Juliet's Blog: September 2006

MISSING BELIEVED EATEN - a 'taster' of Johnny's work! This work of art by my own Jon was exhibited along with the originals at the launch of 'Johnny' - the book Jon has been writing for nearly a year and a half about the psychedelic artist John Hurford. He had met Johnny several times before he happened to see his signature on a painting bought by my sister Suzanne, and his excitement is still tangible. The book itself is gorgeous and Johnny did a huge painting that was cut into a thousand pieces so that the owners of the first 1000 books will get an original piece of art by one of the best psychedelic artists of his generation. A bargain!

Early Sunday morning

Unloading the Tardis

Nigel Mentzel arrived from Cardiff while we were still eating our breakfast and immediately got Johnny to listen to some tapes from the 60s and sign some posters. His enthusiasm set the tone for the whole afternoon!

Daddy talking to Julia, the wife of Steve Ballard the gallery owner. Wasn't she pretty? I commented the next day. 'Don't know, not my type' said Johnny. 'Didn't notice her' said Jon. 'But you took her photo!' I pointed out. Jon pondered this and said 'I remember taking a picture of that lovely dog'

This chap Colin was one of 3 hippies who used to share Farrier's Cottage with Johnny, and who wrote for Oz and It. He arrived early, became progressively more mellow, and was still there at the end munching Battenberg and Cadbury's fingers

Anna looking remarkably fresh having been up most of the night before preparing this feast

Cressida helping the food look attractive

Steve, Elliot, Muffin

The lovely Sue making a lovely speech about how lovely the book is and how lovely Jon is and how lovely Johnny is, and all the lovely people there said what a lovely time they were having and enthusiastically refilled their glasses of wine

The guests were a mixture of friends, sitters, artists, old hippies, critics and relatives and this shot manages to capture at least one of each!

Not a flattering picture of anyone but the shot shows a lot of my favourite people so I had to include it - all the Coopers, Julie Cridland (who came to the salsa with us) and edging in on the left are Mike and Kelly Beeston all the way from Bampton

Andy and Lisa reading the book (we tested them) Brian Sewell was there in spirit

Our unconventional accountant, Grace, being chatted up by Dobermann

The woman in the centre is looking pleased because she kept some posters in her attic for 40 years and has just sold them for a large sum - I also notice Matt enjoying himself behind the drinks table