January / February 1989
Some reader finds my deathless prose too frivolous, unspecific ... and a few other things. After all, he said people really want to read about what Baronness duSnok was wearing on Christmas morning (probably something warm and Dior), or what Prince Albert is doing (he has a lovely intelligent smile and accompanied his dignified father on a marathon of Christmas appearances) ...
I told the editor that I would be absolutely delighted to describe the gowns at the Reveillon at the Cabaret, or tell who attended the gala evening of "La Traviata", or danced on the table at Jimmy'z on New Year's Eve ... if he'd only said so ... and give me a suitable expense account!
If it's fashion frivolities you're after, you should have been at a business Forum de Jeunesse at the Centre du Congres ... (the same weekend Steve Davis and Jimmy White were in town for the Monaco Snooker Grand Prix, and a friend of mine dined at the Moulin de Mougins at the next table to Papadoc) ... and seen this long-legged girl wearing long lacy black tights, ankle length boots with mink bobbles, and a Paris Lido sort of taffeta mini in metallic red and black (red and black are "in" this winter). It had two frills sticking out like a ballet tutu and big sleeves, slashed like Malvolio's garters with silver ... and you must have been impressed by Pierre Lacotte's costumes for "La Sylphide".
I could tell you the best place to have your mink cleaned and repaired ... and the price of moving around the corner in Monaco (which all depends on whether or not you pay cash)... or, how about a personal interview with a soccer star? ... Oh! and the mince pies at Mr. Brian's were such a sell-out at Christmas that he's extending into the place next door - now that's good news! ... and this is the opera season in Monte Carlo (I'm saying that to annoy P.M.)
Although, after hearing his stint on Riviera Radio, reserved for all those male chauvinist listeners re their ideal woman (glued to the stove and unable to hammer in the smallest nail) ... he's probably lost his voice and is jealous of anyone who can sing!
Off to Los Angeles for Christmas. A quick plane change in New York as Pan Am has its own terminal. Never change airlines in New York unless you have two hours to spare! The flight back was just two days after the Lockeridge disaster and that day security was so tight I felt that I was on one of the safest flights ever - even if my "direct" flight went through Milan. Apparently "direct" doesn't mean non-stop. After European air travel, the US is a big letdown - comfort wise although I found Pan Am no worse than the others. It seems that Americans will accept any sort of treatment in exchange for their ultra-low airfares.
After the 24 hour trip back from the City of Angels Heli-Air Monaco whirred me gently across the Bay of Angels to Monaco. Super service with a smile, and a special limo-bus straight to my door.
In February, there is the circus. The creme de la creme of the circus performers from all over the world perform and are judged, and the lines are long to buy a seat for the final night, when the best of the best run along tightropes and leap through hoops to loud and frantic cheering.
If elephants standing on tubs, and gambling with death leaves you cold, you could come to the TV Festival. TV film-makers from all over the world come to Monaco to sell their wares to the TV networks and anyone around in the first two weeks of February can get into see previews of films and newsreels (with simultaneous translations in several languages) at the Centre du Congres.
