Bravest niece, the most eligible people the country and an invite to Annabels

The next morning it was wonderful to have lunch with my two nieces, Rachel and Alice Renouf. They came to see my father and brought lunch for him.

Rachel has been suffering from leukaemia for over year despite the doctors giving her an only 5% chance. She was up-beat and defiant and full of positive thoughts and conversation. I am certain that she has days when it must seem impossible but that day she was un unbelievable inspiration. She talked with courage about life, death and the after life. Alice brought framed photos of her children, Dadda's great grand children.

It was a strange moment to be told that you are one of the most eligible people people in the country! An email arrived from Shig, the head concierge at the Haymarket Hotel. He'd read about it that morning in the Tatler's "Little Black Book"...... I had been invited to the ball that was happening this very day at Annabel's but I didn't know that I was listed. Then I saw my friend Desmond   MacCarthy was in there too.... He was described as 'genuine eccentric with the most romantic house in the country'....I was wrongly described as a 'concierge who could arrange anything, witty and well connected and a little vulnerable'...... Vulnerable in Tatler speak means 'this one comes without an estate'.

'Bloody hell!' cried Des 'How embarrassing, when's  the party?'
'Tonight, at Annabel's ... I know your doing something with pigs but just get down here...let's make the party fun'
Two hours later DES rings.'I'm on the train Dex,' (his nick name for me) 'hope the lights aren't too bright, my dinner jacket's got terrible stains. I think some one used it to wrap asparagus!'