Passing comments: Harrogate, 7/7, Boisdale and a short intermission

I enjoyed my trip to Harrogate last week but I had a bizarre experience when I was sitting in Betty's tea shop because I couldn't for the life of me remember the name of the town I was in. My mind went a total blank. After what seemed like several minutes it finally came back to me. Seconds later it was gone again. Then it came back. Is this how Alzheimer's begins? (I'm serious.)

I last visited Harrogate in 2005. I have no difficulty remembering that because it was the day of the terrorist bombs in London (7/7). I had been invited - with Deborah Arnott of ASH - to address a meeting at the Local Government Authority annual conference. I travelled up the previous day and was in my hotel room watching breakfast television when news of the bombings started to come through. One bomb went off at Kings Cross at around the same time that I often passed through the station en route to our old office near Oxford Street. Several people, thinking I might be at the station, tried to contact me. The mobile phone network was down so they emailed instead.

My debate with Deborah Arnott went ahead but many delegates preferred, understandably, to watch the unfolding news on the TV monitors in the foyer of the exhibition centre. Others were too busy checking out of their hotels to rush back to London. Talking about the proposed smoking ban in those circumstances seemed a bit ridiculous. It certainly put the issue in perspective. Why was so much time and energy being spent urging politicians to ban smoking in every pub and club in the country when there were far more important issues to address?

I visited Boisdale of Canary Wharf for the first time last week. I don't know what took me so long. I love it! It has the traditional Boisdale feel but with a magnificent modern twist. Over lunch with owner Ranald Macdonald, a long-time supporter of Forest, we plotted a sequel to our 2007 event, Revolt In Style, which was originally planned for Boisdale Belgravia before we moved it to London's Savoy Hotel. Boisdale Belgravia wasn't big enough for what we wanted to do in 2007 but the larger Boisdale of Canary Wharf is perfect for what we would like to organise in 2012. Details in due course. We are also planning a special lunch at Boisdale Belgravia. Both events will mark the fifth anniversary of the smoking ban. Watch this space.

It was minus eleven in Cambridgeshire on Saturday. F-f-f-f-freezing!!! So we packed our bags (it's half-term) and drove somewhere a little warmer ... Cornwall. Cue a short intermission. (I'll post when I can.)

Comments

[Junican]

Going way back (ie. not related to age), I often found, while driving, that I suddenly had no idea where I was. I knew where I wanted to go, and that I was on the route, but my surroundings looked unfamiliar and strange. I didn't know whereabouts on the route I was, or what to expect. Generally, the situation would correct itself at the next intersection or whatever.

Nothing odd about your experience - your mind drifted and took its time to come back.