The Auction
So we arrived at The Farmers Ball fashionably late and minutes before the sit down dinner. As we entered it felt like something dream-like. We wound our way upstairs over decades of footsteps, and a much younger Queen Elizabeth ll glared down at us from an oil on canvas as we stealthily took photos on the grand staircase. Having missed the inaugural banter we found our table amidst a pool of red-faced, tuxedo-ed moustaches. It wasn’t difficult to see that we had been allocated the kids table.
Soon after sitting down, some scholars from the local St. Andrew Scot’s School came round selling raffle tickets. There was an additional prize-giving where if you were lucky you had a winning ticket under your plate. I won 3 pairs of pantihose. We ate Brie tibio caramelizado, ensalada de holas verdes, tomates secos (Caramelized Brie with green leaves) to start. Then Gigot de cordero Patagonico, reduccion de jugos de coccion, chutney de membrillos y pera, raclette de papas, vegetales grillados (Patagonian lamb, mint, pear and quince chutney, roast potatoes and grilled vegetables). Following the main course everyone was invited to attend an auction of two paintings in the main dance area. This was done in Spanish so at most points I didn’t know whether we were into the hundreds or thousands, but just kept myself from fidgeting and falsely raising the bar. Luckily I am short, so no real risk there.
Post the very entertaining auction the Mesa de Postres opened up. Literally a few metres of strawberries, cakes, creme brulees and other tiered desserts. The ‘Los Fantasmas de Liverpool’ and the ‘Black Label Jazz Band’ made for a fun night of dancing. My friends entertained the more formal twosomes with some funny antics and sometime after midnight they brought out all sorts of party hats and other paraphanalia.
Unfortunately the ambassador, Dr. John Hughes and his Mrs, were not in company as he is actually right at the end of his tenure and was otherwise occupied. Probably taking in one last breathe of the awesomeness that was his home. We sublimely wafted out at about 3am which is very premature for a night out in Buenos Aires.
The front of the British Ambassador's House
Friends and Amigos
Our table
