Old Skool

Yes, well, the Tribune party. What can I say? Cast of characters to say the least. Hacks from the Observer, Evening Standard, New Statesman, New Humanist, Guardian and Independent were all reprazentin', although a certain former Tribune editor was conspicuous by his absence. Still, his presence was hardly required for the boozy bon viveur vibe to be felt -- drunken quote of the evening, said to me entirely without sarcasm, was "This is lovely - one gets tired of all those Groucho Club lunches." Bleuuuurggh. And they wonder why no one reads the Statesman anymore...

While it felt cramped and bland at the time, upstairs at the Red Lion was probably the best place for a Tribune party to be held; right on the doorstep of Westminster (the staff at the Treasury had booked the downstairs room for their Christmas party), and just small enough for an average-size crowd (60 tops) to feel like they were at a jam-packed "media event". For me it felt like a tradition, even though I think it was the first time the magazine had held a party there.

As for my schoolgirl crush on (shhh) the soon-to-be Political Editor of the Daily Mirror (London Media Left job merry-go-round...), well, it's safe to say that it's pretty much dead upon having seen him in the flesh at the party. Journalists should really update their byline pics more than once every 15 years, it's terribly unfair on the rest of us.

Oh yes, and it's my birthday today. Another year closer to death.