counting

I seem to be spending a lot of time counting these days.
I count the days before I can get back to London.
I count the days I have left before heading back to Milan.
I count the number of planes I have to board every month.
I count the time gaps between trains and buses that will take me to an airport.
I count the times we are forced to move in and out of our new home.
And I count underwear and tshirt I have left before running out in my 1-bag based existence.

But one thing above all I count: the days separating me from meeting this little one.

In the end...

... it was indeed a triumph of our times. More people than at an Arsenal match. More empty bottles at the end of the evening than after a Bananarama concert. And more interesting and intelligent people gathered together than present in the rest of the country (mum included!).
Truly spectacular.
Now, where was that plane ticket...?

Two amazing videos I have been obsessing over for days

Things that could happen in paradise: 1

Breakfast next to him:



Breathtaking.

Inspired

Everyone's Doing It

Yep. Apparently he's the hottest ticket in town. And he's still not shown his face in bloody Milan.

Happy bunny

Guess who just stepped off a plane to spend 3 months with me?

Indeed. Evil kitty fairy.

Am in heaven.

The excitement mounts

Number 10

We are not the proud owners. Yet...

BUT we did manage to have lashings of champagne in it at midnight nontheless AND plan our next party there: The Seven Deadly Sins. Think Eyes Wide Shut meets Daphne du Maurier. Lady V to make sure there are no inconsistencies by running from room to room and enacting each and every sin with absolute precision.

As for the house, well... it won't look like this by the time we're done with it... including the famous loo, which will be disposed of as should most modern art.

Just like her mummy...

Unnamed sources revealed the extent of yesterday's debauchery in the park. Apparently, someone's turdette was widely admired for having mummy's taste in beaverages...

2 girls...

... one video. What better welcoming for F visiting the island than introducing her to one of the web's most viral videos in history?






Sometimes I love being this evil.

you know who you are...

Guess who?

Following Le Duc's brilliant discovery, guess whose Wordle is this:



And whose is this:



And finally this:

Luigi Ghirri

Enrico made me discover an Italian photographer I barely knew, except for a couple of half-read references at some exhibition or another one: Luigi Ghirri. And immediately I was conquered by his delicate sense of humanity, of space, of colour.

If you want to read something intelligent about him, go to James Danziger's The Year in Pictures. If you only want to see some of his pictures, you can just scroll down here...

Everyone's an English Patient

So, on the way back to Mailand from Chiantishire (yes, I am going to slowly persuade everyone that Italy is not really an independent country by using only foreign names for its regions and cities, so as to induce, once and for all, the Germans to come take control and stop this madness). On my way back to Mailand, Lady V, Tot T and I discussed the Upcoming Event of 2009.

- Do you mean Lady V's book launch?
- Or President O's inauguration?
- The end of the war in A) the Middle East B) the Congo c) The fishcounter in Ham every Saturday night?

No. Nothing as trivial as that. We are talking of the PARTY of the YEAR: Everyone's an English Patient (registered trademark).

Just like last year's Much Ado About Nothing, cinema remains our main source of inspiration, including for understanding Tot F's thoughts (when there are some preceeding action, which is rather rare these days).

Unlike last year, however, there will be no strict dress or behavioural code. No more white linen and genteel attire. This time, imagination (like the gin) will run riot.

So here are some of Tot V and my suggestions to turn this into a memorable event (obviously Tot V won't remember a thing, poor old sausage...).

Settings

World War 2. Deserts. Caves. Torture Chambers. Monasteries. Frescoes. Deathbeds. Orchards. Barracks. The Royal Geographic Society. Aeroplanes. Canadians. Bonfires.

Sayings

Chaps only in the long bar. I am not missing you yet. Supra-sternal notch. A very plum plum. Lashings of apologies (natch). Old sausage. Romantic love, Platonic love, filial love. He didn't speak for nine hours. She's charming and has read everything. In ltaly, you get chickens but no eggs. For God's sake, man, pull yourself together.

Suggested reading

Herodotus. Maps. Ondaatje. Days of Grace. The National Geographic. Scrapbooks.

Games

Spin the bottle. Guess the Herodotus quote. Hop-scotch. Treasure hunt. Keep the candle burning. Unearth the people-filled car. Hide the sausage.

Music genre

North African tribal songs. 1930s jazz. Foxtrot. Tango. Electro banging rock. Britney and Edith.

Costumes will be compulsory, as usual, but each invitee will have the liberty to interpret all of the above and turn it into a smash fash. Naturally, best costumes will be rewarded with breathless flights over the Tuscan desert (Capalbio beach).

Here are some suggestions for some core attendees we expect will be coming.

Tot F: Katherine Clifton
Maude: The Old Sausage
PDF: Geoffrey Clifton
Filippo: Muller (a name for every finger)
Pam: Hana
Molly: Gioia (brief, but beautiful)
Heidi: Jan the Canadian hottie (who unfortunately likes lace pants too much)
Diana: Caravaggio
Jasmine: the beautiful Muslim nurse
Tot T: Madox
Le Duc: Bermann (Kamal's lover)
Annalisa: Kip
Michelle: Sergeant Hardy
Beth: Lady Hampton
Jon: D'Agostino
Tot V: Sexy belly dancer in Cairo bazaar, see Director's Cut.
Tot A: Count Laszlo de Almásy

I am aware I offended most of you here, despite Lady V's nagging in the corner, but if you can do better PROVE IT. There are no women in this film, and the community is awash with them. What can I say? Next year I guess we'll do Girl, Interrupted. Tot F to play Angelina, natch.

And if you're wondering who on earth you are, check the script.

See you on July 25th. I insist. Presents for Lady V, Molly and ME.

Gore Vidal versus David Dimbleby

You've all seen the great coverage of the victory and the acceptance speech. What you might NOT have seen, however, is this moment of sheer genius during last night's drunken BBC election night programme. Enjoy...!

Angry dance

I just love these guys. Footloose will never be the same!

a little new obsession

Courtesy of La Tot Donatella Jackson. She truly knows how to give good TV series.

Contemplating improving what is already practically perfect...

strangers- short film

From Diana. Simply amazing.

Blu: Muto

Blu surpassed himself once more: