Re: Many happy returns of the day my sweet baby!

$2500 for a Christmas present - that is of course on top of what I normally send you

My darling,

What a surprise and how generous of you, Thank you very much indeed for this generous Xmas present which as you can easily imagine comes in more than handy!

I was so pleased to hear that you had a quite and happy birthday cum Xmas day in Palm Beach. As you are always crossing the world in all directions, I am certain that just being quietly at home is quite a change! Unlike most people who try to escape the humdrum of their lives and only dream to "get away".

I had a very happy Xmas stay at Patrick's with Vonnic, two of his children, Daniel and Adam as Roland and her father, a very distinguished an cultured gentleman. We arrived at 1pm and sat for Xmas lunch at 3pm, starting with smoked salmon and a truly delicious fresh foie gras procured by Vonnic and washed with a Mombazillac I had offered from my cellar. Then Vickiu and cooked a truly excellent capon stuffed like a turkey. it was tender and melted in your mouth adn the farce, teh roasted potateoes and teh chesthuts were very good as usual and that dish was accompanied with a St Emilion wine also given my me out of the cellar.

Then we had a break during which time presents were distributed and Vonnic and I enjoyed ourselves on a very fiendish puzzle. then a cup of tea appeared and we sat down again by then it was 8 O'clock when we ate the Xmas pudding which Oping at made for us on my order and which I had carted all the way from London and brandy butter done by Vicky and fresh cream, then it was followed by some really first class French cheeses and a totally out of the world Coulomiers. Then there was some fruits and goodies . I was absolutely full having done nothing else but eating all day. But the atmosphere was good in his beautiful drawing room a former grange transformed magnificently by Patrick. he bought himself a grand piano and plays very well indeed so we continued doing the puzzle with the sound of

'Chopin studies' in the background. We finally left for home at midnight! I received phone calls from all the children except from Kevin who must have been so very busy as they had Xmas with the entire horde of the Warnford Davis which should be enough for anyone to lose their heads!

Now, we got up late and having had a good lunch I am looking forward to a whole afternoon of quiet at my computer, answering messages and sending some.

I'll be back home on 30th January.

Thank you again for all your kindness to me and with all my love.

to maman