John and I lost our dear dear friend Robert Kime last week. I first met Robert when I was in my late 30s when I drove to his house in the country in search of garden antiques. After some shopping he offered me a cup of tea and delicious biscuits. We sat in the living room where I commented on what was the most beautiful carpet I have ever seen. (I think it was a 17th Agra) and he told me the only way he could afford it was that it had a giant hole in the center. He had just put another lovely rug over the hole ,placed a center table in the middle which had a huge Imari vase with casual branches reaching the ceiling. That was so so Robert . We became good friends from that moment on. We have so many memories of fabulous trips with Robert and his dear wife helen , exploring, shopping,laughing and talking for hours. There was no one like him. We miss Robert and helen .Robert’s daughter Hannah, the little girl drawing in the kitchen on my first visit became my assistant in my years later. Our love to Hannah and Tom.