February 2025

Even though Richard still has some pain and cannot open his mouth fully, Nick says that dental surgery had proceeded very well and there is no more infection. With all this we are reminded of Bette Davis. Marie-Laure has had surgery for tachycardia and has been suffering since. And for his anaemia, Richard was referred to the OneWelbeck Surgery Centre, but Dr. Haycock is not worried and for now advises that Richard have regular blood tests. And this month, we have also visited Hilary & Steven at the Bridgeside Lodge Care Home. She at 90 is remarkable; he between Richard and me age-wise was virtually incommunicable.

At the Royal Academy, we saw first the ‘Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael – Florence, c.1504’ exhibit when the three artists briefly crossed paths; second: ‘Brasil! Brasil! The Birth of Modernism’ – both of which were utterly fascinating and inspiring. Sheer talent on all sides. The next day (7 Feb.), we saw Mulholland Drive at the Prince Charles Cinema near Leicester Square. As haunting and fascination as it had been the first time.

Ben prepared a lovely scrambled egg breakfast/brunch before we sat down with him and Gin to discuss my will, Richard’s will, power of attorneys, etc. Near the end of the month, the four of us had a Zoom to discuss matters further.

I have written an article on “Global Paganism and Colonialism” and submitted it to The Pomegranate. I have also completed a review of Eric Steinhart’s Contemporary Pagan Philosophy for the Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture. For my own reading it has been Paganism in 5 Minutes which provoked my submission to The Pom and am now reading Richard Lloyd Parry’s intriguing Ghosts of the Tsunami.

We cleared out our garage storage and spent much of the month packing up books and papers into 72 cartons, 6 suitcases, etc. for shipping to the farm. The whole process has been confusing and expensive, and all was cleared away from the flat on the 26th of February. That evening we celebrated with Meg at the Trattoria Brutto with negroni.

Upon the conclusion of our February nefastus period of abstinence from the beginning of the month, we took the train to Eastleigh and had a delightful time with delightful Claire (shortly to be 92). This was the Quirinalia. The following day Natacha & Jonathan arrived. That evening we dined at Vardo. The next evening was dinner and margaritas at Mezcalito Chelsea. The day after this, Marion & Leslie had invited us for lunch at the Ritz. They were celebrating their 45th anniversary and, since they had had the flu and were unable to come to our party, our 50th. It was in all a dazzling experience with the most delicious of foods and unbeatable service. We did have champagne, and then that evening Jonathan & Natacha took us to the Royal Festival Hall for the London Philharmonia with Tugan Sokhiev conducting and Daniel Lozakovich playing Prokofiev’s Second Violin Concerto with in the second half Rachmaninov’s magnificent, hour-long Second Symphony. Once home, we finished the Port Charlotte and then switched to Springbank.

The day after this it was the Bath House – Banya London sauna near Victoria Station with Chloe & Sophi. This was followed by 2 negroni each after cappuccino at the Jang restaurantin the Royal Exchange with Darby. The following evening at St. Peter’s Church on Eaton Square was for Eamonn’s the Nonsuch Singers featuring Pizzetti’s Requiem. The piece that seemed to be enjoyed the most was Byrd’s Ne – irascaris, Domine – Civitas sancti tui. James

sat with us for the second half. The music itself was quite lovely, though the words that go with it are outrageous and appalling.

For the Terminalia or last day of the Roman year we enjoyed Madeleine Peyroux at the Cadogan Hall. No longer the slender singer I had expected, and not even French but American, she does indeed have a lovely voice which has been placed in the same category as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Edith Piaf. Two days later Gillie treated us and Mano to lunch at Zédel’s. This was most delicious as well and wetted our appetites for our imminent return to France as well. In between Madeleine and Gillie was the Regifugium and the first of the Roman epagomenae or carnival – sort of a non-time appended to the ‘ideal’ calendar of 360 days.

I have heard the current American President being described as “touchy and prickly.” I am appalled over how un-presidential he is as well as the ridiculousness of his statement that the EU was established to “screw America.” Throw him together with Netanyahu, Putin, Lukashenko and their like, let alone the Inaugural triad of Musk, Bezos and Zuckerberg, how much more is it necessary to implement a new global mindedness that is both honestly mature and effectively honourable? Some of my astrologer friends and students maintain that from February 2026 our confusing transitional period will begin to end. But could that be too late? My militant optimism still insists that we will somehow get through this current burdening feudalism including the utter waste of death and destruction it both is and cannot stop and, as a result, become stronger and all the more commensurately beautiful. Music continues to be my solace and inspiration, and I seek in whatever way possible to Draw Down the Music of the Spheres here to our beloved and sacred planet – our very home in this immense, immense cosmos.

And on the last day of the epagomenae, we enjoyed margaritas and dinner at the Club with James and Eamonn.

So for the first of March, happy Roman new year!