A Tale of Two Boxes

A very large box arrived for me and no, it was not a deliciously discreet Net-a-Porter number, but a simple corrugated job which opened to reveal (ta-daah) a kilner jar.  Before you let escape a little sigh of exasperation, this was not just any old kilner jar (however redolent of lemon sherberts and humbugs they might be) but a super-size me kilner with a cunning tap fitted at the front, utterly perfect for dispensing cocktails at my soon-to-be very own knees-up summertime shindig.

The best type of summertime shindig incorporates perfect weather (an impossibility to predict in London, and all the more reason to get the rest right), a delicious and copious variety of drink (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), finger-lickin' good food, by which I mean morsels of food that can be picked up with two fingers while balancing an icy drink, napkin, and handbag without the risk of coating a new summer frock in accidental sticky sauce run-off, and that are truly and completely yummy.

I went to one recently where all of the above miraculously conspired to produce a magical evening (and where a second, very different box was on display.)  

It was the 25th Anniversary Gala of the National Centre for Circus Arts . With an auction including pieces by Julian Opie, bespoke Blahnik shoes and an evening at the Box, it was always going to be special, but there was a serious level of energy and creativity in all the young artists there - inspiring, and not just because they could arrange themselves in a human pyramid.  In the box above were several of those inspiring artists and a better view of some of their faces below

There was a welter of glam dresses on show, (probably many of them originally emerging from said Net-a-Porter boxes) but I decided to go all 70's in a black strappy pantsuit and white YSL silk jacket, sky high Jimmy Choos (drat those Hoxton cobblestones) and inwardly channelling Bianca Jagger the whole while.

I discarded a metallic clutch in favour of my black suede 'Leigh' and felt very glad I was not asked to join in the antics on stage, in or out of the box.