Dad’s 100th birthday meal. He was largely absent. Probably off racing powerboats or rally driving somewhere, diving for treasure or cutting some deal on the golf course. Or he’s been dead 25 years. I can never keep up with him. Rupert and Bea hosted it.
When I first got wind of it I thought it was unlikely I’d be able to get there. Lou is shooting off all around the Middle East for months soon and I want to spend time with her – which largely involves being in Brighton and the vicinity because of the fluffster cat. But I thought I’d invite her and see if she could make it, and it worked well. She came up.
Rupert is the head of the family now, the head of the clan. Family was always terrifically important to my dad, and when so many of my immediate relations died in a short space of time when I was young, I found myself propelled out of that world and building a chosen family held together with dreams and alcohol. Rupert stepped into the actual family void. We even had a road trip. It’s delightful.
Family meals could often be oppressive and formal growing up, but now there’s a lightness. I remember when Lou first met Rupe, it was just after the Kirkaldy Museum play I made with Sammy, and she had noticed him in the audience. “I immediately saw the smile in his eyes,” she said and it’s a clear observation. He didn’t always carry that smile in his eyes but he does now.
We all had good food in his gorgeous home. Lots and lots of Barclays, and Lou. It was great she came. Lazlo my nephew is pescatarian so he made salad and fish for her while we all ate steak and mushroom pie. Then a walk in the square.
I really want to somehow get a copy of the key to Rupert’s London Square. They are very restricted, as the locals don’t want people shooting up there at night, or throwing beer cans around. It’s like Chelsea Physic Garden in there though, perfectly manicured, peaceful, bright. At the moment though, the Amaranthus Cordatus are out – “love lies bleeding” – and they very much want you to go away:
Coffee and back here. Long old drive but we are by the seaside with mistress fluff and early bed with chamomile is calling.
AlBarclay 
Dad would have been very happy and proud to have seen us all together having so much fun and sharing so much warmth – after all, blood is thicker than water is one of his favourite sayings – and Lou injected a really beautiful energy into the mix.
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