Happy Birthday, caro Dominique! I know you'll want to celebrate the day with your bella sposa, but we must find a time to meet and celebrate your birthday in our own fashion. Perhaps I could offer you the gift of a quiet weekend in Scotland? I have a piccolo castello there, which no one knows about; it's too late to show you the wildflowers in the meadow, I'm afraid, but a long walk in the cold air, followed by drinks in front of the fire, would do both of us a world of good....

*finishes writing and addressing the card, posts it, and then calls his favourite Parisian florist and orders bouquets of white roses to be delivered to Dominique*

*waits for presents and good wishes to come flooding in*

Current Mood: optimistic

Ah, Barbara, Barbara, Barbara! Someday your piccolo Edoardo will turn on you the way you have just TURNED ON ME, and then you will know that the pain caused by il dente d'un serpente is as nothing compared to the pain in the heart that a thankless child causes. But despite the wound, my heart is filled with nothing but love, and so I will forgive you, figlia mia....

Current Mood: sad

Elisabetta was certainly not annoyed with me, as those lying reporters are saying. She knows that we Italians are a big-hearted people and we do everything on a grand scale, even talking. Why else are all the world's greatest opera singers Italians? *sniffs* If poor Giorgio had still been with us, he probably would have been there rubbing her shoulders, wouldn't he, Angie, and then what would people have been saying? Why do Americans have to touch everyone, anyway? La bella signora Obama was completely rude, but does anyone say anything about that? No! Niente! Only poor Silvio is castigated and chastised by the world's press. And then there was Niccolo piccolo gloating and winking at me throughout the entire G20 meeting.... Certo, Nico, certo, I know exactly what you've been up to, don't think I don't! *says something unprintable below his breath in Italian*

Current Mood: aggravated

My political opponents are criticising me for not criticising former President now Prime Minister Putin sufficiently for Russia's unprovoked attacks on Georgia. *sigh* Clearly none of them know the expression "You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar".

Current Location: Not Beijing
Current Mood: devious

Non voglio parlare oggi....

**************************

AGI) - Milan, Jan. 18. - An emotional Silvio Berlusconi made his way to his mother's house in Milan. She has been sick for some time: "She is passing away, but in a serene manner. There is always one of us by her side. She is still telling us beautiful things: 'don't worry, I'm certain that I'm going to paradise, I will keep on protecting and praying for you. Such is life and I've made it to the end: I have led a difficult life but received ample repayment". Speaking of his 97-year-old mother, Berlusconi said that "She is the one that gave us support and this shows you what kind of a person she really is.
She is passing away by the day, but she is serene".

Current Mood: sad

So I took ten bodyguards with me to that private dinner the other night. What of it? I said that I'm not anxious. I didn't say I'm stupid.

Dominique, caro, talk to him if you like. If anything happens to me, though, you'll know where to point the finger, even if others try to claim credit.

Current Mood: still not anxious

Do I have you to thank for this threat, caro Vladimiro? It won't work from you or from real terrorists.

Current Mood: not anxious

Message on card included with two dozen white roses delivered to a certain Paris address:

Buon cumpleanno, caro Dominique! I wish you a beautiful birthday. Will you celebrate quietly with your wife and family, I wonder, or will there be a great party in your honour?

It would be good to see you again and to catch up on your news. Shall we plan a weekend visit sometime soon?

Silvio

Current Mood: flirty

These pictures were discovered by Signorina Wacca; either she meant to stir up trouble by linking to them, or else she is so innocent that she didn't realise the effect they would have on certain people. I can't make up my mind on this point.

*sigh* Well, I suppose the damage has been done, so I might as well publish them here myself, just to prove that I have nothing to hide.

So, Dominique, you see what Vladimiro is up to these days? Even Signorina Wacca noticed the tender way he looked at that fighter and touched his shoulder. *coughs* As for my own presence, I can only say that I needed a change of scene, and a solitary visit to Switzerland didn't appeal to me. Perhaps the next time I extend an invitation, you'll be able to get away, now that the burden of public service has been lifted from your shoulders.

Current Mood: slightly embarrassed