Ros Reines Gossip » Saab Anniversary Party, Simmer on The Bay, Sydney

August 25th, 2006

Saab Anniversary Party, Simmer on The Bay, Sydney

Swedish car maker, Saab rolled out the white carpet for Wednesday night’s splashy party to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the iconic convertible. The cool Nordic-looking waiters lined up with trays of drinks to greet guests were straight out of central casting. There was an ice bar with vodka shots and hearty canapes of gravlax, and roast beef. And several different party zones which didn’t quite work and some guests didn’t know whether they should be studiously looking at the Saabs on display or going into the disco room and letting it all hang out. Some were plain grumpy as they found it all too hard. “I don’t know why I was invited,'’ spluttered artist Jamie Gordon, “I don’t even drive.'’

Sigrid Thornton, who has been an ambassador with Saab for 10 years, arrived with congenial husband Tom Burstall after having enjoyed an agreeable day in Sydney at their Harbourside hotel. She was dripping in diamonds (the art deco style earrings were particularly impressive) and nervous about making a five minute intro. She drank only iced water, to start with. “I can’t take alcohol before a speech,'’ she confided. “It doesn’t really work for me. Some people are great with it.'’
Meanwhile Bondi’s most energetic party girl and shop keeper, Tali Jatali rocked up in a puff skirt looking as though she had come to the wrong event by mistake. Either way she was ready for whatever the night would bring, preferably a ride around town in one of the Saab anniversary convertibles with one of the handsome male waiters serving her drinks all the way - delicious.