LA GRANDE NUIT VÉNITIENNE!

S U N D A Y,  6  A U G

Had to make our beds as Josephine was off today.

At 11.30 Joy arrived. It was marvellous to see her again - I’d forgotten how lively she is. She gave me some scent called Le Dix by Balenciaga, so sweet of her. They all went to the beach but I remained and read S.L.C. I learned that Polnaeff is going to appear – at long last – at Olympia!!! But the thing is, it’s in October. When IS this four month world tour?

At lunch Joy told us about Ludmilla, Paul Gallico’s daughter, and how awful the exams are in France. You have to revise all the Spanish and General Science you’ve ever learnt, and on the day of the exam, lots are drawn to see which of those two subjects you get. Honestly. I can’t think of anything more unfair. Just your luck if you get General Science when you wanted Spanish.

After lunch I got terrible pains and had to lie down. Took a Codeine and about four I felt ok again. Later we put the gramophone on and played some records. I am horrified - Joy’s never heard of Polnareff! She likes Richard Anthony. I adore ‘Walk on By’ by Dionne Warwick. Then we  went down to the harbour where we saw everybody getting their boats ready for tonight.

“People were selling masks, confetti, lanterns and stuff - so we bought two lanterns. ”

At last we left, at 9pm, for the Grande Nuit Vénitienne! We walked down the road and at the end joined up with the band. There was something most exciting about the band striking up, all the noise, the coloured lanterns, and everything. Once this chap threw some confetti at me so I chucked some back, then he charged at me, put his arm round me and stuffed some into my mouth!! We found places on the rocks by the water and sat down, and then all the boats came along. I’ve never seen anything so pretty in all my life. 

Gradually the boats disappeared, the lights went out, and the fireworks began. All I can say is, they were the most fantastic fireworks I’ve ever seen. Every time there were bangs everyone screamed and screamed. After that there was the Dance, but we went home. On the way Chump’s lantern caught fire because some fool had put confetti inside it. Our clothes and our hair were full of it!

I felt awfully happy.