TO THE VILLA AT ST JEAN CAP FERRAT

Ingrid and Dad, Les Roches Fleuries

T U E S D A Y,  1  A U G U S T

Spent an hour by the pool, then changed into pink towelling skirt. On the way to pay the bill, we bumped into the Scottish people from last year - they asked us to their room for drinks! Ma and Pa had Pernod, us two had coke. They've got a super terrace, it's half in sun and half in shade, and so high it never gets too hot. And they’ve got a fridge because Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor stayed in their room once and ordered 12 bottles of Perrier water each day! They're an awfully nice couple, we stayed chatting till 1.45.

Lunch was the most lovely meal we’ve had yet. We saw masses of the drinks waiter, and Daddy was in a mad mood! First D.W. strolled up and asked what drinks we wanted. He grinned more than ever as Chump was wondering what to have (we nearly died). When he brought the wine it was super because Daddy asked him who Spook is (the little man who goes around in dark glasses). D.W. said, "he’s the manager". Daddy said, “I thought he was a spy!”

“At this D.W. laughed out loud and revealed his teeth. They’re huge. ”

When I think about it, he’s big in all ways. Big mouth, long legs, long nails (!), long lashes (!), long sideboards and, as Mummy says, probably a big heart too! He is the most adorable person. We just had one course this time. Really it was fab. Daddy got even jollier! My last look of D.W. was as we went out, standing against one of the pillars - smiling of course - with two other waiters. I don't suppose he realised that was our last meal.

About 4 we left, and went to the bar to pay the lunch bill and say good-bye. It was fab as Jean and Roger Daltry were there. I  looked wistfully at Jean and he looked wistfully at me and I nearly cried. All too soon we had to go.

It was a very hot and uncomfortable journey to St Jean Cap Ferrat, it was quite a strain just to sit up. The slowest part of the journey was the Murder Mile at Nice. Didn't get to St Jean till 7.30, but the villa (Villa Thermador) made up for it. It's such an improvement on last year’s it’s not true (and even that was ok). I’ve got the best room to my mind - very pale green and awfully sweet. We’ve all got mosquito nets on the beds. It's marvellous - five minutes to get to the harbour and village, three minutes to get to Paloma beach. The only trouble about the place is it’s got two cats.

Chump can take off the drinks waiter to an absolute tee - she was squeaking, she felt so much like him! You just have to put the left half of your lip over your top one, smile widely, and stroll.

I wonder if he and Jean missed me this evening? I like to think they did.

“The Richard Burton Diaries ”

The Richard Burton Diaries, Yale University Press (2012)