Well, that was quick; one day on my death bed and it's over. Of course, I will be careful and stay away from the gin halls for a day or so, but taking care of a sick husband for three days as well as the stress of a sick dog has taken its toll. After taking the antedote to every sickness: shopping, I have to straighten up La Casa. It actually looks like there was a whole ward of sick people here with all the medicine, blankets, and thermometers lying around. Why if the Duchess of Cornwall were to surprise me with a visit, I'd be mortified (and not altogether uncertain Mrs. S-F didn't put her up to it).

There was a grand party a week ago from Prince Charles' birthday. Queen Elizabeth hosted a gala evening at Buckingham Palace in London on the occasion of the 60th birthday of her eldest son, the Prince of Wales. The event was attended by British and European royals. A champagne reception was followed by a recital by the Philharmonic Orchestra in the ballroom of the palace. Afterwards a dinner took place, where Balmoral salmon and venison was served. Among the guests were King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, Queen Sonja of Norway, Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima of the Netherlands, the Prince and Princess of Asturias, the Duke and Duchess of Palma de Mallorca, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium, former King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, Crown Prince Pavlos and Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece, Prince Nikolaos of Greece, former King Simeon II and Queen Margarita of Bulgaria, Princess Margarita of Romania and Radu Duda, Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine of Yugoslavia, King Hamad ibn Isa al-Khalifa of Bahrain, Prince Hassan and Princess Sarvath of Jordan.

No one seems to have told Alexander II that Yugoslavia doesn't exist, but these things never seem to matter. Just pick up a copy of Hola' Magazine.

Now, I can go back to doting on KiKi. Since he is in no pain and is just acting like a dottie old aunt, we've decided to to let him sleep and enjoy his life. He is the only dog I know who sleeps in his own queen-size futon; sometimes Lucy cuddles up to him, licking his ear. Hmmm...that was sort of what was going on in our bed this week, too.