October

Like they all do at this stage of life, this month has passed virtually before it seems to have begun. We have ritualised for both the Kalends eve (after which we went to Celestine with Catherine and Pierre) and the Armilustrium on the 19th – being too full with friends and guests for further ‘formal’ celebrations. For the rest, things have ticked along. On the third, I heard from New York University Press that they do not feel they have a large enough readership to publish my Cherry Hill Seminary lectures. The following day, Richard had the second surgery on his right eye. It was much more painful this time, but gradually it became less so, and his vision has improved immensely.

With this new sight, we have watched both Celluloid Closet and Strangers on a Train – the Hitchcock classic. Both had been sent to us by Mary. We still have five more Hitchcock films to find time to watch + the Jiri Kylian Collection of the Nederlands Dans Theater that Saskia gave to us, and The History of Rome Podcast that Vicky gave me for my birthday. It will all happen.

We had a lovely evening at Pierre and Catherine’s with them and Gustav and Maren (from Sweden) and Margariet and Jan (from the Netherlands). The following day, Richard and I went upon Catherine’s suggestion to Moissac-Bellevue for the last day of the Sacred Art exposition. René Ghiglione, the owner of Celestine, was exhibiting there as well, and we purchased two of his staffs. His work is animist-pagan and most fascinating to discover. He described himself to me as on the border between Christianity and paganism. That same afternoon we went to the Literary Luncheon to hear the ex-MP, Tory party member Peter Rost as speaker. His narrative was interesting. Born in Germany to a Jewish father and an ‘Aryan’ mother, his family moved to Britain in the late 1930s to escape the impending. His gratitude to the British is steadfast, but he also is ecologically mindful.

The following day we attended the Fête de la Courge in Rians. Pumpkin prepared in countless different ways was to be found. Petit Claude had suggested this event to us. The mix of people, the festive air and the old world relaxation came together as a thing of incredible, soothing beauty. Later that evening we fechted Sarah Pike and Rob from Les Arcs. She is one of the most lovely of persons, and I found Rob, whom I had not previously known, to be as well. The next day, Richard got his heart monitor attached in Draguignan. Later that day, we had the vernissage in neighbouring Salernes for the final exhibition in which Richard was participating for the season. Rob and Sarah came with us. Barbara and Patrick arrived from Nice later that evening – 21:00 just as we were to start the quiche I had prepared earlier.

Returning to Draguignan the next morning, we learned from David Dedola that Richard’s heart skip is nothing to worry about but should be checked annually. That night for dinner Richard cooked the courge we had purchased in Rians. The entourage of six of us was fun and enjoyable. Sarah and Rob were off by taxi early the next day at 06:15 for Les Arcs and their train to Rome. Arlette Singer arrived later that morning to begin a re-draft of our house plans with the intention of finally getting official approval of the construction we did something like twenty odd years ago. That afternoon, Helen Berger and her husband John reached us after renting a car in Les Arcs. The next evening I made a ricotta for dinner following Sylvie’s recipe and also an apple crisp.

Helen and John departed the following morning as Patrick, Barbara, Richard and I were about to head off to St. Tropez for the day. But before that, the toilet backed up, and I needed to phone Renaud who came almost immediately. It was all repaired by the time we had returned. The day itself had clouded over, so all we did at Aqua Club was have lunch. Since Patrick had driven, I could drink and took advantage of the Calvados and plum eau de vie that Paul had offered us. We walked through the town afterwards and had a liquid dinner that night at home.

Saturday the Ides of October I had a raging cold. I prepared lamb (Francoise’s recipe) and another apple crisp for dinner. We were ten in all – including Adelaide, Pascal & Mariame, Lilian and Renaud, Barbara from the hill, Barbara and Patrick, Richard and me. As soon as dessert was finished, I slipped off to bed – and would have stayed all day in bed the next day but for our reservations for lunch at Celestine and the champagne celebration at the conclusion of the exposition in Salernes that evening. With Patrick also now with a cold, we all had hot rum toddies in place of dinner. We did not see Barbara and Patrick off the following morning. They arrived home in California 24 hours later.

Due to illness, Françoise had to cancel her visit to us. My cold was substantially better by Tuesday. Richard then had it but not as bad. We were to go to the Calalou with Adele and Pascal for Friday night’s dinner, but by now Adele had the cold as well and had to cancel. Richard and I went on our own. The evening before, in lieu of finding a restaurant that was open, we had dinner chez nous with Penny, Hamish and Stephen.

And that has been the month. I also managed to get the insurance restored for the London flat. It had expired last July, but I had not realised until the post that Gin had forwarded arrived in France. The long continuation of summer/Indian summer ended suddenly about the time Barbara and Patrick departed. Psychologically, none of us were prepared for the change. It is now winter mode. Days are often still sunny – and always beautiful, but it is much colder. We even put on heat for the evening. But I remain ever grateful for the beauty that surrounds us, for the lovely friends we have, for the deep and comforting relationship I am so privileged to have, and for the health we still possess. At Richard’s suggestion, knock-knock on wood.