John Hamilton Palmer

I must pause here a moment as the mulled wine swims round in my head so gently, and the lights twinkle gaily on the tree. I must just rest awhile amid this pleasant buzzing activity. It's Christmas Eve and The Carpenters are on the radio melting my poor heart. Paul is deep in the kitchen cooking up a storm. Promises of turkey and ham and trifle and pie; things roasted, things baked, and strong mixtures served over ice, and other tasties too, far too much for just the two of us. Yes, I must stop here before I am overwhelmed by love and happiness and The Holidays at home, and wish you all a Happy Christmas. And a special best to C.J. May yours be merry indeed.

Well, actually, they didn't.

Unbelievable as it may sound, all of my friends and his were supportive from the very beginning. But this month marks the first anniversary of my relationship with Paul and no one is more surprised than me. Surprised that these feelings have endured and grown. Surprised that I haven't scared him off.

And so we celebrate this month of firsts. The first time we spoke. The first time we used the word 'love'. The first time we met...

Yes, in that order.

Happy Anniversary, my love. It's been a very good year.

This link was sent to me by Milktoast, my very good friend, who, like you, has a keen interest in these things. Enjoy.
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Remember, remember, the 7th November,
A vote matters more than a jot;
I know of no reason why this voting season
Should ever be forgot.

US Mid-term Elections
Democrats Gain Control of the House

Democrats have won control of the US House of Representatives in mid-term polls, and are one seat away from gaining a majority in the Senate.
The Democrats won the Senate seat in Montana after a delayed neck-and-neck vote count was completed.
The race now hangs on Virginia, where a win would give the Democrats the six seats needed for a majority.
And US media are quoting Republican officials as saying Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is stepping down.

In Tuesday's poll, Democrats comfortably gained the 15 seats needed to wrest power from the Republicans in the lower chamber. Correspondents say Democratic gains reflect voter discontent over Iraq, government corruption and the economy. In Virginia, the Democrats have claimed victory with a lead of about 8,000 votes, but the Republicans are thought likely to demand a recount.

The results give the Democrats control of the House of Representatives for the first time in 12 years. The BBC's Jamie Coomarasamy in Washington says this has changed the political landscape in the US, and the last two years of the Bush presidency will be very different from those before.

With projected results still coming through, the Democrats had gained 27 House seats from the Republicans. Analysts say control of the House will allow Democrats to choose to launch inquiries into the handling of Iraq, and could lead to significant changes on domestic issues like taxation and health care. Democrats also won four of six target Senate seats.

President George W Bush has telephoned several top Congressional Democrats to offer his congratulations.

Mr Bush has scheduled a news conference for 1800 GMT - in which correspondents say he will give the first clue on whether he intends to compromise with his newly powerful opponents or fight.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi - poised to become the chamber's first female Speaker - pledged that the Democrats would work with "civility" and "partnership, not partisanship" in their newly empowered position. But she said the Bush administration's "stay the course" policy in Iraq was not working. "We cannot continue down this catastrophic path," she said.
BBC News
For complete article click here.

And so things are looking up.
And just in time too.
I was beginning to see
Guy Fawkes' point of view.

JHP

Costume National Homme Automne/Hiver 2006

Just look at this day. Effing gorgeous it is! A sun-streaked and cloudless sky and temperatures that actually justify my prolonged wearing of flip-flops. I admit I was jealous as I read frank-o-fyle's account of the beautiful weather he's had in France. Here in New England we'd been assaulted by fierce wind and rain (garden chairs were sent flying and the roads were flooded). But today I woke to find this miracle. And yes, I was so chuffed I thought I'd share it with you. Aren't you pleased?

Whilst strolling through these leafy streets and singing a lighthearted tune (camp as knickers!), I crossed the campus of the local uni to see what the kids were up to and look at what I found:

Twighenge? What do you think they'll do with that come nightfall. Can't think how it even got there. Or when. I'm sure it wasn't there yesterday. It's quite large actually, and would be perfect for some Halloween shenanigans.

Happy Halloween, duckies.

Thought I'd scroll back through these posts to remind myself what I was up to at this time last year. Apparently not a lot. And yet at the end of each day I was exhausted. Today. With New York far in the distance, my life has changed completely and thanks to Paul, become a happy, fulfilled one. Here is an entry from last September, written by a man I hardly recognise...

