[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":11},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-post-helen-ward-dinner":3},{"_type":4,"body":5,"bodyHtml":6,"excerpt":5,"featuredImage":5,"publishedAt":7,"slug":8,"tags":9,"title":10},"blogPost",null,"Last night I  had a real treat, a dinner in Kew Gardens hosted by \u003Ca href=\"http://www.templarpublishing.co.uk\">Templar Publishing\u003C/a> for the launch of Helen Ward's latest book, \u003Cb>'Wonderful Life'\u003C/b>. I was slightly nervous because I didn't know anyone, but Helen's publicist, Philippa Perry, was incredibly down-to-earth and kind, as was Helen's sister, Fran, who explored the walled-in part of the garden with me. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Cimg src=\"http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1180/1405577541_72b1d9ac6f_o.gif\" />\\r\n\\r\nTheir whole family is artistic, their brother was there and teaches Foundation at the Royal College of Arts. \u003Ca href=\"http://www.sarafanelli.com\">Sara Fanelli\u003C/a> sat near me, and I embarrassingly didn't recognise her for half the dinner, just thinking she looked vaguely familiar and maybe I'd run into her at Magma or something. I even went to a lecture she gave once at the RCA, but she was so far away and in such a blinding spotlight that I never really figured out what she looked like! Anyway, it was really nice to see her again, and she said she was planning to give a talk at Camberwell this year. Maybe I can sneak in and listen. \\r\n\\r\nI wrote a review of the event for \u003Ca href=\"http://www.writeaway.org.uk\">WriteAway\u003C/a> and I was also supposed to take a photo, but the champagne was too nice and I totally forgot about my camera ...oh no! So I made this drawing, hoping it will be an okay substitute. Have a look at Helen's book if you get the chance. She's used her in-depth flora and fauna knowledge but isn't bound by it; everything's set on an alien planet, so she can do what she likes! It's really lovely. \\r\n\\r\n\u003Ci>Random Radio 4 snippet just overheard: 'How does one dress in a modern Welsh restaurant?' (I have no idea.)\u003C/i>","2007-09-19T07:43:00.000Z","helen-ward-dinner",[],"helen ward dinner",1776628723387]