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it is with great sadness that we announce that Mikk Graves' partner, the sweet-tempered and loving Wren died suddenly yesterday in a hospital. He is in our hearts and thoughts. May the love of Wren forever be balm to his soul and we grieve with him.
Rest in peace warm friend and lover.
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate.
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date.
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st;
Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.
(Sonnet 18, William Shakespeare)
With great affection for the loss of friend we will always remember
Nonna Hedges
MarieJosette Laville
MariaAntonia Barenhaut
MariaTheresa Milneaux
MarieAdelaide Chaveau
MarieLouise Harcourt
MarieAdelaide Clemenceau
Desireme Fallen
CharlesAntoine Ronin
West Lyvingston
Tlazolcuani Xeltentat
MarieAntoinette Resident
Ciao a qualcuno, ciao a tutti, ciao agli amici , ea coloro che semplicemente gustare un buon bicchiere di vino !
Una Bella Notte! That is the best way to describe the event that can make you proud to be a friend of Venice and Melioria, and to La Contessa Rezzonico. It was mainly a quiet sort of event, fine music and vocals in the background to dance to, wonderful guests of course as the guest list was very strictly invitation-only. The conversation was not of the most abundant but that which was going around was of great interest with anyone with an ear for amusement and laughter.
The Hostess provided us with a gondola to the event just outside the Villa of il Princpe di Melioria, driven by the apprentice gondolier Fiorino. The ride was pleasant, gliding along the moonlit waters around the paradise isle, towards the beautiful location that hosted the event. A pavilion of fine make, decored subtly but finely, and laid out with many foods and wines- the wine was awful of course, it was not of the great make. Vino Loredano is much better, please keep this in mind for next time, Contessa Rezzonico, less you have happier guests who do not have the taste of rot in their mouths throughout the night.
Alas I digress. The event was calm and pleasant, filled with the air of happy and joy, to enjoy a time among friends and family, all those we have grown to love, hate, and love to hate. Those notably well dressed were the Hostess, a man in armor under the alias of Apollo, a man robed in ruby-red Carnevale attire, and a briefly-seen man dressed as a Chinese Emperor. If there was ever a night, that could bring a tear to any Venetian's eye, at the remembrance of a time not so long ago, this was a night and place for it.
I do not do it often, and I do not like to do it, but I salute La Rezzonico and her efforts for the Carnevale fun that was had. It will be remembered for a long time. Una mascherata pi degno di nota.
After three tournaments ( Orange-Nassau, Coeur and Melioria), the rankings in this ongoing competition are:
1/ Hera Poliatevska: 18 points
2/ Selina Vayandar: 11 points
3/Joesf Fitzpatrick: 10 points
4/Maria Louisa Muircatsle: 7 points
5/Myron Byron, Paco Gothly: 6 points
6/Emma Streusel, Blue Revolution: 5 points
7/Marie-Josette Laville, Elisabeth Milneaux, Susannah Tigerpaw,Melled'Andelot,Pekel Panacek,Capacitytodd Elswit: 3 points
8/Tatiana Dokuchic Varriale: 2 points
9/Maria Antonia Barenhaut, Sophia Trefusis, Quecay Amat,Martie-Therese Glendevon, Bedrich Panacek, Trasgo Beaumont, Roy100 Allen, Monty Merlin: 1 point.
I can see quite a few fencers in this list who are not ranked high enough according to their skills with a foil or sword.There will be a few more tournaments to allow them to climb up .
3000 L$ in the end for the winner! 
The MELIORIA fencing tournament turned out to be a wonderful event, and a success in terms of attendance, enjoyment, and high fencing level.
The Prince of MELIORIA had carefully prepared this feast ( with the deft and friendly help of Aria Vyper, Contessa di Mocenigo, CeeCee and Blue Revolution), adorning the lawns of the glorious Villa Vesuviana with tents and lovely blankets, where spring water, wines ,liquors and picnic baskets were at hand.
This event drew an incredible crowd, from all horizons, coming and going during the two hours and a half it lasted. Therefore, I will not be able to mention all attendants, as I usually do: please accept my apologies. it was entertaining and even enthralling, to see this fashionably elegant assembly and to hear the witty discussions and, ahemgossips.
