There’re are few things good abouvi getting a tooth extracted. But reading the Ulster Tatler always cheers me up. A monthly magazine that covers the social scene in Norn Iron….with receptions and gala events….and pages of glossy photographs of people who are important, people who think they are important and people who never will be important….but are absolutely delighted at just being at the same occasion…in tuxedo or evening dress and holding a wine glass.

The Tatler is always entertaining. August 2012 is no exception. Where else would I hear of the Land of the Giants reception attended by Mayor Gavin Robinson (and his wife) and Cllr Marie Hendron, leader of the Alliance group on Belfast Council with hubby Jim, the former MLA.

Until earlier this week I had never heard of Gary Lightbody….some singer with Snow Patrol apparently….but there he was at the Magee College Graduation Ball with Alasdair McDonnell, Pat Ramey and Fearghal McKinney of SDLP, Kevin Campbell Sinn Fein (Mayor of Derry), Basil McCrea of UUP and Professor Deirdre Heenan.

Yet flicking thru the pages and seeing some non-public people, who I actually know all dressed up, is uplifting. My social status is now that I know a much better class of folk. There is also the fact in the Tatler some people scrub up well.

The biggest reception seems to be the Independence Day Reception at the American Consulate. Among the well known faces ….”Sir” Ken Bloomfield, “Lord” Rana, Penny Holloway, Joanne Dobson MLA, Professor Deirdre Heenan (again), Trevor Ringland, John McCallister MLA and the Mayor of Belfast , (Gavin Robinson…again),Basil McCrea (again) and Glynn Roberts (Alliance Chair, NIABT board member and the retail traders man who is never off the local news?)

Now what really perplexes me is that I have not had an invitation and I am now targeting the 2015 US Consulate Reception as the day I take my rightful place with the movers and the shakers.

This means I have to improve my social netwoschool skills. I have to start at the bottom and work my way up. This means starting my own organisation…..Federation of Nationalist, Republican and Socialist Bloggers…..and a few weeks after my return from Texas, I will arrange a meeting. To preserve our anonymity we will wear masks and scarves. Normally this is an arrest able offence but we will pass ourselves off as Flegs protestors so we will be ok. We will submit photos to the Tatler…it’s a start.

This means I will have to attend the SDLP Conference Dinner….although sitting thru Tim McGarrys cabaret act will be painful. But it’s a photo op.

The thing is fellow nationalist, republican and socialist bloggers if we play our cent working cards right, we could be with the movers and shakers at the US Consul Reception with the new movers and shakers.

People in dentists waiting rooms all over Norn Iron will be seeing OUR photographs in the Tatler. …alongside the new movers and shakers. Of course some of the August 2012 intake will still be moving and shaking in 2015….”Sir” Ken Bloomfield, Glyn Roberts….but I think Mr and Mrs FitzjamesHorcan should be there.