Monday 7th November 2011

This Monday has been identical to last Monday: detail, detail, detail. Up to the bathroom shop: ‘Where’s that replacement plastic seal for my Bruce-McBain-inspired (he’s my private architect) Majestic shower-screen?’ Do you remember? It’s v. badly designed; has a hollow tube that gets moldy; I had to push a Q-tip through with wire to clean. Now it’s started to split after only 18-months. Last Monday thrice I crowed at the bathroom shop. I mean I went there three times: twice to get the size right, a third time to explain that if they ordered it, rather than me doing it directly, the delivery charge of £50 could be circumvented.

Today they had had no word of the plastic seal. I went on to the Post Office to collect a mystery parcel. Can you guess what it was? Long, thin box? Very light? Yes! Majestic have sent direct to me anyway!

Otherwise I’ve decided to have new kitchen sponge scourers and new bathroom cloths and non-scratch bathroom scourers.

But what about Val? I was round there last night to watch Downton. ‘L’Abbaye Downton’ as Val proclaimed. ‘This script is phoned in.’  He has fuzzy black and white TV also with bars across, no remote, no computer, minimal mobile phone, recently acquired further skeletal jewellery after crashing while sauced, his bedlinen has seen better days but he’s being portrayed. A private artist is coming to his flatti; on a paying basis. Val is sitting for his portrait.

Oh Poor Little Rich Gays! What utter greatness!

Money and beauty: last week I was mediating on money and beauty. Do you recall? In Florence the Medicis fuelled Botticelli with banking’s proceeds and the art grew more worldly until Savonarola bitched up and started bonfires in the Piazza Signoria. Those protesters at St Paul’s are the modern equivalent.

What of it? I’ve been wondering. I suppose it’s a cycle. Money builds up and bursts, there’s a backlash, much rending and burning; then it starts all over again. Not much to be done.

Money does give beauty though. Savonarola?

Come back tomorrow: I’ve fashion tips. I’m going to take Summer into Winter. I’ve been consulting with sources at Palm Beach.