The duellists of the day were , in no protocolar order: Capacitytodd Elswit, Prince of Melioria, our host, Marquesa Quecay Amat, Hera Poliatevska, professional fencer and Maitre dArmes in the Royal Court Fencing Group, Contessa Sophia Trefusis di Loredan, Doctor Pekel Panacek, Madame la Comtesse de Noailles, Senora Emma Streusel, Princess of Switzerland, Sir Blue Revolution, Her Grace the Duchesse de Rochefort, Conte Myron Byron di Loredan, Mademoiselle dAndelot, Joesf Fitzpatrick, Contessa Selina Vayandar di Loredan, and Monsieur de Monty-Merlin.
Four rounds were needed to reach the final, won by the irresistible Selina, Contessa di Loredan, over Hera Poliatevska. To crown this ceremony, the Prince of Melioria offered two prizes of 2000 gold coins and 1000 gold coins respectively to the winner and finalist.
The competitors gained also points for the Royal Courts fencing Group Award of Fencer of the Year, as follows:
- Maria-Antonia Barenhaut, Quecay Amat, Sophia Trefusis, Pekel Panacek, , Joesf Fitzpatrick, Monty Merlin: 1 point.
-Marie-Josette Laville, Melle DAndelot, Capacitytodd Elswit, Myron Byron: 3 points
- Emma Streusel, Blue Revolution: 5 points
-Hera Poliatevska: 8 points
- Selina Vayandar: 10 points.
(see for present rankings after 3 tournaments in my upcoming post).
And now A FEW ANECDOTES :
-As usual, a big controversy arose about fencing Ladies outfits: gowns or breeches? Well, this a far too serious matter for us, male fencers, to decide! We , who heartily endure scars and blood wounds, would NEVER take the chance of interfering between Ladies arguing about this: we are courageous, but no fools! ( with the possible exception of Blue Revolution, who suggested we could wear skirts in replyJ)
-CeeCee missed the Tournament, and we missed her : we learned (once again) that , as she was in charge of transferring the spring water bottles from the cellar to the picnic, she mistook them for the vodka bottles of the Prince, and realized too late her error ( too late meaning after sipping two bottles at least) so she overslept...
-At one moment, a little girl ran everywhere through the crowd . One of the Versailles Grandes Dames was trying to catch and keep her May I? She looks so much like my Pomeranian dog! she said.
-Extracts from the dialogues during the final duel :
-Hera Poliatevska: I must confess at this point, that I am not a part of any Court. I am from the peasantry, and I fence for a living, Mesdames.
-Duchesse de Rochefort: For a living? What do you mean? What a curious expression! ( I love learning new words and expressions)
-Selina Vayandar: For a livinglike work. A concept lost to you, perhaps.
-Duchesse de Rochefort: Oh! Work ! I learnt about work the other day, what a curious occupation!
-Gallyon Milneaux: *tries not to laugh*
-Duchesse de Rochefort: To work to earn moneyodd concept
-Hera Poliatevska: I work as a fencer, sometimes as a trainer
-Duchesse de Rochefort: Personally I think inheritance is much simpler
-Hera P. : Much simpler indeed, for those who are lucky!
-Myron Verne: tsk tsk tsk, never mind, Hera, focus on your fencing! 
A fresh warm breeze enters thru the open windows of the Villa. Looking out onto the Great Lawn I see all is in readiness for our distinguished and talented guests this weekend.
Saturday February 5 th is only a few days away. The En Garde fencing tournament commences at 2pm SL time so guests should be arriving shortly before so they may have their maids and valets unpack their (18 th ) fencing attire and be down on the terrace just before 2pm to make sure they are included on the register of participates.
As I finish counting the prize moneys and place them into the purses I can smell the fresh baked goods being prepared for the picnic baskets. How I love a wonderful relaxing afternoon spent with my near and far cousins.
I gather my things and head for Vienna. Deciding to go solo and to begin freelance work I seek out as atutor, and become a family man. My relationship with the Archbishop of Salzburg deteriorated over the years. I had thought enough was enough when I got fired at Salzburg court for the third time. My relationship with my father wasnt as strong as it once was. I had this feeling of wanting to prove myself to him, showing him I could make it on my own and making the entire family proud. Freelancing begins; I start off by composing, playing in concerts and teaching all over Vienna. Although, I hoped for a well-paid job at court, I made a reasonable living as a freelance musician. At last I was getting the success I well deserved not as the boy genius, but as a serious and talented classical composer.
I fell in love with Aloysia Weber, a cousin of the composer Carl Maria von Weber, but she rejected all my advances. In August 4, 1782, I married her sister Constanze Weber. A month before the marriage, I produced my German opera Die Entfhrung aus dem Serail (The Abduction from the Seraglio.)
