Sunday 20th March 2016

I don’t think I mentioned my visit to the Downton Abbey location (a small Stately) with a Gainsborough, owned by a kind of rellie. Aunt Lavinia accompanied me on that occasion, as she did the next morning at the Royal Academy for the deeply private tour. That very evening I was bolt upright at the Opera. Then at the weekend there was a cancellation but something happened last min. Forgotten what. The next week was a dinner for 8 at my official home (you know what I’m like about dinner-giving: on the floor). A very important CEO attended, with shares as well as salary. In fact the richest person present although not a drop of Poor Little Rich Gay blood floweth in his veins. His wife, however, an old friend known to me, Adrian Edge, before her sensational marriage, recently was unable to even enter a certain ghastly hotel. But strangely, she’s got no silver.  Laura Malcolm and Robert Nevil declared class war at the dinner and had me reduced to maid-level. The menu was Parmigiano Bianco (i.e with goat cheese and a white sauce, no tomatoes), Nigel’s Chicken with a thyme and onion gravy (thought a little rustic, I think, by the guests). Then a rhubarb cake. The next day, Peter Acharya and Ned Czernowski, who’d also dined, beckoned me to a drinks in an architects office for Gays in the Property Sector. I have to say the architect who made the speech had a superbly well-fitted suit. But we didn’t really take to any of the Gays in the Property Sector and went lurching about in Soho. We attacked some kind of Thai walk-on restaurant that wouldn’t let us walk in. Peter is just not accustomed to taxis not arriving or restaurants not having tables. Genevieve Suzy, head of Dainty Lady TV is the same. She absolutely blew up in the Ivy Brasserie the other day: ‘How can a Brasserie be fully booked?’ This is an item. Send for the film crew!’ she raged. The end of it was Peter and Ned and I were on a banquette in Balans with a avo and prawn cocktail. Friday was the Antiques Fair at Duke of York’s Yard, King’s Road. Aunt Lavinia had been given cards by an Elizabeth Frink seller with whom she seems to be negotiating a purchase of some substance.  I knew one of stall-holders, of course. He said, ‘You can’t mention eBay here.’ The Antiques Fair sparked dissatisfaction with the furniture in my public rooms. I began surging on eBay and other antiques websites – with results. In fact, I’ve drawn up a list of improvements for the Official home. I long and long for some Empire piece – surely one little round table with a grey marble top can’t do any harm?

Well, look. I’ve gone on enough and I’ve Easter scarves to launder. Easter is a tremendous deadline but I’ve so much more to tell you. Laura Malcolm gave a dinner, Robert Nevil and I drove to nurseries in Essex and Cambridgeshire before watching TV. Harry Rollo and Mercury Mr Kitten have gained from California. Harry gave a performance on Wednesday and was seen at Simeon Bond’s last night as was Stephan Jäger who’s been looking at Grinder.

I’ve so much more to tell you. It’ll just pour out.

But no picture. More things have arrived from eBay. But not ready for graphing yet.

Goodbye everybody!