Last night I was lucky enough to be invited to attend the HSJ Awards at the Grosvenor Hotel in Park Lane, London. One of the doctors I work with had been nominated for an award for the system he has created to make the Radiology department work more efficiently.We were collected by limousine, drank champagne all the way to the hotel (I learned a new skill - how to open and drink champagne in the back of a moving car), enjoyed a brief champagne reception and headed for the Grand Room for the event. My eye was caught by the beautiful chandeliers - stunning. dinner was delicious, asparagus starter and lamb main. For dessert we had lime creme brulee - hmmmmm yum.
Then we had an introduction from the Secretary of State for Health - scruffy man didn't even wear black tie. We were entertained by the host, James Nesbitt - all the awards took ages as all the women wanted a kiss from James! My boss met him outside and instead of getting his phone number, she told him off for smoking!
Unfortunately our doctor did not win the prize but we are all very proud of him and know how hard he and his friend worked on the project.
After the awards there was a charity sale of paintings, Dali, Matisse and Picasso no less and also a charity Casino in the top part of the Great Room.
I went for a wander and ended up standing next to a croupier, I was observing a lady playing next to me (poker) and thought she had a good hand by the standards that I play to, but she folded? I asked the croupier about the hand and she immediately knew that I had been playing Texas Hold 'Em poker, she was dealing Diamond Stud poker. So I learned how to play that too!
She was very kind and informative.
All in all I had a brilliant night, I'm not sure that my birthday meal on Wednesday at the local carvery is going to be so swanky but I'm sure we will have a good time!
