Day 411: Cambridge Ladies

Aaah, isn't Clare nice. I'm up in Cambridge, having had a delightful day, truly truly. I arrived for a tea party today, not having read the invitation properly. The tea party was a Ladies' Tea Party and involved the wearing of dresses and the such like. I arrived in jeans and boots (it's been snowing all day! The skylight was covered in snow when I woke and it's been quietly constant ever since).

Luckily, Clare's helpful housemate Emma provided me with a very nice dress which fit just fine. I had lucky tights on (as in lucky because they keep me warm under my jeans - it's been snowing all day, you know), so that worked too. I did end up putting my big socks back on over the top before the tea party was over, but that's all good. It was cold. Dresses are brilliant. Being warm enough is brilliant too. Nobody was spending that much time looking at my feet. Were they?

A healthy group of happy women, many of whom had never met, talking, hanging out, enjoying. They trickled away in the end, leaving me and Clare to catch up properly.That was really something very good too. You don't need the detail - just the fact. I like this woman very much. She's driven and clever and playful and wise and... she's just very good. She does a fabulous stage punch (we didn't indulge today) and has the best watch of anyone I know. 

Now I'm about to do a happy sofa crash for the night, with a sleeping bag and a blanket so soft I may suffocate as I sleep with my face buried in it for pure pleasure. I have a book - The Children's Book by AS Byatt. Clare's just given it to me, saying 'Books are to be shared. Take it home, read it, pass it on.' I feel exactly the same.

Just before I left, I had a happy ten skype minutes with Kati Schweitzer. I do like her too. I'm sorry Clare and Kati haven't met yet. I think they'd get on, just as I think Rob and Nicolo would have lots to talk about too. How lucky am I to have people like this (and so many more) in my life. Speaking of such people, I wonder if Plum's done a baby yet.

Here's a catchup bit of blog joy. A few days ago I got an out-of-the-blue email from Loose Baker (supremely good egg) asking if I wanted to be part of this: http://everybodysit.com/   I do! I do, I do, I do. Playing for a living? Well yes - that's what I've always wanted to do. Thank you very much. Great name, too. Well thought up, Loose Baker. Well organised. Well done.

Decisions to make about tomorrow - sensible or not? Either way, happy to be skyping at 5. Woop! Good times. Good times.