Diary of a New Yorker (During Days of Disaster, Despair and World Change)
by montontonjon @ 04 Sep. 2005 - 15:14:59

Monday. Finally decided to think about Autumn and what the hell I intend to wear. Completely uninspired by the collections. Imagined myself dressed up in Edwardian gear (at my age!) and became horrified. But that does seem to be the general mandate, however. Lunch at Pastis was particularly awful and although I keep on saying it, I really must find a new restaurant. Dinner party way uptown, although much too hot to wear anything great. Decided to innaugurate my new velvet loafers, which were quite a hit.

Tuesday. Came very close to throwing out everything in my closet and starting fresh with something completely different. Wondered vaguely if I could be a Paul Smith man- all colourful and stripy. Realised it would drive me mad and threw on my usual Costume National shades-of-grey. Lunch at Pastis was beyond horrible. Was made to sit in the 'socialite's corner' and the amount of perfume that wafted through the room seemed to coat every bite of my steak tartare, which I should never have ordered anyway. Drinks with Mr. J who's leaving me on Saturday and since my feelings for him change every five minutes, decided to wear something low-key and subdued. Blue-grey cargo trousers and a matching shirt with navy suede sandals, all from Prada.

Wednesday. Slept very late and woke to the arrival of one or two things I had ordered from Costume National. All absolutely beautiful but too hot to wear now. So preoccupied I missed lunch and had to call my friends to apologise. Long telephone conversation with Mr. J who still insists on moving to Hong Kong. I wish he'd leave already. Went out to a drinks party and ran into Mr. H, an ex of sorts, in town from Amsterdam, and passed a very pleasant evening with him in the East Village. Was glad I wore jeans.

Thursday. Busy day with all sorts of errands. In a mad burst of romanticism bought a ticket to LA to meet Mr. J as he's stopping there for a few days before going on to Hong Kong. Not sure if I should keep this as a surprise or tell him beforehand. Ran into a dancer friend at lunch and have come up with a whole new look for Autumn- inspired by the things principal dancers tend to wear at their opening night post-performance galas- which is to say quirky, individual and slightly mad creations, of no use in everyday life. Dinner with Monsieur Ex and old friends of ours visiting from Paris. Naturally I debuted my new look- it defies description, but was met with general approval and delight.

Friday. Met Mr. J for breakfast (a silly idea as I can only ever manage coffee at that hour) and ended up spending the entire day with him. Told him I was thinking of joining him in LA in a 'why not' sort of way. He was overjoyed and I was back to being in love. Keeping up my new look, I was dressed in an old Jean Colonna sweatsuit which is really so much more, my wraparound sunglasses, and flip-flops.

Saturday. Mr. J has gone. Fortunately, Monsieur Ex and his boyfriend invited me to spend a couple of days with them at their Long Island summer house. The Parisians were there and in honour of them I took along a few tins of tapenade and aioli that I had brought back from St. Tropez. As this weekend marks the official end of summer, I packed only white clothes in my case.

Sunday. I shall leave my friends tomorrow and race back to the city to make my flight to LA. I'm in such a muddle. I'm so confused about how I feel about Mr. J, and, worse, I have no idea what I'll wear.

I have no doubt that the waters of the gulf still flow unceasingly, filling the glittering port, and streaming on to lap at the curving beaches, so endlessly blue; that the sound of southern voices carried on by a languid Mediterranean wind still echos through the narrow streets at midnight to fall to rest at Place des Lices. The cobblestones will always reverberate with the click-click-clicking of outrageous stillettoes, as they have done for as long as I can remember. Sometimes I wonder what became of all that construction at Papagayo last year, or I yearn to know what scandals are being discussed at the villa; I wonder if Karl and Inge sailed over from Cannes, and if the apricots were as sweet this year. But curiosity, like a desert rose, dies away almost before it has bloomed, and my attention is trained once again on more local concerns. That party goes on without me. As it must from now on. For the first time in many years I am not passing the summer in St Tropez and (can I confess it ?) I don’t really miss it.

That was headline news in this morning’s paper and I have half a mind to just go back upstairs to bed. That’s where Paul is (he’s no fool), snug as a bug in the only air-conditioned room, while I sit perspiring in what is meant to be my comfortable ‘morning room’. You know, where I write my letters and plan the menus of my lavish dinners. But seriously folks, I can actually feel the heat emanating from this tiny laptop, which is a good reason (if one was needed) to keep this brief. I don’t have much to say anyway. No news to report; no words of wisdom to impart. It’s hot, and one would do well to keep cool. There. And how are you today?