Time for a bit of a milestone celebration, I think – WordPress have just let me know, by way of a trophy style icon on my dashboard, that this blog is now one year old. Hurrah! Crack open the champagne, pass around the canapés and let’s party like it’s 1999.
On second thoughts, let’s not: I fell asleep then, before the fireworks. I’m not a fan of big parties where the music is so loud you have to shout to make yourself heard; where there is a sparseness of food which, when you finally get offered some, is usually bits of unrecognisable stuff slathered in runny sauce, mounted on flaky pastry that is impossible to eat while standing up, sans napkin, balancing a plate and glass precariously while already well oiled guests brush past with an abandoned lack of respect for your personal space.
Or maybe I’ve just been going to the wrong parties.
So, I got to thinking about dinner parties instead.
Perhaps I could have a fantasy one. Lots of people have listed their fantasy guest list – who would I choose? Hmm. Regular followers won’t be surprised to learn that Grayson Perry would be on my list. Eccentric, cross dressing British winner of the 2003 Turner Prize, Royal Academician Grayson was appointed a CBE in the 2013 Birthday Honours list for his services to contemporary art. Perhaps he’d bring me one of his ceramic pots as a thank you. It could be a rejected one, or even a chipped one, Grayson, I wouldn’t mind.
Next up, I’d invite Janet Street-Porter. Whatever you think of her (and I don’t think she’d care, either way), there is no denying her contribution to journalism and broadcasting. I’ve been a fan ever since she worked on the long defunct ‘Petticoat’ which was the first trendy teenage magazine I ever read and I was delighted to see her reach the final recently of British Celebrity Masterchef. The girl has many strings.
Jo Brand, English comedienne and regular panel show guest has me crying with laughter with her dry wit and deadpan delivery, would make a great dinner party guest, as would, I think Bill Turnbull, presenter of BBC’s Breakfast News. Bill makes quietly observed asides as he presents the news. He is informed, amusing and keeps bees. Perhaps he’d bring a jar of honey. That would be nice. I could put it in Grayson’s pot.
As my guest list begin to take shape my thoughts are turning to what I am going to feed them which is where this dinner party idea falls down, fantasy or otherwise. I might be creative in other areas but not in anything culinary. Spending hours over a complicated recipe holds no interest or satisfaction for me, to have it scoffed down in a matter of minutes. It makes me think that Michael Landy, the British artist who became famous for creating an art work called Break Down, (in which he destroyed all his possessions), should have been a chef – then he wouldn’t have had to reapply for a passport when he realised that while courting huge publicity for himself, it actually turned out to be rather inconvenient.
I manage to provide adequate and wholesome meals on a regular basis for my family who spend much of their time longingly watching the plethora of baking and cookery shows available at every waking moment, knowing that unless they have a bash themselves, the only way to experience food like that is to take me to a Michelin starred restaurant.
So I’ve decided to scrap the dinner party idea. Somebody somewhere said that we should never meet our heroes and I think there’s a lot of good sense in that. People in the public eye have a public persona that they hide behind and maybe as themselves, they’d be far less interesting than we are led to believe, although I’ll make an exception in Grayson’s case.
But I’ve just had a much better idea: because where would this blog be without its readers? I’d like to raise a glass to all of you, who have dropped in, who have followed, and most of all, who have commented and traded ideas, stories, jokes and banter. You’ve encouraged, informed and motivated me. It’s been great to meet you all and to dip into your worlds. I’ve travelled to far flung places from the comfort of my armchair, seen fabulous photographs and art works, been entertained and educated because of you all. So thanks to you all, very much.
Here’s to another blogging year – cheers!
Happy one year anniversary, Jenny! I just celebrated my one year mark as well. I still can’t believe it’s been a year. You’ve got a great thing going here and I’m looking forward to reading your posts for years to come! 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Happy anniversary! Too bad about the dinner party — I would have come. And why worry about the menu? That’s what they have caterers for, or even better, those ready meals from Marks and Spenser that have everything including a bottle of wine. Although, with your guest list, you better get extra bottles. Lots of them.
Where does the time go, Jill. It’s been a lot of fun…thank you for being part of my cyber party!
Barb – of course you’d be coming by default. And the M&S idea is a great one. Even I can pierce a film lid and arrange vol au vents on a plate.
Or a potluck! I’ll bring over some fresh oysters and champagne!
Mmm -mmm – now you’re talking!
Indeed–to another one 🙂
BTW–I just cracked a nice bottle of spiced rum …
Mmm…spiced rum – that sounds good, and very seasonal. A slug of it may go well with the apple cake I’m attempting this weekend…
I’ve just attempted it…and it hasn’t gone well.
I’m looking forward to your second year, Jenny!
