At the end of June I went to the south of France for an early start to Summer: travelling from there whenever necessary to the few concerts during the following 2 months. The first was to be a performance of Beethoven’s Concerto # 3, with the Hungarian Radio Orchestra, in St Moritz. Playing under Jan Schultsz was great fun and at the reception which followed the concert he revealed having become a conductor because of a situation which happened ‘thanks’ to me: apparently I was the “last drop” in causing a tyrannical, unfeeling and unmusical conductor’s tenure to end, whereupon he, Jan, was asked to lead the orchestra until they found a new principal conductor! Hilarious to hear that; also flattering to be told he had been hopelessly attracted to me as a teenager, in Holland … I wonder if there were many more young men like him? It could be fun to dream back to the time when I was young and beautiful! And talking of fun, the happy Hungarian orchestra musicians and I had a ball, at that same party: hey guys, I look forward to that promised Brahms’ Chamber Music Cycle, in Budapest!

The hosting St Moritz Opera Festival had offered me an extra week of accommodation in a chalet (owned by the charming Heidi), with space enough for a family of 4. Mine being unavailable, I asked around but without luck: none of my friends were available any longer or … willing to put up with me! Upon arrival, lonely and unsettled by the shocking news of the terrorist attacks in London that very day, I called some loyal friends from Lugano for a chat - who had joined me for many Concerts - and hearing of the deal they came up ‘trumps’, arriving the next day in time for the performance and stayed for a lovely weekend. Thanks, Dario & Luli: what a treat to hike in the mountains of this beautiful region with the two of you, although the pace could have been slightly faster, Luli? Joke! We had some good laughs, didn’t we?

Arriving back in London, from where I’d been away for over a month, I had this feeling of unease while waiting at Victoria Station for a driver to pick me up for a quick “In tune” interview for Radio 3… Anxiety hit me in the midst of thousands of people, loads of policemen about – rather ‘sticky’, unlike those peaceful surroundings, both in France and in the mountains where I’d been!

Life goes on though, and the next morning I drove myself to Oxford to take part in the delicious Philomusica Festival. This time I had a recital of Franco-Brazilian music that same evening, followed by a couple of Master Classes the next day. Unfortunately, the opportunity of possibly selling quite a few copies of my new CD “hot-off-the-press” of Brazilian repertoire, was lost - you’d think that distributors would be grateful for obvious chances like this? Not one CD in sight. Audiences usually come asking me how they can get hold of this wonderfully rich music and when told of the recording, HE-L-LO, where were they? How frustrating! And why bother?! There’s Uppingham Music School next month, I doubt whether the scene will change.

A near miss/mechanical mishap: while on the way to Oxford a strange warning orange lit up but because it kept flickering I paid little attention to it for a long time! Thank God I finally stopped to check: the tank was smoking and probably about to catch fire!! I hardly use cars these days, due to my ‘wandering’ life-style and servicing only happens in a minimal fashion leading up to the MOT. I know one should add water to old cars’ radiators and check the oil once in a while only… I forget and there isn’t anyone but me. Tsk-tsk.