Alex James: The Great Escape

The entire Cotswolds area of outstanding natural beauty was still reeling from the Hurley wedding, the first days of spring and the arrival of the red admiral butterfly when the Cheltenham festival detonated. The racing is reckoned to bring £50m into the local economy over the week.

The skies above the racetrack were frantic with helicopters; the club enclosure a sea of titles and tweed when Claire and I had "luncheon" in Lady Bamford's box on Wednesday. It was heaving in there. I couldn't roll a cigarette without nudging a countess, or jump up and down without clobbering an earl. I had rather muddy trousers on and I lost my shirt, but it was wonderful.

We had to leave the races early as there was a film crew waiting at the house. I made a piece to camera with the pigs (who are taking to showbusiness well) about the Government's Climate Change Bill, to reduce carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2050, an excellent idea. Then we dashed to London where the never-ending buffet continued at Claridge's. We arrived at the same time as Sting and Trudie.

I'd spotted Sting the night before at another party. He was talking to James Bond. It's been a hell of a week. I just want to finish my book and learn the names of the flowers. Everywhere I looked it was like a different snap from the society pages of Harper's Bazaar. I walked into the ballroom as Sophie Dahl took to the stage and sang "All I Need is the Air that I Breathe". That woke me up, best thing I've seen for ages. She brought the house down; sang and looked like a cross between Debbie Harry and Marilyn Monroe.

I was in government the following afternoon, discussing climate change with Elliot Morley MP, the former environment minister. He has a spectacular office in Portcullis House overlooking Big Ben. He said that there weren't many consolations to being an ex-minister, but a nice view was a great source of comfort. I said I was an ex-rock star and that I was really just enjoying the view, too, these days.

Visits to Parliament always leave me feeling greatly reassured that things are in good hands. Many voices of reason taking care of business with a calm sense of purpose (not like all that squabbling on Question Time), but it was quite a scary meeting.

Large parts of England, it was suggested, are going to disappear under water if we don't put the fires out. This information was delivered with great authority and ample supporting evidence. The iconic figure of Big Ben ticked away in the background and it felt like the start of a disaster movie.

Immediately afterwards I went down to Orinoco Studios to play bass for Natalie Imbruglia. It made me feel so much better, playing the bass always does. I understand exactly why the Emperor Nero felt compelled to play his fiddle as Rome burned.

a.james@independent.co.uk

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