Friday 20th February 2015

Today is the 50th Birthday of Rufus Pitman. I leave for the function in 15 mins. Only just back from Selfridges with bootees from Paul Smith, suede in a doe tone. Huge outfit challenges mainly brought about by my mania to wear cream or off-white in the winter. Also brought perfumes. Tomorrow is another 50th birthday. It’s costing me about £300 to attend.

Last Sunday Genevieve Suzy of the magazine world collected me and we drove to Primrose Hill with her daughter, Gregoria, and her dog, MacIntosh. The idea was to exercise the dog. All the dogs there are pedigree and Ed Milly himself is nearby in his residence – does he have a dog? I doubt it. On the way, I gave directions to Genevieve but she said, ‘Can I drive my own car?’ and wretched the wheel in the opposite direction to the one suggested. ‘How dare you!’ I said. It turned out she wanted to drop off at a deli and get cakes. On Primrose Hill, withEd Milly nearby, I was put in mind of politicians. ‘I should think Ed Milly’s a bit squishy,’ I said. ‘If only the party leaders would do underwear ads like David Beckham, then it would be clear who will win.’ Genevieve appeared not to approve of these remarks, no doubt thinking them disrespectful. Lord Suzy is away, by the way, in the Caribbean where he yachts. Then Gregoria wanted the facilities so we retreated to a council house type building. Beside it was a children’s play park except it wasn’t, it was a fitness and work-out corner for Eastern Europeans, some of whom were topless in the freezing winter air. Genevieve and I were suddenly very keen that Gregoria should climb the frames and swing on the rings. ‘What do you think it’ll be like in warm weather?’ Genevieve wondered. We shall see.

Tuesday I dined quietly with Joshua Baring at 8 Hoxton Square. Superb. Him also. He’s written 50,000 words and is planning 100,000 more. I could never do that because of being away from the shops for so long. One Christmas Joshua was invited to Blenheim Palace for Christmas dinner. Luckily it was in the evening so he was able to fit in his family Christmas lunch at home. I was reminded of that epi of ‘Vicar of Dibley’ where Dawn French had to have six Christmas dinners because of some ludicrous mix-up with the invitations and not daring to offend anybody as vicar. At Blenheim they have footmen in private. The present Duke appeared in trackie bottoms and said they were a present from a relation when he’d been in jail. The other person Joshua’s had dinner with is Dr Christian. You can’t get into his flat for rococo furniture.

Genevieve Suzy’s Dog, Mackintosh, Waiting Outside the Ladies, Primrose Hill Park