If you have ever had a really really bad hangover, then you will wonder why on earth Nick, Annie,
Olympia and I left the sanctuary of our beds before the following day had even started, to drive to the
edge of town? It was to take a ride in a helicopter – and what a ride it was. Probably as an apology for
inflicting a lifetime of liver problems on us, Dan and Agnes had arranged for us to fly over the stunning
mansions and beaches of Newport – to the sea and back again – passing over the polo club and
10,000 yachts.
Safely landed, the collective “Yes” was to a trip to Baily’s Beach Club for a long lunch and extended
tanning. Having passed, without pause, from blue to white and swiftly on to magenta, I left the rest of
our team to the rays to take on a little undercover work at the polo club.
Posing as a lone, wandering horse-whisperer, I managed to get myself invited to join the local chukkas.
Ha! Here was most of Team USA on the ground at once, practicing tactics and finalising their team.
To avoid too much attention, I managed to keep up the appearance of a low goaler, giving me the
perfect opportunity to take notes on strategy and horses…
By the time I returned, removed my false moustache and Stetson, Will and Lowie had already sparked
the grill and were toasting up a dozen lobsters and a basket of sweet corn. This is a BBQ - Newport style
- and even before our ten or so guests, including our opponents, had arrived the Martini glasses were
t
out again! So this was the night, before the night, before the big day and as both teams once again
h
i
r
talked it up, we realised that winning the game was going to have to take a back seat – and that the
t
y
real focus was fast shifting to surviving long enough to play.
-
t
h
r
e
But survive that night we did – and sufficiently suffoncified on supreme quantities of shell fish we
e
trickled into bed in the sure knowledge that dawn would bring with her the rest of the English players –
and with them fresh livers and some punchy handicaps.
First to arrive were Jake and Jo Hughes, but not before a morning of shopping and sightseeing and
a visit to one of the simply stunning Bellevue Mansions – The Gatsby One! Thereafter, Agnes and
Dan took Olympia and me off for a race around the islands on a classic Riva-styled motor launch and
another swim in the ever-so-cold sea.
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