Happy Anniversary

I read recently in the Times the obituary of Natale Rusconi a celebrated Italian Hotelier who for 30 years ran the Cipriani in Venice one of the world’s most fabled hotels.

This brought back some interesting memories of my visit to Venice in 1998 with my then girlfriend Shaneen. It was a memorable visit. We took a launch to the glassworks at Murano and off the boat I wondered why we were greeted with coffee on a tray then shown personally around the factory ( was there a catch ? ) At the end I was so impressed and so in love that I bought a gift of two glass figures entwined called the ‘ Lovers ‘ . Only at the end was I given the price and the shock reeled me though it was too late to change my mind and I had to maintain face as we returned to the Hotel with the incredibly well wrapped ‘ Lovers ‘ .

That night I suggested that we have dinner
at Harry’s Bar where often you could see a famous movie star. The night was no exception as Al Pacino sat in one corner with guest and James Coburn in another. The next day I wrote a marriage proposal letter to Shaneen, which I presented to her in the beautiful garden of the Cipriani and Shaneen accepted. I still remember the scent of the flowers in the garden that summer afternoon and the beauty of Shaneen amongst the backdrop. To this day I don’t know why I put my proposal in writing I guess it was the beautifully embossed paper of the Hotel in the Library that caught my eye and the fountain pen that lay besides the paper on the desk. On reflection I think it was my love of writing reaching out of love for Shaneen.

Shaneen accepted and we married in London. Today is our 20th Anniversary. The letter was the best one I ever wrote and ironically due to lockdown were unable to have returned to celebrate. Hopefully in 2021 we can do. Alas Natale and James Coburn will not be there, though Al Pacino could well be. If I do then I’ll be able to send Shaneen another letter to thank her for the great wife that she’s been throughout the years, some good, some difficult but always together and ready for our next adventure.

As for Natale his death at the age of 93 was a great life married to his first love Connie and an unblemished career other than mistaking Princess Margaret for her lady in Waiting on a trip to Florence and telling her of his best friend , Billy Hamilton of Orient Express whom Princess Margaret said she ‘ hated’’. A faux pas in Florence so to speak. Coincidentally where Shaneen and I honeymooned. Don’t you just love the romance of all that is Italy. Little did we know that day in the garden that Shaneen would have written her book a best seller in Italy, spoken in Congress and across their nation.

It really is a Happy Anniversary.