Vivienne’s Diary – May

Thurs 1 May: The deadline for the first draft of my biography has to be in by mid-month so any spare time I have between my regular work – I’m still checking and sometimes meeting Ian; he comes to my home.
My work includes meetings; Q v Q and Climate Revolution and fittings for Red Carpet.
Wed 14 May: Book: first draft sorted. Juergen did my portrait for the cover. I don’t know how he does it, he shows me myself.

7.30 With Andreas to the Almeida to see “King Charles III” (my review). I love the journey: direct tube from home to Angel, then walk up Essex Rd. The “Screen on the Green” is still there; opened by Roger who became our friend soon after we began our shop, “Let it Rock”. Malcom recommended him to do a Brigitte Bardot season but he could only get a couple of films; no one had kept them all because they didn’t think they were any good. My favourite shop, no longer there, sold lingerie.

Thurs 15 May:  To photographer Rankin. Photo’s of Andreas with me as accessorie.  They are needed for a profile Deborah Ross did on him for The Saturday Times. I’m glad. I want people to know he’s a great designer, doing as much work as me. Also “Love” magazine wanted a photo of us kissing. O.K.

Fri 16 May: To Cannes. Pamela and her husband Rick organized a charity event during the festival. Baccarat gambling on a yacht with speeches inbetween. Pamela with her short hair looked more sensational than ever. She gave her speech to launch The Pamela Anderson Foundation. At the next break between gaming I gave my speech. I took the opportunity to explain “Who are our Rulers?” which is the most important thing I can tell people. They are the central banks who create money and debt. Johan Eliash who started “Cool Earth” talked about it and we raised nearly $1/4 m. mostly for Cool Earth.  Brandon, Pamela’s son won the Baccarat. Other persons approached me and I think they want to donate. I’ll let you know.

We stayed in Cap d’Antibes in Belles Rives Hotel where Scott Fitzgerald, Zelda and daughter Scottie once rented. It was really lovely there among the cliffs. Just ate there, down beside the sea inlet.

Next night we went to a dinner hosted by Giorgio Armani for Vanity Fair. Pamela wore just a Climate Revolution t-shirt. Didn’t try to go to any film premiers. None interested me except the YSL documentary is supposed to be good. Honestly, I didn’t fancy paying (a lot); you have to, usually the money goes to charity.

Tues 20 May: Our publicity campaign shoot with Juergen. We had fitted in 3 days preparation, before and after Cannes, so it went smoothly. We did it with actress Stella Schnabel, Julian’s daughter; her mother is Belgian so she spoke French as a child but grew up in America and lives in N.Y. But I don’t remember  that the accent is American. She is a strong woman, generous and charming. She speaks with definition and focus. I loved the way she said, “yes”: so positive. I couldn’t hear it enough.

She thanked me for having directed her to The Wallace Collection while she was here; she was very thrilled. It’s such a relief to meet people who are intellectually inclined. She’s staying with Anita (Palenburg).

We shot in our house. Juergen found a spot where the light was good and special and stayed there. We had prepared food and we all enjoyed ourselves. Stella liked the clothes.

Fri 23 May: Towards evening my friend Susan came to stay – until Sunday evening. We met when we were 18 at teacher training college and shared a room in Brixton. This is a real treat for me.

We dined at home with Andreas- a nicoise salad(no tuna) She lives at Portland near Weymouth and is up in London to check out a Greek pot (Do go and look at them) in the British Museum; it’s part of a course she’s doing for Open University. She and one of her daughters, Clare have been running for council election for the Green Party. Clare almost made it. I said I’d go to help them next time. We went to yoga together, then we met Sara (Stockbridge) Cobalt and Sara’s daughter, Lelu at the Gate theatre, Notting Hill for “Grounded”- about drones (reviewed by Peter Olive). Really well-done, theatre at its best. Lelu is just 16 and I wanted her to come; it’s so important for young people to know what’s going on. We all went over the road to “Le Pain Quotidien”where we met Peter Olive for a chat. Lelu told us she had helped a young Indian girl from her school to avoid an arranged marriage to a man living in India whom she had never met. I don’t have an opinion against arranged marriage per se but the girl was desperate against it and I think Lelu was good to get involved. Lelu wears the look of girls her age: black footless tights and trainers, nylon blouson, cropped vest worn over bra and showing midriff. Cleavage. Longish hair, full make-up. She’s beautiful, serious.

Where Susan lives – photo Jim Brown

Susan and I went to the Matisse Cut-Outs.

Tues 27 May: Launch of our campaign, “We need to talk about Fracking”. 10a.m., venue: “The HMS President”. Victoria Embankment.

