Follow Jezblog:
It must be hanging out with my most glam friends thats doing it........... but my life has taken a definite swing to the more sophisticated in the last couple of days................ On Thursday night I was at a black tie event for the launch of Amanda Foreman's amazing new book "World on Fire"...... This is a new history of the American Civil War drawing on all sorts of new sources. Some with a unique British perspective....... both close up in the US..... and the view from London. This new history is a blockbuster in all senses of the word....... its huge........ and receiving rave reviews......... and fantastic early sales...... its certainly making a big splash here in London......... even my cab driver claimed he was going to be getting a copy having listened intently to Amanda on Radio London ..........
The book is of course likely to be very big in the US when it launches State Side......... They live in the States like me....... but Amanda and hubby Reg are about as UK-US....... either or...... zip forward and backwards........ as I am..........
That really was a fab night out amongst some of my most sophisticated friends....... well they certainly looked that way in their black tie get ups............. my own rented DJ was really not cutting the mustard...... the tie just refused to do up............. Oh well........ I guess thats the way your photojourno type wears a penguin suit.......... hehehehehe........... it was good that the National Union of Journalists were on strike on Friday morning at the BBC........... The program they played on birdsong was so much more soothing to my hang-over than the news and current affairs that would normally be drifting across my pillow at an early hour of the morning after ............
Anyway......... So here's to Amanda and her amazing new book......... now at least I know what to give my Dad for Christmas :-))
But it does not stop there.......... I was doing my best to look flash tonight......... This is always a problem for me at the best of times ........ but as I only have a small bag of clothes here its way tricky.............. Cos tonight I was off out again......... This time to The Ivy........ London's premier restaurant....... for its 20 year anniversary celebrations .......... in an off the wall move they put on a great little play........ I don't think I've ever watched a play in a restaurant like this........... unbelievably it had a fab cast and was written by Oscar winning writer Ronald Harwood...... who was there also celebrating his own birthday.............. Anyway you are getting the picture this is a wonderful rather smart event........... mostly I chatted to my dearest friend SB Editor of the Sunday Times Mag....... and I also chat briefly with the Editor of GQ.......... then I see I am seated on the table next to Anne Robinson she of The Weakest Link fame......... I photographed her 9 years ago for a BBC promotion around a program she made with her daughter Emma when they drove together across America in a massive open top Cadillac...........
I could never have told you it was 9 years ago....... but Anne was clear on this....... when I thought about it........ she was right.........
When I said I'd joined them in Nashville she said I had joined them on the stop before when I thought about it she was right.........
When it came to remembering the detail i was eliminated in the first round........... her memory and power of recall was just amazing............. she is amazingly sharp........ frightening even.......... Jez Coulson you are most certainly the weakest Link ......... Mind you........ I think most people are compared to Anne Robinson.........hehehehe........... :-))
Anyway here's to 20 years of The Ivy.......... Certainly..... I really recommend that kedgeree....... :-))
Cheers Jez XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
www.Jezblog.com
Comment: Name: Website: Email (not visible to others) remember me
More+
.... The photography and slightly mad life of reportage artist Jez Coulson ....