Thanks for the report written in your inimitable style :) there seemed to be far fewer gin gimbers than expected. Something to do with the presence
of the ladies?

Not for the lack of trying! More to do with either no ginger beer available, or no gin available. I did have several in the M Club on Sunday and Monday evening. But there were no free pour spirits and the waiting staff were sometimes difficult to flag down. At a certain point I just gave in and switched to Prosecco because that's what my wife was drinking.