Happy survivor

Gstaad

After the heat of the French Riviera and of the birthplace of selective democracy, the Alps are a welcome relief – up to a point. I am here on a family holiday, family being the operative word. Which means that neither my daughter nor son tolerates any hanky-panky, if you know what I mean. Not that I’m complaining. Throughout my life I’ve looked for action and thrills, and now all of a sudden I’m content to sit in my garden, look at the incredible, straight out of The Sound of Music mountain views, and … dine with the family. And be very happy to boot. It is, of course, a bit of a shame, the end of an era and all that, but it happens to everyone, anyone that is who survives into his sixties. The great Porfirio Rubirosa was restless to the end because he died aged 57 in an automobile accident, ditto Aly Khan – very restless and chasing women non-stop – aged 49.