The post-April Lap 2023

The post-April Lap 2023



Currently in Amsterdam and have attended my appointment at the Stadhuis concerning Dutch citizenship. Now it is a 13-week wait. The evening of the day of the appointment was the Concertgebouw for a stunning Wiener Philharmoniker concert conducted by Jakob Hrūša and consisting of Janáček's 'Jaloezie', Prokofiev's 'Romeo and Juliet Suite' and Shostakovich's '5th Symphony'. It could not have been more excellent. The next night I watched the Eurovision with Jimmy. Did not get home and to bed afterwards until almost 03:00.

Two nights before the appointment had been La Caramba. Stephan had had a foot operation and could not walk and hence could not join us. Amir cancelled because of a painful ear infection, and Fred had seen the doctor earlier in the day and was immediately hospitalised. So it was just Jim, Vicky and Santima – all more or less just hanging on by our fingernails. Santima joined me for dinner at Stephan & Koen’s the following week and then she treated me to dinner last night at a Japanese restaurant. The day before I had had lunch with Carlo and Jean-Christophe. And also yesterday, I went to the Hermitage for “Rembrandt and His Contemporaries.” I have further been to the Rijks Museum, but there has been no possibility to see the fully booked Vermeer exhibition.

Before leaving the farm, we had dinner at Saint Marc’s with Robin and another there with Joanne, Liliane, Pâris & Ocean, and Odessa. Earlier in the day that second time, we had gone to Aix-en-Provence with Joanne for the most enjoyable Hockney exhibition at the MuséeGranet. Our cinema night at Penny’s was The Good House with Sigourney Weaver. I enjoyed it, but Richard fell asleep.

It has been a dreamy time in Amsterdam with a strange simultaneous fusion of ecstasy and depression. I have been writing on ‘Theologies’ and also sleeping surprisingly more than usual. In two days, I take the train back to the Midi. Marie-Laure had met me and accompanied me from the Gare de Lyon to the Gare du Nord when I came through Paris enroute to Amsterdam and may meet me again on the way back. Robin has been with Richard, and I believe Pili has now joined them.