Tuesday, May 22, 2012

title pic Priorities

Posted by dulwichmum on Fri 22 June 2007

The annual nursery school sports day is just the most stressful day! They insist on holding the event on the final Saturday of Royal Ascot each year. The lovely teachers surely must be aware of how many parents are completely torn regarding the clashing dates on their social calenders!

They clearly have no appreciation of the value of a week’s corporate entertainment with hotels, transport and a private box at The Royal Enclosure. James and I really should make every effort to hold court, otherwise it simply is just not good manners. This year, as all of his guests are being accommodated in a Chelsea hotel with a helipad, the entire party has travelled each day to the course by helicopter. I haven’t gone to Ascot all week and as my wardrobe is positively brimming with new race wear perhaps I should show my face? I haven’t been in a helicopter in front of all of the other school mums before…

Last year James completed his egg and spoon race in his morning suit, his vintage silk top hat in the waiting car. How very embarrassing. I was grateful that the mothers race took place twenty minutes earlier and I found the time to slip home and quickly change prior to shooting back to collect him. The car took an age to reach the course so we missed lunch and that was such a shame. I looked fabulous in the sports day photos though, with full make-up and my hair in a super “up do”.

I really loved the new boxes at Ascot. The sweet little individual kitchens and super kind staff. I must admit I got a little tiddly – well it was hard to assess how much I was drinking as the attentive staff kept my Champagne glass so well topped up.

In my opinion the rejuvenated Ascot is no more glamorous than Stanstead Airport – all sheet glass, pillars and escalators, but the boxes are simply luxurious and this is one race meeting where I have no intention of ever leaving ours to view the horses or track. The heels of my super silver Jimmy Choo’s were tarnished by the grass a couple of years ago – never again. I shall be content watching the races on the flat screen TV or from the balcony of the box, smiling smugly as I view the far away peasants in the Silver Ring. Sadly we no longer have to worry about being run over by random Royal golf buggies as they career about the enclosure and paddock!

Last year, one of our party Niall O’Farrell entered his beautiful horse called Arturius in a race. The darling horse virtually walked his race, and James was livid as he lost a substantial sum. My husband said the animal would have been more appropriately named “Arthritis” – and even sweet Niall laughed. It is not that James was particularly witty, I actually thought it was an incredibly hurtful thing to say. It is just that James is so very powerful indeed, no-one would ever dare to challenge him or disagree – in the past… I actually find that terribly attractive.

We shall be collected by helicopter this afternoon straight after the the mothers race! I know, I can’t quite believe it myself. Not from the grounds of the nursery – no that would be far too naff and ostentatious and how would we change our clothes? The helicopter will be landing in the grounds of The Local Comprehensive School you pay for – and only for minutes, but all of the children will want to come and see. Max is so very excited, he is sure to invite all of his friends!

The best thing about this post today is that it is completely true! I feel terribly privileged.

top