Sometimes I feel like the famous #regency #mayfaireccentric “The Beard of #Mount Street” Martin Van Butchel 1735-1814 who was celebrated across the world for never leaving Mount Street who responded to a summons from the king himself with his mantra , “ I go to none for all come to me” Butchel was originally a dentist but after the death of his wife in 1775 he never left Mount Street again but had her embalmed & remained on the stoop of their house occasionally riding up & down Mount street on his grey mare which he painted daily with purple spots. His grief became a work of art & included his refusal to cut a hair of his beard. He embalmed his wife, dressed her & bathed her daily & seated in their parlour where she received illustrious guests from across Europe who paid to drink tea with his dead wife in the hope she would ensure they’d be blessed with a male heir. Alas I cannot boast either a horse or beard but I enjoy listening to the adventures of the extraordinary array of eccentrics that visit me with tales of their their marvellous adventures. Today I was blessed to welcome the dashing Oliver @obw168 from his #Egyptian travels exploring the wonders of the #valleyofthekings sailing down the #Nile as people have done for thousands of years absorbing the history of the #pharaohs (at Mayfair) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0EizrqAvHi/?igshid=1xq4gca6opban