In a word, camp.

Caesar's camp to be sure.

When I said 'Maxwell Road' to the cabby, he asked, 'Church ah?'

The tip of the tongue was tempted to say 'No, Roman orgy' but I reined it in.

The Red Dot Museum conjured up Culture in Ancient Rome, thanks to those very clever people at Fide Living whose combined creativity have yet to meet a challenge they can't conquer.

Ave, Caesar.

Dr Georgia Lee, she of the legs that go on forever, threw a party for friends and, ever-faithful to her great sense of style and fun, crowned it a night of 'gorgeous decadence'.

Rooms at the Red Dot underwent more than a sea-change.

Ancient Rome was not built in a day, but this reasonable facsimile was, in 12 hours 'non-stop', said one of the many workmen set to the task.

James Tulley with Yuki and Walter Cintamani in their spring summer collection, 44BC;

Temples were constructed, columns were erected, Roman baths were filled.

Existing furniture reconfigured into pedestals, a throne, a palanquin.

Deluxe curtained niches were fluffed up with recliners and cushions and pillows and fresh-cut fruit.

In the Square, the Emperor's little helpers were cutting capes according to cloth, makeshift provisions for those who failed to heed the dress code of togas and tunics.

Fide left no detail to chance. They'd bagged all the bales of satin fabric from Spotlight, busy fingers putting leaves to wreaths.

'I thought only victors could wear the laurels?'

'This one is from my estate's hedges.'

'Are you one of the vestal virgins?'

'Not yet.'

In the Forum, flanks of foot soldiers stood to attention as the head centurion trumpeted in the high priestess of fashionistas.

Gorgeous Georgia's triumphal entry was on a palanquin borne by a contingent of helmeted hunks.

The gracious doctor is a clothes horse who can wear anything and everything and perenially never looks less than elegant and stylish and smart and chic, you can't describe her in fewer adjectives.

She is married to Dr Pierre Christian Ipyam. The mother of two sons once told me: 'I still have the dress I seduced Chris in (in university)!'

True to theme, she had three wardrobe changes that night. The coolest sight, the pair of beautiful cats she had by her side, on a leash.

'Shall I have my slave peel the mangosteen for you?'

'Can I choose the slave, and can he feed me grapes instead?'

The guests numbered 150, many in costume, the spring summer collection of 44BC, some chose the retro look of 55BC.

Food and drink and games (Lions 12, Christians 0) were plentiful, fortunes told in the ancient manner using five stones, fire-eaters and snake-dancers, even masseuses though I'd have preferred foot reflexologists, those Roman leather thonged sandals are murder.

Recession be damned?

Bring on decadence!

This article was first published in The New Paper on Jan 26th, 2009.

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