(Dear IPOATthe Fourth, that a happy ending is altogether unlikely?

[Hullygully]

Or not?

from "bouder" - to pout

(

Is James trying to get us all into the boudoir with him? What motive can he have? I had thought him a gentleman but it appears I have mistook his character.

Nothing like the death of an old beau from good old fashioned alcohol abuse to drag a girl down. He was 50, for fucks sake. Note to self. Don't drink two bottles of vodka a day for six weeks, its likely to end in the morgue.

Sigh.

But enough of this misery, where are my quail canapes?

Oh Madame - what a day ......

Mimi, am very sorry about your ex - hope you're ok.

(my exH is likely to exit in much the same fashion; I live in dread of the call)

oh, ladies, thank you.

Happily for my emotional health I always knew he would end badly, and so he was only ever a lover, because I knew becoming entangled with him would be disaster.

There were indeed many ladies of a certain age dabbing their eyes mistily... a fitting send-off for a brilliant, charismatic but deeply troubled soul.

But my heart did break for his son, and I have only absolute admiration for his ex-wife, who organised the whole funera/burial/wake for the sake of her boy.

Girls Rock!

Now, if only I had Mme Umami's experience, this things would barely register!

Erm, Mimi.

Should you care to take a turn with me around the ballroom, dear heart?

Alive or dead, you are a fine figure of a man, let us inspect the punch bowl together....

well, it's a good pic of the captain, if not so flattering of Mimi

you mock me, Captain Darcy, and I have been too well bred to mention to charnal aroma that hangs around your person!

pah! I am off to interrogate Antoine Careme as to the exact proportions involved in his sublime Sauce a la Regent....

Does this help, Mimi dear?

Sauce eh?

What ho!

Are you a 13 year old?

Hugo Boss, at least. If not Eau Sauvage.

Dear lady! Am deeply chastened, and shall withdraw. But I kiss my fingers to you always.

Goodnight, sweet love! My perfume of Araby!

Thank you for your rather odorous concern, cher Capitaine, A demaine!

Mimi, truly sorry to hear about your ex

Even when you have left emotionally it still pains you deeply. Sending much love.

Thanks gibbon. I keep thinking about the poor policeman who had to break in and find him dead on the sofa. Could have been there up to ten days . Over Xmas. Heartbreaking.

Try not to think of it too much mimi, the images you imagine can haunt you, you replay the scene over and over and it's heartbreaking. Try and remember the happy times and him smiling. This is what I do with my darling brother when I need to block out his death.

Sorry got all morbid, will shuffle off now but you really are in my thoughts, as are his poor family

My father died from drink, one of my brothers is currently doing his best to follow suit, my sister has been forced to stop by circumstance, and my relationship with it is a tad close at times.

Isn't it bizarre that alcohol is legal when other things aren't? Aren't human beings peculiar? Tis as dear TS Eliot said: "Mankind cannot bear very much reality."

Love all round, tis all we have.

I believe Darcy was resurrected, but possibly still has bits missing.

Yes Hully, quite right, let's fill the hall with love and positivity.