Moscow Notebook

Before boarding the flight to Moscow, it dawned on me that I might have somehow contracted swine flu from Michael Nyman. What was I to do? This is not what I had in mind when I decided to bring a taste of Britain to Russia. I felt embarrassed. But stranger things have happened in my life. The reason behind my fear was my sudden ill health and an email from Nyman saying he wasn’t feeling his best due some kind of flu — apparently contracted in Mexico. Fortunately for us both and the rest of the British delegation to Russia, my health improved dramatically by the second day in the country. Mother Russia, so very caring.

Michael Nyman, Michael Portillo, Bella Freud and Hanif Kureishi were among the 150 enthusiastic guests who came to show their support at the London launch party of AngloMockBa, our British-Russian cultural relations festival. I founded this festival two years ago; the first was held in St Petersburg under the name ‘Jewel of Russia’.