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My life has been somewhat like being inside a tumble dryer recently.

There were a few exhibition submission deadlines looming, (and to be absolutely truthful, I had left it on the long finger and now I was in a bit of a panic situation), but what was really frustrating was that they were digital submissions. By now you will probably know that I am, at the most charitable, a bit challenged when it comes to all this computer business, especially with online form filling. This combined with trying to take photos with a digital camera (download, upload, wombling free), an inability to place things level on the wall, and metric measurements led to a lot of swearing and shouting at inanimate objects. Squeak had done the smart thing and had disappeared into my wardrobe looking for a jumper to eat. Eventually my knight in shining armour / LSH came to the rescue, and the forms went off.

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Well, our house could never be described as dull.

Last night was (more) proof of this. We had been out at the opening of the R.H.A. and then onto the Office/Doheny and Nesbits and finally the United Arts Club. We eventually came home and were met by a VERY strong smell of wet dog at the studio and kitchen door. Now, we don’t have a dog; we have quite enough on our plates with Squeak, Missey and their various tom cat boyfriends (three at the last count!). I had encountered this smell before about 15 years ago, but hoped I was mistaken in what I remembered of it. We looked around and eventually found the source, a fox. Yes, a fox. In the utility room. Curled up. On top of a box.

I’ve seen him before, with a few others, in the garden and he’s in a fairly sorry state. He didn’t stir when we went into him and even though we left the back door jammed open, he was still there this morning, now curled up in Squeak’s basket. This could have been a disastrous move on his part, as Squeak does not believe in the Barney/sharing is caring notion.

I phoned the DSPCA and left my details on their answering machine; but, just as I put the phone down I spotted the fox running along the back wall! And quite perky too! Now I am quickly trying to do the laundry, and getting tonight’s dinner out of the freezer before either a hyena takes up residence or a herd of wildebeest begin to graze in the back garden.

We’re just back from a great trip to Radicondoli. Only one problem….it was far too short!

We were determined to be there for May Day, as it’s a really big celebration for the town. It starts at 7am with the Radicondoli Band playing at different parts of the town, (a bit like an irreligious version of “the Stations” in Ireland). At each stop there are refreshments in the form of home made cakes, cheeses, cold meats and wine, or if you are really “lucky”….the demon grappa! Now for the uninitiated, this is a VERY acquired taste. Whereas Marcus is very fond of it, I think it resembles something from the selection of solvents in my studio, (and would probably do the job just as well).

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I was in London last week and I would highly recommend a visit to the V & A to see the Glamour of Italian Fashion Exhibition. It’s of fashion from post-war through to today and is absolutely beautiful! There are lots of exquisite dresses, (and some fairly dodgy men’s clothes from the ’60’s), which are fantastic to see in the flesh...

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Valentino posing with models in Rome, July 1967. Courtesy of The Art Archive Mondadori Portfolio / Marisa Rastellini