The weather is better today. Summer has decided to pop in for a visit, but I fear it won’t stay for long.

Last Friday, I saw my old boss (circa 1988-89), Justin, and our client, Charles, for dinner at Zuma, in Knightsbridge. It was twenty five years since we’d all been together. Justin was our host and, as always, was perfect in his suggestions as to what we should order. He tried to order an Aussie wine, but the delivery hadn’t been made. Flamenco texted me her suggestions, as it is one of her favourite restaurants. She took me there for lunch years ago, and I have been back from time to time. Love the whole Asian fusion vibe! Reminds me of home and Singapore. The black cod was amazing. It was all amazing!

When we left just after 10pm, the bar was heaving with all the ‘beautiful people’. It could have been a fashion shoot, rather than real life.

I love the film The Devil Wears Prada; I love Meryl Streep, playing the powerful editor of Runway (modelled on Anna Wintour at Vogue?), and all the fab actors, Emily Blunt (as her assistant), Anne Hathaway (who sells her soul to the devil –fashion) and Stanley Tucci. One of the best lines is:

Fashion is not about utility. An accessory is merely a piece of iconography used to express individual identity.

When I travelled with Justin and Charles to San Diego on business, decades ago, I told Charles that I didn’t really spend money on clothes. He looked at me in disbelief. Was I a normal 27 year old female? All the pheasants he knew were into fashion. We laughed about that at Zuma.

Maybe I was, a bit, like Andrea, played by Anne Hathaway, before she sold her soul and started wearing designer kit to fit into the fashion world. When someone from Dolce and Gabbana rings up at the beginning of the film, she asks, “How do you spell Gabbana?” They hang up instead.

In downtown Sydney in the early 80s, global brands were not part of the landscape. Just before I departed for London, Hermes opened up in Martin Place. Now all the big brands are represented.

In the Wandsworth years, I lived in old jeans from GAP and run of the mill stuff. I was more interested in buying the latest wallpaper or Farrow and Ball paint for the house. I just wanted to look neat and tidy.

Now I do know what Dolce and Gabbana is. Fashion is everywhere. It is part of everyday life. I wore Missoni, bright orange and gold, on Friday evening. I wonder if Charles noticed?

At the end of the night, the three of us walked back to the Bulgari Hotel on Hyde Park to find cabs. Two guys were taking photos of a leggy brunette. I don’t think she was a model, but she could have been: maybe it was for Instagram. We all said goodbye, with promises to keep in touch. Justin was off to United Arab Emirates, where he lives. Charles closer by, in Wandsworth, and me, to Fulham.

I walked back to my car, parked in Sloane Street. So easy to park after 6.30pm. I walked past Boodles, the luxury jewellers on the corner, across from Harvey Nicholls. Mike Wainwright, a member of the family who own it, was a father at Broomwood Hall. He kindly checked the claws on my engagement ring from time to time. When we moved to Chelsea, I was trying to clear up after the builders, and tried to move a large door. I slipped and crushed my rings, so that they were no longer circular, but oval. I jumped in the car and headed straight for Boodles. I was distraught the whole way. I rang the security bell, and a security guard in a black suit let me in. I explained to a well-dressed sales person that I knew Mike and that I had damaged my rings. Customers seated in velvet chairs, sipping champagne, were staring at me.

I had not checked to see how I looked before making the dash to Boodles. I was completely covered in a fine layer of white dust. I looked like a ghost. The sales assistant had not blinked an eye when I entered like a crazy woman. He just took the rings, and said, “We will sort it madam.” Boodles’ treatment. And they did.

Today I am going to do some gardening and try to relax after the Brexit hysteria that is hitting social media. I think people need to calm down. People are getting nasty with friends!