Can you believe the World Trade Centre disaster? I basically got fired at Merrill Lynch in the morning (a result of secretary politics, which is certainly interesting) and so was really upset and wondering what the hell I was going to do, when a girl sitting two desks’ down from me said “OH MY GOD, a plane just hit the World Trade Centre!” and our first reaction was NO WAY!! But she was on the phone to someone in New York that had just seen it happen – so we got on the internet with live feed from CNN and saw that it was real – and then saw the second plane hit – really unbelievable. And it certainly made my whole predicament seem a whole lot less important…
Two days later I headed off to Scotland to go to the “Battle of Britain” Summer Ball with Anthony. When I finally arrived at Inverness Airport (after truly ridiculous security checks for the flight – and I DO mean ridiculous, we couldn’t even take any hand-luggage on board, we had to put any essentials in a clear plastic sandwich bag…) it was just the most gorgeous day – beautiful blue skies and the greenest green I’ve seen in months. What a lovely change after grey and rainy London! Oh, and the stars!! I just wished I had my telescope with me – although admittedly the only constellation that I recognized was the Seven Sisters – but a blanket of stars such as I’ve never seen!
It was kind of weird staying in the Officers Mess at first, but soon it was just cool! It’s not at all what I’d pictured it to be. Apart from the private quarters, there’s a proper dining room “would you like some tea, maam?” a bar and – and even an anteroom where you can have Tea and spend a leisurely afternoon reading the paper! The rooms were all being furiously decorated for the Ball, and Ant even managed to rope me in to help paint one of the backdrops, one of the bombing of London, and I think it turned out to be one of the best (you can tell that modesty coming out, huh?)
I got a tour of Loch Ness, drove all the way round, had some lunch and took some lovely photos. We also had dinner at this lovely pub called the Kimberley, which was excellent. I had deep fried Brie and Cranberry Sauce – v. yummy!
The actual Ball was like nothing I've ever experienced. 'An event' is the only way to describe it! I had bought a beautiful red dress, which was fun because I've never actually had a red dress before, and Ant looked pretty damn handsome in his No. 5's! It started off with pre-drinks in someone's flat, then Champagne and orange juice in the Foyer with a live swing band for atmosphere. The Seafood Bar was the first to open - and being the seafood lover that I am I actually had two helpings. Just lovely, prawns mostly, won-tons, calamari and this particularly yummy scampi in a creamy sauce. Hmmmm! The bar had a live jazz band and a dance floor that no-one used as the other dance floor proved to be more of a hit (great band!), and then we stood in the queue for the Chinese Wok, which was inevitably interrupted by a fire alarm - and we spent a fair amount of time in the freezing cold Scottish night. Then there was a HUGE carvery in the Dining Room (which is also the room 'we' decorated) - v. good and then a whole range of puddings - I had profriterolls, and Ant had a Crepe Suzette cooked on the spot. And by then we were so stuffed that we HAD to go on the Dodgem Cars and Waltzers (like the crazy spinning cups at home) - and I'd had a bit too much to drink and so felt a bit sick by the end of that, to be honest. Then we hit the dance floor, which was really fun, didn't quite make breakfast at 4am, but I don't think that I could possibly have eaten anything else anyway!! Wow, what a night - I have to say that the RAF sure do know how to throw a party!!!
On Sunday had a bit of a late sleep and then Ant was off to work (very late by then) and then I had to get to the Airport for a 5pm flight - which was so delayed that I realised that if I took it I would never get home from the airport and so just decided to stay in Scotland for a couple of extra days!! Mmmm, the agency wasn't too happy with that, but hey, what is temping all about then, anyway? No seriously, it wasn't fun being in THAT particular dilemma, but lets just say that it could have been worse... two more days in lovely Scotland with a gorgeous man, what more could I possibly want?! Because he was working his friend Jill gave me the grand tour of Nimrod, which is this huge Submarine Bomber and is sooo interesting, and so complicated - I don't think I could ever remember half of what they have to remember and work with all the time! Then I went to Elgin with Jill for a little bit of shopping (and a peak at a picture of Steve, the barman, in traditional Scottish garb on the wall of the Tux place!). In the evening Ant and I went through to Inverness to see Moulan Rouge, which I loved! It was so crazy!
Then on Tuesday, sadly, it was time to go home - and I got home without any major hitches this time, so that was good. I dropped my stuff at home and then went to join the girls at Little Bay, our fav. (and cheap!) restaurant in London. It was good to be back, too, I have to admit, and it kinda let me ease back into London nicely.
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