Saturday 14^th August 2010

Nippy, sprightly, impertinent Robert Nevil (‘Look at those tight white jeans with a red B on the bum. How common!’ was his manner of referring to my Balenciaga) and the mini-maharajah of the flowered fabrics, Arjan Bose, left the villa this morning. Sad, sad, sad.

Over for another year.

Prince Dmitri and I await the Multis, Marcus Cargill, England’s leading clockmender and his partner, Hamish McCory, for the Umbrian villa part two.

What a time we’ve had!

Prince Dmitri fell into despair over his Vitello Tonnato but it was excellent. Then he played Fantasy Football on his I Pad (which doubles well as a hand mirror for my use) and thought to name his team ‘Ladyteam’ but it wasn’t accepted. It’s been raining: Arjan switched on the pool lights in the hope of warming up the water.

We’ve been picking over our early lives. Only Prince Dmitri was not absorbed in childhood by ladies’ powder compacts; Arjan, as an even tinier boy than the present man, was always hurling onto the stage to give an Indian dance, make-up and jewels beyond the call of duty. Robert Nevil reminded me that in the early 80s, in a Tuscan location, Anthony Mottram, my oldest friend from school-days, and I were as now interminably not on speakers after a row about the meaning of the word ‘Gay’.  Reconciliation was only achieved in the making of a hugely elaborate pasta pie where a sweet pastry-case was filled with hand-made and stuffed tortellini and a complicated ragu. The result was disgusting.

So what has changed? Poor Little Rich Gays are nothing if not temperamental. And not given to compromise.

And yet, and yet –  Robert Nevil recalled his second boyfriend who was a philanderer. But RN was so in thrall, he even sewed on a button for this person as he hurried off on holiday with some side-slapper. Although that was also the final straw.

Poor Little Rich Gays continue to suffer and endure in this manner if not quite to this extreme. There is much that cannot be spoken off. Will it ever be known? You might think we’ve substituted shopping and decor and hotels for juicer activities. You’d be wrong. You’d be knocked flat by the complications if you but knew.

Arjan Bose wore a different flowered or embroidered garment every day.

Embroidered Shirt Worn by Arjan Bose

One of Arjan Bose's Hand-Made Prints

What We Suffered! Thus an Italian Chicken from the Mart