Page 233 - Bridget Jones's Diary - by Helen FIELDING

Sunday 1 October

8st 11, cigarettes 17, alcohol units 0 (u.g., esp for party).

4 a.m. Startling. One of the most startling evenings of life.

After got depressed on Friday Jude came round and talked to me about being
more positive about things, bringing with her fantastic black dress for me to

borrow for party. Was worried that might split or spill on the dress but she said
she had lots of money and dresses because of top job and did not matter so not to
worry about it. Love Jude. Girls are so much nicer than men (apart from Tom-
but homosexual). Decided to accessorize fantastic dress with black tights with
Lycra and Light Shimmer (£6.95) and Pied à terre kitten-heel black suede shoes
(have got mashed potato off).

Had shock on arrival at the party as Mark Darcy's house was not a thin white
terraced house on Portland Road or similar as had anticipated, but huge,
detached wedding cake-style mansion on the other side of Holland Park Avenue

(where Harold Pinter, they say, lives) surrounded by greenery.

He had certainly gone to town for his mum and dad. All the trees were dotted
with red fairy lights and strings of shiny red hearts in a really quite endearing
manner and there was a red and white canopied walkway leading all the way up

the front path.

At the door things began to look even more promising as we were greeted by

serving staff who gave us champagne and relieved us of our gifts (I had bought
Malcolm and Elaine a copy of Perry Como love songs from the year they were
married, plus a Body Shop Terracotta Essential Oil Burner as an extra present
for Elaine as she had been asking me about Essential Oils at the Turkey Curry