Flat Earth: The Mile High Tub

THEN to Michelin House, for the British launch of former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke's autobiography. Quails' eggs and champagne circulate, bouquets are tossed in various directions by David Frost, then a discourse by Mr Hawke touching on his role in the big events of the century. Alas, one frivolous group in the corner does not attend properly to this important speech, being distracted by the information, casually acquired, that Mr Hawke's publisher, Paul Hamlyn, is so rich he has a bathtub in his private jet. 'I've known people to play with an aeroplane in their bath,' says one voice, wonderingly, 'but never with a bath in their aeroplane.'