Busy Last Day After Ten O'Clock

A nice, balmy night and our last night in London. Alice was away and we had to get back to the apartment on Rupert Street.

We walked back slowly. Remember, walking with Richard in London is like entering a maze: it seems impossible to go in a straight line for more than one block. If I am right, we crossed Oxford Street, went down Argyll Street to Great Marlborough Street, down Carnaby Street to Ganton Street, down Kingly Street to Beak Street, up to Lexington Street to Brewer Street and finally we were at the top of Rupert Street. The night was pleasant and we walked slowly. We got to the door at about 10:30 and it was just too plain early to go to sleep, although we had to get up at 5:30 or 6:00 for the minicab.

What did sensible people like us do? We went into the Asian Supermarket and bought a small (we should have gotten a big one) of Jack Daniels AND a bag of pistachio nuts (which disappeared in five minutes). We went upstairs to relax and talk about life.

Well, well, well. Here we three are. A full week of fun behind us. A day ahead in lines at airports and with swollen feet on the long flight. We had a hell of a time at the theater and opera and eating (I gained 2 pounds I found out when I got home) and walking around and UP and DOWN the stairs on Rupert Street. Now we could relax. There were no whiskey glasses, so I got two wine glasses and one water glass. Judy wanted only a little, and Richard and I used the wine glasses. Judy spoke on the phone with someone and we had our first drink: Here's To London! Richard began talking to me about his business plans. He is in a situation now where he is excited about the next step in the development of the business into one where he expands his expertise in advising governments (and small business owners) how to think about and market their products. As he talked and got more into the whole spiel, he ate all the damn pistachio nuts. I had four. Judy had none. They disappeared down his throat like he was hungry.

Judy got off the phone and we had our real first toast (and the two Richard's second drink). Richard had been with me to see MASTERCLASS(where we both cried) and LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT(where the three of us were breathless with the tension) AND for many dinners, lunches and snacks AND for walks at speed around Soho AND laughs. Now it was time for us to ask him a LOT of questions about his plans. So, we began to talk and he began to talk and we continued drinking and it was suddenly midnight.

Here he is. And that's BEFORE all the Jack Daniels.

Richard left and we cleaned up and went to sleep. Up at 5:30/6:00.