Sir Bob Gandalf at The Plaza

Last night, as part of my continuing attempt to end world poverty, I attended a reception at The Plaza, Central Park South, which is one of New York's spiffiest hotels.

There was a free bar, tiny canapes and a panel of star speakers including Ted Turner and Queen Rania of Jordan, who are both ubiquitous here (I wonder who is Trooping the Colour in Amman while she is away?) and Sir Bob Geldof.

Long-haired and grizzled, he will have to be renamed Sir Bob Gandalf one day soon.

Gandalf's powerful but slightly rambling address aside, the tone was uniformly congratulatory of us, the audience. We really are wonderful people who care about world poverty.

Well, the whole thing is a vast junket, but I hope the summit and the surrounding activity will do some good, even so.