Our new house on 28 Artesian Road in Notting Hill will require considerable work before we move in sometime in 2001. The work will start in mid-September. A few days earlier, on Saturday, September 9, we will invite everyone we know to come in dispensable clothing and paint on all interior walls of the house. The bash will start at three in the afternoon and end around nine or ten in the evening, to make sure we do not alienate our neighbors even before moving in. We will provide paints and brushes, as well as boisterous dancing music, much of which will be drumming from Africa. Our friends will bring something to eat and drink. Some of them may also bring their favorite brushes. The event will be recorded and presented on the Hereford Salon website (www.herefordsalon.org). In memory of the Joker as artist in Batman, Lauren and I decided the best name for the painting bash and its aftermath would be: "Let’s Make Art!"

Addendum I (August 31, 2000)

Lauren told me yesterday that one of the two builders competing for the refurbishment of the new house had dropped out of the picture, which meant that the work would most likely be considerably delayed, perhaps even by a couple of months. She does not want to be deciding about such an important project on the basis of one bid only, and new builders now need to be found to make the bidding process viable. In this context, it would be best for her to continue renting out the house until the problem was resolved, but the painting party would preclude this possibility. Afterwards, the house would be impossible to put on the market. Lauren did not want me to call off the party, which she knew would be nearly impossible to do, but she only wanted me to know that this would turn out to be a very expensive proposition for her. We are talking about thousands of pounds. I only told her I understood what she had told me. I did not have the heart to tell her the party was her idea, and that she asked me to organize it in her absence. Also, I did not have the guts to tell her this was the last party I was organizing for her. To Lauren’s credit, she held her horses, too, for I understood perfectly well from her measured words that she thought of the party as my own event, or at least as her somewhat foolish gift to me. She did not blame me, at least not in so many words, but she certainly blamed herself for her foolishness. It goes without saying that every single decision regarding the new house has been in Lauren’s hands. I am told only as much as I need to know. The cost of the painting party is a case in point. Months before we could even imagine moving into the Artesian Road House, the experience of the Hereford Road house, sold by Lauren nearly two years ago, is still very much with us. Jack Nicholson, my ass.

Addendum II (September 7, 2000)

After many twists and turns in the house-building project, as well as in our marriage, Lauren decided to go ahead with the party. That was two days ago. She wanted me to remind everyone of the event. Before I sent the reminder around, yesterday morning I made sure Lauren was in agreement with it. She was. The reminder went out. But Lauren just told me that she had changed her mind yet again. Apparently, the only builder who had bid for the project had announced today that he could not start the work before mid-November. In all likelihood, he had to take another job because Lauren was not sure whether to engage him or not. Besides, he could not be sure whether he would get the job once other builders would bid for it. Everything was up in the air and he looked for other options. So, we are back to the old story: the house would need to be rented out in the meanwhile, but the painting party would render it unrentable. Lauren thus proposed that we go ahead with the party minus the painting. I could not but accept. To make things worse, she was a bit miffed because I was not enthusiastic about her decision. God only knows how this story will change till Saturday, but it is likely that more twists and turns lie ahead, both in the house-building project and in our marriage.

Addendum III (September 10, 2000)

A day before the party, Lauren circulated a message to my list to the effect that we will have a big do but minus the painting. Lauren did not consult me about her message beforehand, as I had done with all my messages concerning the event. She did not copy me, either. I learned about the message only yesterday, a few hours before our guests were supposed to join us. I was thus not surprised that only about twenty-five people came to the party. God only knows what was the effect of Lauren’s message, but it must have dampened many an artist’s appetite.