No Fairy Godmother necessary

Breakfast at Tiffany’s (and a ring from Argos?)

The official engagement portrait as released by Bush earlier today

On behalf of all of Peter’s Friends, may I be amongst the first on this blog to congratulate the future Mr & Mrs Ming Bush on their engagement. Bearing in mind Ming’s family heritage, Bush should very much look forward to being endowed with diamonds from the jeweller by appointment to both Audrey Hepburn and footballer’s wives up and down the land. Either that, or a big day at Elizabeth Duke beckons. Whatever, I’m sure we will all agree that this is wonderful news, and wish them well for their future life together. Having already successfully fostered enough mice to staff a whole fleet of coaches for pantomimes up and down our sceptred isle, I’m sure they will do very well.

Slaying your preconceptions

Hope you had a happy St. Georges day. I spent the evening watching football from Spain with stoic English defending preceded by gardening to the sounds of Elgar on the i-pod, followed by watching (acting) deputy headmaster Stepbacon on Channel 5 news whilst sporting a conventional suit. I know, a conventional suit. It’s little wonder it made the news.

Just in case you missed his starring performance (which might, upon further reflection, have had something to do with St. Georges day), you can catch it here. And in its origional context here. As Alex advises however, “Blink and you’ll miss it”. It's a long way removed from when he dressed up as the News Bunny on L!VE TV, I mused over my toast this morning.

It’s great up north (but bring your cost)

Molly driving Mummy's Audi company car

Start 'em early, say I. And says Scott.

Once a hug…..Jo in a pink dressing gown.

Your correspondent and his wife had the pleasure of the splendid hospitality offered by the McEllison’s over the weekend, a visit that was long overdue and which didn’t take as long as we remembered. Although the weather was 6 degrees lower than in the Metropolis (8 degrees on Sunday morning) we received the sort on welcome only our chums in Ilkley can endow, with a visit to The Farsyde, Betty’s and Bart’at all squeezed in within 24 hours. Ilkley has changed a great deal since we last visited, with multi-culturalism being embraced in a wholesale fashion. Well, I say wholesale. There were an Asian couple in the park with their children, and one shop assistant in Molly’s cobblers of choice, Shoe Bee Doo. Still, it's a start. Shoo Bee Doo stock a spectacularly varied selection of footwear for the discerning child, although they don’t stock Ugg’s, which struck me as an oversight on their marketing strategy, especially bearing in mind their popularity with the young ladies on the streets of Ilkley.

Jo and I sat up to 12.30am setting the world to rights, and I must say a visit to the frozen north has been long overdue. The weather may have been cold, but the welcome was as warm as ever. And Molly was delightful company, as hopefully the pictures amply demonstrate.

Happy 60th Birthday Mother Bush

Linda Barker was nowhere to be seen, apparently

Where's the soap? It does, doesn't it?

Guess where Bush was when I spoke to her earlier today? Half undressed in a changing room, looking for something last minute to wear to her impending lunch at Claridge’s to celebrate Mother Bush’s 60th birthday. I wouldn’t have answered it, myself, but it's good to talk. Still, I have spoken to some of Peter’s Friends in stranger places, including Sweeney, who answered the phone last month whilst taking a shower, and Toto splashing her painted feet around in the bath. The naughty minx.......

Top Secret

Birdie. Eagle. WWF. Incognito. I can say no more. Careless talk costs jobs. I wish I could have told you all about it but I would have to kill you afterwards or a birdie we know might kill me. I fear I may have said too much already. Sorry! Anyway, good news all round, I’m sure you will agree.

A Grand National win don't come for free

Ben Elton, an inquisitive Bush & Kenny Shanky-Dalgliesh in Gallipoli on Saturday

Happy lunchers on Saturday, with Zaphod Beeblebrooks almost stealing the show from Isaac once again


Hope you managed to pick the winner in the Grand National on Saturday. Buuuuuuud came to town on Saturday in order that we could examine the rather clever elastic waistband on her maternity jeans, and as you can see, a good time was had by all at lunch in a Turkish restaurant on Upper Street. Both Liz & Toto chose the winner, Comply or Die, on the grounds that that was how they ran their domestic arrangements, to which I can readily attest. The wife and I then accidentally managed to spend the following four and a half hours in the auspicious surroundings of the Doric Arch (formerly the Head of Steam) at Euston Station with Bush & Toto, demolishing vodka and bottled bear like there was no tomorrow. Which, of course, there was as we were made acutely aware the following morning when we had an early start in advance of guests for lunch, followed by a State Visit from the Bishop of Burton and Daddy Wood……