Whatever

I was eagerly anticipating my visit to the London Launch's showcase and, as I walked past the tanned, polo neck clad men mopping their brows outside the Hurlingham Club's tennis courts, this anticipation did nothing to dissipate.
My new found love of blogging, meant that I paid particular attention to dissecting the event's pros and cons.

Pros:

- The food, provided by Searcy's was a delight. Well cooked fish and chips and the aphrodisiac Oysters went down a treat
- Young Guns' Soul Symphony were a class act- Hip Hop classics mixed with strings and amazing vocals.

Cons:

- The psychology talk was didn't interest me (I keep my cards close to my cleavage) so the excessive volume of the presentation was a little in your face for me
- The men in polo neck jumpers I oggled on the way in failed to make a return appearance

 For Event's more factual story, with pictures, click here.   

Hello party people,


Apologies for my prolonged absence, but one has to look their best and, frankly, the surgeons in the UK are not really up to the task. But, wonderfully, my trip to LA was a huge success and, having been tucked, stretched and manipulated, I feel a world better. The sunshine has given me a ravishing tan as well.


So to business. I was treated last night to a meal and cocktail making session at London's most famous roof gardens in Kensington. My friends Splosh and Pecks the flamingos stayed in the garden as I sat down to a delicious crab ravioli starter and a tasty steak main (I'll be on the salad all weekend). The passion fruit cocktail the friendly bar staff helped me make will live long in the memory.


I couldn't venture down to the club, Babylon, because the area had been given to a Iranian engagement party. If the noises from downstairs were anything to go by a) These Iranians were particularly well-off and b) the private parties market is going very well indeed.


I'll keep blogging more now, these days a girl has to keep her profile up.

 Which caterer has its name proudly listed amongst the suppliers of a major east London venue, but has unfortunately got the number of one of its primary rivals pasted beneath.

I wonder how much business has gone the wrong way as a result?

So, the fabulous Fisher Productions party was everything the boys and girls of Fisher promised it would be. Champagne, a rainbow of different cocktails, and the promised celebrity appearances made for the event of the year so far.

Mostly, the celebs were delightful. TV presenter Millie Clode and former Hollyoaks star Will Mellor were great fun. Desperate Housewives star Jesse Metcalfe, although beautiful, is shorter than me, which is always a no-no. As was the fact he was wearing more make-up than most of the ladies present.

Peaches Geldof seemed to be enjoying herself. Which is less than could be said for her brute of a PR who created a personal impenetrable fortress for the famous daughter and generally looked a little glum.

Still, most everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. A shout out to the good people of uber-club brand and venue Ministry of Sound who, with two Event scamps, made the very most of the the brightly coloured hair and make-up gear that had been left lying around...

Another strenuous morning in the sunshine, this time enjoying fruit cocktail sticks and breakfast nibbles onboard Bateaux London. The vessel, moored at Embankment Pier, sailed myself, and representatives from 32 venues, up The Old Father Thames, courtesy of Sodexo Prestige.

Unfortunately the name Abigail was not called out in any of the various prize draws that took place. Had I not been so enamoured with the Buck’s Fizz and canapés on offer, I might have demanded a re-draw.  

 A couple of events piqued my interest last night, including a tour of the expensively refurbished Radisson Edwardian Bloomsbury Street Hotel. The rooms were small, but perfectly formed, and its location is fantastic, but I didn't get to see the event space... perhaps our tour guide forgot.

Next was a trip off Blackfriars Bridge to The Irish Club, which was fabulously decked out with a hog-roast, oysters, fanstastic Jameson whisky-based cocktails and a room full of desert.

I wasn't the hungriest person there, though. That award goes to two girls who claimed to be from Vogue Magazine. When asked why they were overflowing bags with rolls half-inched from the hig roast table, as well as couple of puddings the duo simply replied: "It's alright for you, you've got money!"

Perhaps Vogue isn't paying as well these days...

She's filming ten years younger apparently. A few of the Event team have been questioned by researchers as well, so they might be coming to a small screen near you soon!

I kept in the shadows, but did try on a Mask-arade Myleene mask. I think it looked rather good...!

28 complaints have rolled in from residents apparently confirming both that a noisy noise annoys and also that the RSVP crowd is working hard to be heard.

Loads of people singing, not all of them are good...

See yesterday's post and you'll notice that Mike Fletcher has cleared up his future plans, seems everyone was talking about it at the show yesterday. Today, though, it's all about the recssion - will be interesting to see the footfall figures. If G20 pulls through and consumers start spending again it'll be good news for everyone here.


Myleene Klass is here! She's short.

After a hard day's work at RSVP 09 the Event team are kicking back having cocktails and canapes on the stand courtesy of Sweet & Chilli and The Recipe. If you're still here please come and join us at C5. We'll be moving on to the Top Deck soon for pampering from Vanity Van and yet more cocktails and canapes.

Earlier on, Symle's Rick Stainton and Haymarket's Matthew Davies did their best to be heard over an ABBA medley that was playing simultaneously on the Top Deck while the duo joined others at the Event 100 Club.

So Mike Fletcher, former hack and much-loved editor of this here magazine, is actually setting up a digital meetings company, rather than an events firm per se. Sounds ace, good luck Mr F.

In other news, Splash and Tickle's excellent jacuzzi is situated right next to Real Sun Light Events artificial sun and a cocktail bar. It is where I shall be spending most of the afternoon!

Anywho, more important stuff – word gets to Abigail that former Event stalwart Mike Fletcher is setting up his own event company – he’s unavailable at the moment but I’ll get back to you with more soon… Working with Kelly Baker, apparently.

This lunchtime I was invited to don my hard-hat and boots for a tour our of the much-anticipated Park Plaza Westminster Bridge hotel. Scheduled to open early next year, the hotel will furnish the capital’s events scene with a 1,400-capacity ballroom, 13 flexible Plaza Suites, 11 boardrooms, seven Park Suites, two executive lounges and a business centre, all just a few steps away from the iconic Houses of Parliament. To keep our readers up to date with what will be London’s largest hotel opening in a generation, Eventmagazine.co.uk will be posting photos and regular updates. Stay tuned.

No word on the actual spelling, but there was a witty but slightly downtrodden fellow speaking during a seminar session who possessed both inconsiderate parents and the name Max Willy. Poor guy, it reminds me on this story on unfortunate names from the BBC earlier in the week.


Full marks to a Wednesday seminar speaker who said: “51% of people who register for exhibitions actually come to them. The rest we call bastards.”


And spare a thought for the poor deceased mother of one delegate. Her Putney-based grave is currently being adorned with a couple of balloons nabbed from the Office Diner stand at the request of her daughter. The perplexed Office Diner crew didn’t think they could say no.


Did you see anything weird and wonderful at Confex?

To leave a comment register and let us know your thoughts.

A few years ago, in more simple times, the grand old Natural History Museum staged, as it does today, grand events. I heard recently that during one such event, apparently, a corporate guest became so sozzled he clambered aboard the diplodocus and rode it like a donkey. Hence the protective shield now in place.

Were you there? Is it true, or a industry legend?