During Huttonian's absence in the Big Smoke the rant may go into hiatus mode-I doubt if the East India club expects its members to go on line-smoke signals, naval flags, semaphores and the steam telephone are more its style-as befitting an establishment whose phone number for years was WHI(tehall) 1000. So it will be two days of crowded tubes, no eye contact, the Big Issue and bacon and egg for Breakfast surrounded by recently awakened members reading the Telegraph and chomping thin toast and thick marmalade, visibly enraged by the latest outrage from New Labour. 'That blighter Blair' being the most restrained of comment. My father once made the novice's mistake of wishing an older Club denizen 'Good Morning, Sir' No reply but the OCD rang the ball and a steward (used to be called a club servant) appeared (perhaps he rubbed, rather than rang) OCH spoke: 'This young feller wants to talk about the weather. Or something'
I'll report on return. If I am spared.
