On Tuesday I slipped into The Guardian Public Sector Awards
. And I think possibly committed the worst “oops”, faux pas for a while.
I arrived at Old Billingsgate in little black dress and requisite heels (sensible flats stuffed into my bag at the entrance!) feeling a little apprehensive. I didn’t know anyone but the kind person who had invited me a long. So I checked my coat, took a quick turn around the room, grabbed a drink and decided I would just wander up to anyone, someone who was also standing about looking lonely. There was this chap in a suit, standing rather aloofly alone. Big breath in…… “Hello, I hope you don’t mind but I don’t know anyone here, and just thought I would say hello!”
The man looked down his nose, asked who I was and then introduced me to his press office….. gulp! And I did what all completely embarrassed down to you tippy toes does, said nice to meet you and found another drink!
Somehow I had managed to stroll up to Francis Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster general, and in his spare time he is Managing Director of Morgan Stanley & Co, plus a couple of other high prestige jobs, and has 5 children. To be frank he could have been slightly more gracious than he was, and I am pleased to say he gave a really boring key note speech……
But… well…. ooops!