Hi Jane – lovely to see you here. I must let you know that your post on the quilters has done a few rounds amongst some friends here after I sent them the link!
Happy one-year anniversary, Jenny. You’ve brought many smiles, chuckles and loud laughs to your readers, as well as touching and colorful details and pictures. Thank you!
Thank you, Marylin – here’s to many more chuckles… 🙂
Congratulations on your one year and I raise my glass to many more. Cheers!
Cheers Holly – you’re welcome at my party anytime.
I love an anniversary.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf8ZAMRO1DU
Tracy – I LOVE the Flintstones – how clever of you to guess! This is just great, thank you!
Jenny, you are so dear to us followers! I will speak for all of us when I say that your cleverness and charm has brought us to your dinner table cyber ly. And we all feel we know you. And now, we know Grayson too.
I always fantasize about having “people over”. I buy plates for appetizers and entire sets of china. Place mats and napkins…. All for “when people come over.” It’s nice you do some imagining along those lines too. Happy first year!
That’s lovely, Hollis, thank you. I’m so glad I’ve introduced Grayson to you – I’ve just voted for him in a poll for the best living British artist. He often goes to awards ceremonies dressed as his alter ego, Claire. However, a friend and I went to one of his lectures at the British Museum when he presented as himself. He was very interesting and endearing and it made me think that had I chosen to go to Portsmouth College instead of where I did end up, I would have been there at the same time as him…
Congratulations an thank you! I’m looking forward to the next year! 🙂
Thanks Lynette – so am I! And you’re welcome at my cyber party anytime!
Congratulations, Jenny. What a great dinner party guest list. I’d love to see where the conversation goes once Janet Street-Porter and Grayson Perry get started, although after Masterchef your food would have to be top notch (or nosh?)
Well din and here’s to the next year!
Thanks, Dylan. Yes, I think Janet and Grayson would spark each other off but I reckon Bill would be a good mediator. Jo would probably reach for another glass of wine and give them one of her looks.
Top Notch Nosh — that would be a great name for a bijou bistro, wouldn’t it?!
Hee hee I actually went and Googled Michael Landy passport. I’d forgotten about him.
Here’s to many more happy years of blogging and great fun on your blog site. You’ve given me many a smile.
It’s amazing how far some people will go for their art!
Thanks Denise, lovely to have you here. BTW, I have just received my copy of When I was Five I Killed Myself and can’t wait to start reading. 😉
Many congratulations to you Jenny on your one year blogging anniversary! Hip hip hooray and very well done! It’s been great visiting your blog site, I love your posts, I can read your blog and be entertained, educated and given great cause to smile (sorry, laugh out loud) all at the same time. More than that, it’s been so great meeting you 🙂
Hear that sound? That’s the sound of a bottle of bubbly popping as I raise a glass to you my friend. Shame about the party though, I had just the outfit…
Ha Ha, 🙂 I bet you did – this outfit story is going to run and run…
Likewise Sherri – always enjoy dropping into your Summerhouse – chin chin!
I know, it is isn’t it? Chin chin 🙂
Congratulations and thank you for a year of thoughtful and most interesting writing Jenny. You’re correct about meeting one’s heroes, I’m still scarred…
Ah, thanks Roy, that’s lovely of you to say.
I’m curious about your hero moment: do tell – or will you, in a future blog post?!
I wouldn’t Jenny, he was a legendary sports star and I wouldn’t want to speak any ill of him.
Fair enough! I met Peter Osgood several years ago now, but he’d been a footballing hero of mine as a teenager. I was thrilled that he stopped to chat while he signed my son’s programme, but was amazed at how normal, and frankly, ordinary he was. However, he is still regarded as King of Stamford Bridge, and rightly so, in my opinion. Even sporting heroes grow old and get grey hair eventually.
Happy Anniversary Jenny – I am stunned that it has been that long! What lovely comments you have from your followers – I can see now why you have kept going – you have to keep your fans entertained! Sadly, I am not as knowledgeable as you on most subjects – I just don’t know what I would talk about each week except Eastenders and other such drivel. Although I have just had an idea – people have said that my family situations are just like Eastenders, so I could carry a serial based on the antics of them all, though I doubt that some of them would be publishable!
Well done you and long may you carry on xx
Thank you Kay – time flies, really – especially as we get older!
I think you could sustain a really entertaining blog with the trials and tribulations of your family – just give them all different names then they couldn’t sue you for slander! Publish and be damned, I say 🙂
Congratulations Jenny. I really enjoy your posts. Maybe we could all have a virtual dinner party and each contribute a fantasy dish.
Thank you Rod: look – you’re back on my community wall, thank goodness – we did lose you for a while!
A fantasy dish…..I LOVE this idea – maybe we could do this for fun nearer Christmas 🙂