I decided I didn't need to take on a paying job with a wealthy patron; instead I set myself up as an independent composer. By playing the piano, publishing piano and violin sonatas (also for solo piano), and the occasional opera commission, I was starting to live pretty well. Between 1782 and 1786 I wrote fifteen piano concertos including some of my finest works, giving myself the opportunity to establish my name as both composer and pianist. More importantly, to me was the set of six string quartets that I dedicated to Haydn. Written more for my own satisfaction than as a moneymaker, this showed the serious side of me, with a mastery of the genre.
William Wordsworth
On the Extinction of the Venetian Republic
Once did She hold the gorgeous east in fee;
And was the safeguard of the west; the worth
Of Venice did not fall below her birth,
Venice, the eldest Child of Liberty.
She was a maiden City, bright and free;
No guide seduced, no force could violate;
And, when she took unto herself a Mate,
She must espouse the everlasting Sea.
And what if she had seen those glories fade,
Those titles vanish, and that strength decay;
Yet shall some tribute of regret be paid
When her long life hath reached its final day:
Men are we, and must grieve when even the Shade
Of that which once was great, is passed away.
(1802)
Entry from the journal of Capacitatodd Elswit, Principe di Melioria
By Capacitatodd Principe diMelioria, 2011-01-04
il quarto di Gennaio durante l'anno di nostro Signore 1780
Villa Vesuviana
Musing on this ever changing best of all possible worlds I think on my home and what direction it should face the future. Since 1383 when that little favor was returned from Charles III of Naples with the blessing of Papa Urban VI Melioria has stayed unchanged. Peacefully traveling through the seasons and years, enjoying her anonymity and the occasional guests journeying from afar.
But Mayer warns me that the old ways may not last through another Turmoil especially one that he and my spies tell me is looming and coming quicker and more terrible than we can ever imagine. Look on the Americas. Madre della Mary del Dio! Who would ever expect such a change? And even here in Europa one wonders how long these old Families can go on the way they have without heeding the rumbles that our Age of Science has created in our people.
Even with taking Mayers advice to diversify and expand my holdings and all the financial return I have seen he thinks it may not be enough to shelter my ancient home. And though I feel comfortable at any of my far flung estates if I were to loose Melioria in the coming storm it would be as if my true spirit had been taken from my soul.
Something must be done. I am resolved.
Therefore I will be Moderne. I will take this small tiny island and push it towards the future. I will make it a place that all can call home even if only for a few weeks so that they have a stake in its future and will safeguard its existence.
I will leverage her peaceful neutrality and expound her natural beauty and vistas. I will take her sleepy streets and make them the Promenade of Europa. The best craftsman, the best goods will fill her shops. I will invest in and encourage bankers to open up branches here that provide their clients a partnership of absolute private transaction and security no matter what nationality. Couple that with no taxation of foreign residents or their deposits I will lock in Europas wealth here so that Europa dare not march on my sweet Melioria for fear of turning their world upside down.
I see a tiny glamorous principato di Melioria. A fantasy of perfectly groomed lush gardens when the rest of the Continent is freezing in winters grasp. And my dear jewel, my home, my heart, my Villa Vesuviana (long secret) turned into the apex of sensual pleasures, brilliant culture and curative waters. A destination to rival any Spa town in Europa.
All nationalities will be met with open arms. A high point on ones Grande Tour where one sees and must be seen.
So much to do
Cece must start to bottle that old spring water immediately. I wonder if I can dress up that old maid and have her greet the ships? Hmmmmm Contact Cece Barzan for reservations for the upcoming Season. Has a nice ring to it I think.
Forward
CE Who knows what fate in store for us? How could i imagine in that cold winter morning, while I was seeing the snowflakes falling through the windows of my studio in Languedoc that only a few weeks later I would be arriving to the sunny Caribbean.
I will not try to reproduce here all the complex events that gave to me the chance to begining this new adventure, an inheritance from a distant relative, a business oportunity in the new world... sometimes there are an inner force that moves you to jump to the inexplored althoug you know the hazardous of the new way that you start.
The Atlantic voyage was not too bad. We was lucky with the weather and thanks to the Captain skills our crossing was a monotonous but nice experience, relieved by the portions of the evening playing cards and telling histories on the poop deck.
After six sailing weeks we arrive to Dominica where I had to spend a few days organizing my travel to Guadalupe. From there, I could rent a boat to reach my new posessions in the little Island of La Dsirade, my new home in the New World.
(...to be continued)