Ship ahoy!

Looking forward to Forest's annual boat party tonight.

Over 300 people have registered to attend so once again the event is fully subscribed.

I haven't looked at the weather forecast. What's the point?

It's pleasant enough in Cambridgeshire so we'll keep our fingers crossed.

Three years ago I spent the entire day fretting about the ever changing cloud patterns and occasional showers.

At 5.00pm, as I was walking across Westminster Bridge, the heavens opened and central London was hit by a torrential rain storm.

Within minutes the pedestrian area in front of County Hall and the London Eye was ankle deep in water.

At that moment I thought a boat in the middle of the Thames was the last place anyone would want to be.

An hour later the skies had cleared (again) and by seven o'clock I spied the usual queue of guests - 200 or more - waiting patiently to board our boat at Westminster Pier.

So, no point worrying about the weather.

Tonight's guests include MPs, MPs' researchers and lots of people from the wider Westminster village.

Liz Barber, a good friend of Forest, is coming from Stockton in the North East, and other guests are travelling from Birmingham, Nottingham and Liverpool.

The event seems to be attracting quite a few students too.

If you're joining us I'll see you later. If not I'll post one or two pictures here tomorrow.