- If you're not living on the Edge, you're taking up too much space -

Who would have thought that such an experience lay in wait in the obscurity that is the Old Truman Brewery? The danger-fraught journey down to the belly of Shoreditch was tricky, but the hours that ensued ensured it was all well worth it.

For starters, picture a roomful of people milling about, pretentiously sipping on wine (think Sauvignon Blanc), champagne and Pink Ladies. I must say my acquaintance with the Pink Lady was a thoroughly enjoyable experience, the delightful little vixen that she is. Her effect on me was just enough to make me blush a shade of red that was at once obvious but not too ostentatious. Am looking forward to dealing with her more often in the future.

I wouldn't doubt that The Brewery was chosen for its capacity -- the accomodation of 680 people in Central London is no mean feat. The luminaries were out in full force: Dr Lee Boon Yang, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Ms Irene Ng, Ho Kwon Pin, Claire Chiang, David Lim, Liu Thai Ker, Ong Keng Sen, Wykidd Song of Song & Kelly fame... the list reads like a litany(yawn). And it was hosted by Beatrice Chia! Oh, a certain SM Goh Chok Tong did attend the event too. But it was hosted by Beatrice Chia! And they had Jo Malone orange blossom scented candles in the lavatories, interspersed among the orchids they flew up from Singapore. And it was hosted by Beatrice Chia! I have to practise my mock amazement more often.

Prior to the dinner, a random German man looking rather bored stood in a corner perhaps trying to go unnoticed by the throng. I thought it only polite to spoil his night, and so strode up and struck up a conversation, casually slipping his namecard in my pocket when he finally offered it to me. It was only 5 mins after talking to him when I took a cursory glance at the piece of hard paper in my pocket that I realised he was Director of Institutional Client Division at German bank HVB. Ho hum. Also spoke with the SIF Director and their Chief Executive, and dined at the same table as the Director of Unsworth Shipping Line. How they managed to secure a seat with me I'll never know, I must remind my PA to seperate me from the Hoi Polloi in future.

Dinner was prepared by award-winning chefs from Raffles Hotel and Tung Lok who'd been flown up from Singapore specially for this event. Whaddya know, I have to choke down Tung Lok fare these days. What a massive fall from grace it has been.

A fashion show rounded the night up (it all ended in fashion, you might say. my puns are simply unstoppable), and of particular interest was an unsavoury incident that involved a rather disobedient white slip whose function was to conceal parts of the chest, and which lay beneath a very transparent white mesh-like concoction on a gangly model. Suffice to say it was a sight for sore eyes, but to her credit she maintained her composure and whatever shreds of dignity she was left with and went on with the show. Kudos, kudos.