven’t laughed so much in ages especially with everything that has happened in the past couple of weeks, the night did me much good along with a couple pints of Guinness. So…many thanks to my Left blogging companions last night!
My picture taking started off ok but degenerated by later on as mainly due to the consumption of booze, and many of the pix I took of the bloggers were well, erm, rather blurred.
Two of my drinking companions .......
Aha! So that’s what you were doing while I was feasting off the fat of the commentariat. Hope you harassed the Speaker good and proper.
Thanks for coming. Twas a lovely night.
Great night indeed. Well, kinda encircled Bercow and can’t remember what we slurred tho’ kinda remember saying, ‘I follow your partner on twitter’ or something like that.
I was going to deny all knowledge, but there’s photographic evidence – ah!
Well, you coulda accused me of photoshopping you into the pic a la James Purnell (oh, and that bloke outside the pub didn’t ‘alf look like Purnell!)!!
which guy, it’s all gone a bit blurry hehe
Cheeky f&cker!!