The 17th most powerful woman in the world accosts me in the corridor.

I work for a largish UK education company which recently held a photographic competition amongst its employees. No worries, thought I, a chance to win some easy cash … little realising that the selection criteria for the finalists would be, "choose the dullest photographs taken this year". Ironic then that I had two photographs amongst the finalists and more ironic still that I won a judge's prize for favourite photograph.

To be honest the judge's introduction to my photograph had me well chuffed ("...it was a story about what wasn't there as much as what was - the subject is looking out into the distance at something we can only guess at…" etc) By the end of his description I was pretty sure it was my photograph he was referring to. Here it is:

Odd the photographs that get noticed. It's always the ones you least expect.

Anyway this was all happening at a lavish Award / company thing where everyone was well and truly trollied on free booze, myself included. I stumbled up on stage and couldn't work out whether it was the Company MD or the judge whose hand I should be shaking, so in the end I shook both - twice. Our largish company is owned by a much larger international publishing, media and education giant the CEO of which happened to be at this Awards ceremony. On my way back from the Gents the CEO is coming down the hallway as I'm going the other way, her entourage in tow (you need an entourage when you're the CEO of a FTSE 100 company, I think - it's essential). She stopped me, shook my hand and said, "what a wonderful photo! Was it really on Lake Como?" which I thought was actually a bit of a daft question seeing as the photograph is titled, "On Lake Como" so it left me speechless for a moment (although it might have been all that free booze) and I exclaimed "Yes! It's the daughter of a friend of mine …" which left us not much further to go in the conversation other than for her to say, "Well done! It's a great photograph - enjoy the rest of the evening" or words to that effect (I can't remember very well - I'd had a few drinks. Did I mention that already?)

According to Forbes (who are great at these sorts of lists) the CEO (let me call her MS) is the 17th most powerful woman in the world (more powerful than the Queen (23rd) and even Oprah Winfrey! (21st). (see here) Wow. (How do they decide these things?) My photograph has been blessed by greatness. I was well chuffed for a second time in the evening.

M and I went for a celebratory meal at our favourite Japanese restaurant and after the seventh or eighth mention of my meeting with MS my beloved M told me to put a sock in it.