Since Alex has started her PhD back at Royal Holloway (the university where we met), she has been invited to a drinks and nibbles evening for current media students and alumni in Russell Square this evening. Being an alumni, and not having much to do in the early part of tonight, I agree to come along.
We meet at The Tollgate for a cheeky quick one just after six, before hopping on the Piccadilly Line to Russell Square. The 'event' is at the Horse Hospital, a small art space near the station, so we wander over there and head down into the basement. We're greeted by a room full of typical Royal Holloway types and a table laden with cheapo crisps and chocolate - but we push past to the bar, where, we're promised, our first drink is free. No such luck, apparently - all the free drinks have gone - so we're forced to pay £3 for a dribble of red wine. No matter, let's mingle.
Before long we bump into a couple of people who did our undergrad course; people I haven't seen for over three years. Needless to say they're still ghastly, so we try and stay polite for a few minutes before moving on. One interesting fellow guest at this 'party' is none other than Lenny Henry, who has also just started his PhD at Royal Holloway. He chats politely with staff and alumni while keeping a low profile (difficult for such a large man) but soon we tire of even this vague novelty and head back to the tube.
Alex has dinner to cook and so do I, so we say goodbye on Turnpike Lane and I head home for wine and Scrabble with K. It's quite nice to be getting in with the night ahead of you - but a crappier party I don't think I've ever seen. Royal Holloway just can't really do 'being a university' right. I don't miss it at all.
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