Bullets from Paradise - August

August 8
I’ve started a new life from scratch. I might have caved in under the pressure but I’m pleased with myself. I found a 3 bedroom flat in an old 20s building, which used to be a hotel. Wrought iron balconies and high ceilings. Two bathrooms! A terrace and a view of the Alps. I live on a hill above the town, close to the train station and a park with a breathtaking view of the valley and the lake. The whole area is dense with stuccoed villas and overgrown gardens with lush tropical plants bulging through the stone fences and tall iron gates. Lots of palms and hibiscus and banana trees. In summer it smells of rose and jasmine in autumn the air is sweet with the scent of grapes ripening on the wine. I feel very glamorous having such a ritzy address, a mobile phone and a big empty flat. How the hell am I going to afford all the furniture? All I have so far are a couple of antiques, a collection of fridge magnets, two piles of books, a box of CDs, a portable stereo and a mattress on the bare floorboards. Oh, and a Japanese dining set! I’ve turned minimalist.

August 25
First of all it was lovely to open my mailbox today and find your e-mail amongst my birthday wishes and greetings. Yes, it is in fact my birthday - remember? Hope yours went well on Sunday. I was very shocked to hear of the upsetting news about the family business. It's a real knock below the belt; it must be terribly upsetting to lose one's home. I hope your parents are coping well through it all. As for you, at least you have your job.

Sometimes this heavy shit happens to remind us how weird and unpredictable life is. Until now your life has cruised along smoothly. Now, suddenly: BANG! Big reality check. Don't take it too bad, as I had told you on numerous previous occasions, money is nice but it's not everything. Maybe this is one of those lessons in life that comes along to make you stronger and wiser. For instance to make you aware that your real richness lies below the skin (and not in what you wear to cover it). Your integrity, enthusiasm and heart are your real treasures! I know you will get through this time somehow, and even if it's all very stressful and uncertain, you'll be okay in the end, because you have that star that shines above you. Don't ever forget that.

As for your intention to drop everything and run off to Switzerland one of these days, you are welcome anytime and for as long as you wish. I will always welcome you with open arms and do everything I can to make sure you have a wonderful time. Of course, as you know by now, I'm working. I have a groovy job in TV, translating and doing some electronic publishing online. I like this work, which I'm good at, over-qualified actually. My job description includes watching television, videos, reading entertainment magazines and listening to my Walkman. Cool, huh? But this is not all. I have been recently headhunted and offered a 70K job doing customer service for a mega big Italian fashion house in Milan. The company is huge, they bought Gucci years a go and re-sold it for a profit. Now they own several new labels and were acclaimed at the last international fashion shows around the world and by American and UK Elle, Vogue etc... Oh, God; I'm already sounding like a fashion victim! I start in October and will be required to go to Milan and check out the new collection twice a year, meet the buyers and clients from Hong Kong, Singapore, London, New York and Australia.

August 26
Ah, so you’ve been checking your e-mail after all? Good! Maybe you’ve finally realised just what an easy and convenient communication media this is. You can convey anything you want in real time and it’s cheaper than telephones, quicker than snail-mail. A conversation running back and forth through the Web. I'm attaching a photo of me at my birthday dinner-party as proof I haven't turned into an old hag just yet (maybe next B/day?). By the way, if you want to live off my riches, you'll have to get your sweet ass over here first. Deal?

PS: Sorry I’m in a rush, I have to finish translating a catalogue of TV programmes that are going to the festival in Cannes (on the French Riviera).