Our letter of celebrities, scientists and organizations has just been published. It calls for an independent debate on the possible dangers of fracking to the environment and our health. The public need to know.

We do interviews for press and film and announce our tour of five towns in England, Scotland and Wales. By means of a panel of speakers we aim to discuss all the facts about the potential for fracking in the U.K. Government propaganda has avoided this discussion.

Who are we? Having for weeks discussed the problem with charities, NGO’s and business people my son Joe and his friends formed this plan with Climate Revolution and backed up by “Lush” handmade cosmetics shop. Joe has a charity “Humanade” which acts for human rights and prevention of climate change. Since forming the plan we have also talked to scientists to collect all our facts. Jeremy Leggett will be on the London panel.

Thurs 29 May: To Vienna for the Life ball. Stay at the Sacher Hotel. Andreas has asked our friend, Irma to prepare a traditional country dish, a homemade spelt pasta with a sauce of different cheeses. She is a very special cook, Andreas calls her “immaculate”. All the other things she prepares are immaculate too, salads and a rhubarb tart. I met Irma at the same time as Andreas when I came to teach here, they were both in my class. She makes home furnishings and I have a patchwork wool cover for the bed from her which I really like. It’s immaculate. We are with Ruben her son (around 20) and two neighbours and lots of champagne.

The flat is quite big with high ceilings, the rent is controlled, kept low. In London you would have ten people living in the house, each paying what she pays for the lot. There are no school fees. They don’t seem to knock down or dig up the roads: easier to live here. We have a shop here; sales have been affected because of sanctions and bank account freezes to Russians.

Fri 30 May: Interview with Falter. The journalist Christopher is kind, he lets me explain step by step “Who are our Rulers?” and what they do to end life on earth by means of their financial system. This was really good because it was a practice for what I will say later in the afternoon when I am giving a TED X talk.

I gave TED X talk. I felt quite desperate; we heard last week that part of the Antarctic is in irreversible melt. When all the ice melts the sea will rise by 70 metres. Can we stop this? I ended up saying, “Please do something. You can’t do it on your own. Get together with a friend and focus on one thing.” I gave examples.

Sat 31 May: We spent time in our shop with Gregor who runs it. I had wanted to go to the art gallery but instead we took advantage of a car which was at our disposal and drove ½ an hour out of Vienna and into the country with Irma and Andreas’ cousin Teddy who was our host, supplied by the “Life Ball” to look after us.

On the way the undulating country was so beautifully cultivated. Luscious.

We went for lunch to a very special place. Martin the owner introduced himself. All the food is grown there, and the wine, the schnaps and they sell seeds of the old varieties and many different potatoes so that they don’t go out of existence. Wonderful tastes you never had before e.g. slices of raw asparagus marinated for months in pear schnaps served with strawberries and then amongst the salad leaves slices of raw rhubarb marinated with -?  Martin served us twirly crisps all in different colours made from different potatoes.

We sat on couches around a table on the grass and under garden umbrella’s when it rained. There is a long barn, just cleaned and filled with old chairs and long tables made quickly with long beams topped with glass. And separate trestle tables and every old odd chair on the veranda that runs the length of the barn outside.

Martin won’t admit people who want to discuss business. He wants people to relax and fully enjoy the experience. You must switch off your mobile and children aren’t allowed to press buttons. They can play and climb and there are paddle boats on the big pond.

We got onto art. I told him Matthew Arnold’s definition of art and culture and that visual art is a representation of reality – the Greeks called it “imitation” Human beings are the only creatures that can do this, abstract something from the flux and fix it in time (timeless). (The thing we call “abstract art” is total rubbish. It has no meaning in itself; each separate person must invent a meaning and that has nothing to do with reality). The traditional Chinese painters refer to representation when they say “the purpose of painting is to perceive largeness in smallness”.

In the evening was the big event, first a dinner and auction to raise money. Gary Kessler is the man who began “Life Ball” 21 years ago. We have come so far. Aids used to be a death sentence. Gary, through his work has helped save lives. Imagine it. How many people have saved lives? He was disappointed with the results of the auction. They did raise $700,000 but a diamond necklace went for much less than its value.

The show, the event has become so big: a spectacle attracting celebrities.(Conchita Wurst is really sweet). But it’s all about sponsorship and it must be very hard work. Bless you Gary.

We were part of the fashion show and we were ever so good. But the great thing was Courtney Love and I’m so glad that Andreas escorted her, took her hand and presented her to the world. It took three strong men to get her into the dress. Courtney, you are a phenomenon. I’ve never seen the like.

Back home I read in one of my books on Chinese art. Something profound which describes what happens when an artist represents reality.