After relative hibernation, May is always a good month to shake off the cobwebs and start getting out and about. This month's social diary started with the Historic Grand Prix last Sunday.
A ridiculously early start on the train to Monaco with the Parkers, who arrived specially for the event, and the girls, who are both car mad, was rewarded when we reached the port at Monte Carlo to be met by a launch to take us to M.Y Shaha, a beautiful motor yacht moored right by the track just after the chicane out of the Larvotto Tunnel. We met Sally and David on board for coffee and breakfast and spent the next few hours getting an ear bashing of the loveliest kind from all the amazing classic race cars zooming around the track.
We had a perfect view of proceedings as the huge screen opposite showed the rest of the track and prize giving ceremonies. The 2pm race saw two of our yachties, David and Paul, taking part so this was the one we got really involved in. Paul came third and David a very respectable 10th out of a 26 strong field, so the champagne flowed....once again.
There was another unscheduled race at the end of the day, through a sudden downpour from the boat to get the train back home and it was won by a mini Kershaw followed by a senior Parker, with the rest of the field sadly trailing, in giggling, uninhibited form, which has been recorded for emotional blackmail reasons on a mobile phone by aforementioned mini Kershaw.
There was very little recovery time built in before Clare and I headed off, a mere nine hours later, to a wine tasting in Mougins. You might think this was rather foolhardy following a long champagne fuelled day at the races, and you would be entirely right. Better diary scheduling is required in future. Nonetheless, we somehow managed to get ourselves out of bed and the house to enjoy a fantastic morning trying champagne, rose and white wine at Linda's lovely home. It's something of an understatement to say we were partied out by lunchtime but at least the Parkers were able to depart that evening for a rest back in the UK.
I had the start of Cannes Film Festival looming and it kicked off yesterday with the quirky and brilliant Wes Anderson film Moonrise Kingdom. Bruce Willis, Tilda Swinton, who played a wicked and inspired Social Services, Ed Norton, Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman were on the red carpet and clearly en forme, as Bruce and Bill filmed the paps shooting them and Bruce signed autographs for fans in the press corps. I also went to the pop up Nikki Beach, which will no doubt be the scene for celebrity schmoozing very soon.
Following interviews with the delightful Dr Who actress Karen Gillan and Stephen Tompkinson talking about his first lead movie role in Harrigan, tonight, the Calvin Klein party beckons....
