Mingle at the British Library

Last Thursday Reginald and Violet attended Mingle, the singles event in the spectacular foyer of the British Library. Both had a wonderful time, as did everyone else by all accounts!

There were many ingenious activities designed to get people chatting:

*Speed Book Club - let's just say the discussion about Lady Chatterley's Lover was oversubscribed!

*Book Art - an alternative to viewing etchings and a cunning way to give someone your number.

*Book Swap - Violet was given Sweetmaking for Children by Margaret Powell, which she intends to give it to her good friend Frannie Haddock of the King's Mews Culinary Guild in time for her next cake stall.

There was also the wonderful idea of giving everyone a name tag with one half of a famous literary couple, inviting them to search for their match.

There was Paris and Helen, Romeo and Juliet, Samson and Delilah, Cleopatra and Mark Anthony, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, Richard and Judy (a bit of a stretch but they do have a book club!) Othello and Desdemona, Peter Pan and Wendy and Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn amongst others.

It did make approaching individuals a bit of a minefield, though, as initial impressions count for so much. When Violet met 'Mellors' she immediately imagined him topless behind the gardening shed glistening with sweat, much to his consternation, whereas she was rather more cautious with Othello, Peter Pan and Henry VIII. Possibly not life partner material...

And Reginald was very attracted to Delilah but instead made a beeline for Wendy, knowing his mother would definitely prefer her.



Violet clutching her book.


Reginald mingling.