It's one thing to ask your bank manager for an overdraft to buy 500 begonias for the borders in Haslemere, but quite another to seek financial succour to avail oneself of the 5-2 they're offering on lie de Bourbon for the St Leger.

It's one thing to ask your bank manager for an overdraft to buy 500 begonias for the borders in Haslemere, but quite another to seek financial succour to avail oneself of the 5-2 they're offering on lie de Bourbon for the St Leger.

Oh, the self-importance of fading stars. Never mind, they will be black holes one day.

There's nothing undignified about lying about all day and being waited on by servants, sipping bloody champagne.

I enjoy doing nothing.

One of the things that goes with getting older is that one becomes more conservative - and I emphasise that when I use the word conservative I do not mean politically.

Although I have to admit I have despised a couple of people simply because they have never had a job in their lives.