Thursday 16th January 2014

January is manic with diarising: the year stretches ahead with the inevitable revered programme: Glyndebourniana followed by Tuscany (just gasping for Tuscany by late July: indeed am already gasping now in January). So little time! Genevieve Suzy, of the magazine world, said, ‘Don’t panic book a Tuscan villa!’ But how could I not? They get snapped up. Tuesday I was the whole afternoon villa-viewing on-line (if I saw one more chintz armchair or curtained shelving in a cucina!) Wednesday I closed on L’Eremo for August. It’s encased in woods and has a compromised annexe (only fit for a maid or nanny they said at CV travel: ‘What about a blind over the skylight?’ I said. ‘Look,’ they said, quite cross, ‘a nanny’s getting a free holiday. All she’s got to do is look after some children for a few hours a day. She’s not going to complain.’ There’s also a single in a tower, access through the master bedroom.

It’s astonishing how little a Poor Little Rich Gay can have. Someone’s going to have to go in that compromised annexe. Most likely it will be me. And in that access through master bed single…

But L’Eremo is in Tuscany –  Thank God for that. Who will come? Will anyone come?

Yesterday the whole day almost on the Glyndebourniana ballot. It turns out the Multis have made their own arrangements and are balloting with Stulke Songingsen, the millionaire-ess. Probably it’s easier for them to be with people at their own economic level. So it’s lucky I forked £500 for a Glyndebourniana Associate Membership. Trembling with terror at the expense but you only live once (and even then not very much) so why die with ££££s in the Account?

Otherwise it’s been a light programme of engagements with sales shopping in between as well as getting the ‘invites’ out for the Gay Mother’s multi-faceted 90th birthday in February.  I’m going to have to be tranq-ed from now on.

On Saturday Robert Nevil and I dined with an old boyfriend of his and a vicar in Maida Vale. ‘Thank God we didn’t stay together,’ the old boyfriend said, mirthful.

Sunday Simeon Bond gave a vehicular catered fork luncheon at his new desmesne. He’s had a ruin put in the garden. Guests were either from the Spiritual World or Film Composers. What a treat for me that Stephan Jaëger was present and full of news. Come back later for more.

Tuesday Genevieve Suzy and I, on behalf of Dainty Lady TV, took a Press Brunch and View at the London Art Fayre. I was back in my res for online villa viewing in the afternoon, then out again to the Estorick for the De Chirico Opening. John Tusa robed and present in the Chancel. Also Candace Allen, formerly Lady Rattle. Genevieve furious at latter’s failure to recognise her even though they’d had two six hour dinners with a publisher who tends to provoke the interest of terrorists.

Otherwise, I’ve been diarising, as already mensh, making marmalade and ironing. So typical that my crazy ironing lady returns to Bulgaria the minute Bulgarians become legal here.

The Photo Multi has just announced 1059201 Avios Points.