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Celebration

Yesterday evening, I pitched up for a celebratory dinner with two friends at the Empress of India (yeah, I know, I have a 'thing' for this place, same as for Bea's of Bloomsbury).

The point was to toast, so to speak, a number of positive events experienced by each of us during the past few months.

After a three-bus journey (it seemed the best method at the time) I rolled into the restaurant 15 minutes late knowing Alison and Jane would be even later for our 6 PM reservation (the downside of working in the research deparment of an investment bank -- the upside being fairly obvious).

I settled in with a glass of Prosecco, the bread basket and my current book, with the Blackberry propped on the table and blipping every now and again to let me know of their progress. They rolled in just around 7.

Once they had their own glasses, we started in -- the toast and the discussions about all and sundry.

I've known both women for a fair number of years, but interestingly don't know that much about either. So, each time we get together something new pops up.

Both have been tremendously supportive of me regarding the website -- and both are customers, to my immense pleasure.

Jane is a Tauer girl, having fallen hard for L'Air du Desert Marocain immediately after sampling.

Alison seems to prefer citrus, having purchased Lostmarc'h Din Dan and Hilde Soliani's beautiful and strange Stecca.

It gives me no end of delight to have introduced these friends to the world of niche perfumes and to have been the enabler in their pleasure.

Anyway, we did a few hours of wine and lovely food, and they got to tease me mercilessly about my newest reading material (no, I'm still not going to say what it is -- can't go there).

I got home quite late last night (thank goodness the man-cub is still stomping through mud in Kent) and woke this morning, stumbled down the stairs and made tea. No breakfast, as the food, wine and talk had left me wonderfully full. Around noontime, I finally felt as if I needed something to eat.

A wonderful evening -- with a bit of the bitter-sweet, as Jane will be moving away from England soon. In all, though, a true celebration.