Over the rainbow

Over the rainbow

To West Kensington last night to dine with other friends of Nicholas Battye on the anniversary of his death two years ago. “To Nicholas, wherever he is,” we toasted. “Wherever red wine flows,” someone called out.

We were Miki Yamanouchi, Peta McRedmond, Ann Schneider-Cullen, Esmerelda Sanchez, Ruth Eisenhart, Marco Singh & Rayenne, Nick Sowicz, Liz Barker & David Craik. Oh, and me.

My dreams rarely leak through to daylight, but late on Tuesday afternoon I fell into a colour dream heavily marked with references to Nicholas. I woke at six, thinking I heard tapping on the window, and with Bob Dylan’s song “Knocking On Heaven’s Door” running through my head. There was no one outside.

Then late last night, returning with Peta from the memorial dinner, we heard on the cab’s radio the relatively rare recording of Israel Kamakawiwo’ole singing “Over The Rainbow” — that we played at the end of Nicholas’ funeral. Way to go, Nick.

Less spookily, Barbara Gibson sent us a message from Virginia:

According to the diary on your website, tonight is the Nicholas Battye Memorial Dinner, and I did not want the day to pass without writing to you in remembrance of Nick. About a year ago, I wrote to you to say how sorry I was not to have known the Nick that you and so many of your friends knew. The young, spirited Nick was a joy, and I'm glad to have known him then. Although apparently he suffered disappointments toward the end of his life, he clearly had a positive impact on many people. I know that you must always miss such a dear friend.

As I told you last year, I am so appreciative of your website, which I continue to visit often for inspiration and respite. It gives me a little window on the London I love but get to visit much less often than I would like. I also enjoy your political commentary. (By the way, we are wildly celebrating our political victory of having doubled the number of House seats that the Democrats needed to have a majority, and we are cautiously hopeful that the Democrats have taken the Senate as well.)

Tonight I will raise a glass to Nicholas' memory and also to his friends.