Juliet – 80!
Juliet, I can’t believe you are 80! It just seems crazy! You defy all stereotypes …
I remember you taking me and the twins to see ‘the oldest man in the world’ when we were little – Henry Moore at 80. A white haired old man … we sat round his map of the world coffee table while you looked after him, serving his tea; and he might have had a blanket over his knees … I can’t remember but my memory is of an ‘old’ man in need of care … we did our best not to fidget and be as quiet and polite as we could until we were unleashed into his large Cambridge estate where we haired about in the fields among his sculptures. I now realise what an amazing visit that was for us, and how lucky we are to have that in our bank of childhood memories. This is just one small example of the generous aunt you are and it’s nice to have the opportunity to say a public thank you for that.
But, the real point of the story is that Juliet, YOU are now 80 – but no sitting in an armchair with a blanket over the knees for you!
Still racing around the world in passionate pursuit of Goya and Manet, putting on exhibitions, writing catalogues, giving lectures, speaking on the radio, and generally embracing modern media, and the modern world. Do you have a twitter account? Intellectual and cosmopolitan and chic in every way – plus you make a mean flapjack – you’ve got it all – quite an inspiration! I am hanging on to the fact that there is a bit of you in my genetic make-up – I think probably the rest of your blood relations here feel the same …. and your non-blood relations will probably be hoping something will rub off on them too simply by association!
It is lovely to be here celebrating with you. 29 Belsize Avenue is a bit of a rock of an address to us all I think in different ways. Much history here …
And so, I raise a toast to you on behalf of us all, congratulate you on reaching such a great age with such style, elegance and accomplishment! But most of all, wish you a very happy birthday and many happy returns of the day!
Juliet at 80!