The weather has been absolutely appalling.
I've been checking the weather forecast for weeks and the outlook for Wednesday June 29, the date of our annual boat party, never changed:
Cloudy with heavy showers or persistent rain. Moderate southwesterly breeze. 13oC.
Yesterday afternoon, as I drove to London from Cambridgeshire, it didn't stop raining once.
Over 240 people had registered to attend Smoke On The Water 2016 and at that moment I genuinely thought we'd be lucky if 50 turned up.
Who would want to spend an evening on the Thames in those conditions? You'd have to be mad.
And then a miracle happened.
At five o'clock, shortly before we boarded The Elizabethan at Butler's Wharf by Tower Bridge, the rain ceased.
To say it improved dramatically would be an exaggeration. There was still a blanket of thick grey clouds above the Thames but at least we could stand on the open rear deck without getting wet.
At seven o'clock prompt we docked at Westminster Pier to collect our guests.
At least 100 people were waiting for us.
By the time we left to cruise down river to Canary Wharf over 150 people had boarded the boat.
"I'm a hard Northerner," said one.
"I'm freezing," said another.
Either way I'm extremely grateful to them for braving the weather to support the event.
For the record guests consumed 60 bottles of prosecco and 60 jugs of Pimms. And that was before we opened the cash bar.
Here are some of the comments received today:
"Thank you very much for an enjoyable evening."
"Thanks for a great evening. Wonderful views of London and we even saw a seal in the river."
"I had a wonderful evening. It was a fantastic event. Hope there's another one next year!"
