RONNIE WOOD GOES HOME FOR CHRISTMAS...BUT FOR ONE DAY ONLY.
Ronnie Wood has been invited back for Christmas lunch
Sunday December 13,2009
By Adam Helliker and Lesley-Ann Jones AFTER being publicly humiliated by Ronnie Wood leaving her for a Russian nightclub hostess, his ex-wife Jo Wood has invited the Rolling Stone guitarist for Christmas lunch.
But the festive olive branch is for ONE day only.
Jo, 54 – who since the marriage break-up has forged her own celebrity career starring on TV’s Strictly Come Dancing – has asked the troubled musician to her house in Surrey to share what she is calling “one last family lunch”.
Her invitation has come at a time when several of the hellraising rock veteran’s friends are voicing their concern at his state of mind after his split with 20-year-old Ekaterina Ivanova who he met at the Capricorn lapdancing bar in London’s Soho.
They fear for the safety and sanity of Ronnie, 62, who has been lying “low and desperate” in his rented Surrey house since the end of his 18-month relationship with Ekaterina.
“Ronnie is back drinking heavily and says he has nothing to live for,” says one source close to the rocker. “He’s mentioned topping himself, which is not like him at all. He keeps moaning on about what a mug he’s been. He can’t believe he fell for that chick, and now says she must have seen him coming.
“He realised she was nothing but a gold-digger when she started banging on about him putting the place in Ireland in her name to ‘prove that he loved her’,” he said, referring to Sandymount House, Wood’s £3million estate in County Kildare.
“That was his wake-up call. No, he shouldn’t have gone for her and he’s paying the price for that now,” said his pal, referring to Ronnie’s recent arrest after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend in the street during a row.
Wood was held overnight at Staines police station. He will face further questioning in January. Ekaterina, who is staying with her mother in London, has refused to press charges.
The close pal said: ‘‘ ‘Mr Hyde’ came out, as he puts it. Kat pushed him that inch too far, and he went over the edge. He’s as low as I’ve ever known him, drinking himself stupid.
“As far as he’s concerned, she’s to blame for him losing Jo, the respect of his kids and the home he loved. He knows he’s been a total prat and that he’s got to reap what he’s sown.”
Wood also lost contact with his daughter Leah, 29, who was said to be “horrified” by her father’s behaviour.
But she has agreed to attend the lunch on Christmas Day. She will bring along husband Jack Macdonald and their six-month-old daughter Maggie.
“Jo was with Ronnie for over 30 years and, believe it or not, still loves him despite what he’s done,” explains one of her closest friends.
“She’s worried about him. She certainly does not like the thought of him being so depressed at Christmas. He said he was going to Ireland on his own. Her one condition is that he doesn’t drink.”
Jo has also revealed another reason why she wants Ronnie for lunch: in the New Year, Leah plans to start a new life in Australia.
“This is probably the last chance Ronnie will have to see the family together,” says Jo’s friend.
“And Jo is talking about selling the family home and buying somewhere in central London and Australia.”
Meanwhile, the dishevelled Ronnie has only the company of a burly, paid minder and is fast becoming a recluse.
It is feared he may not pull himself together in time to work with Mick Jagger and the rest of the Stones on their new album or next summer’s tour.
Since their divorce, Jo, a mother of three, has been busy building her Organics beauty line and reviving her modelling career. “Ronnie set me free,” she said. “What makes a relationship in later life is all the back story, the shared history, the photos, the memories.
“You can’t just invent all that with someone new, it takes a lifetime to build. You can’t wipe out the old and bring on the new, as Ronnie has found to his cost. But I still love him.”
Ronnie had an unexpected visitor yesterday, when snooker legend Jimmy White knocked on his door. The pals are regulars at the local Wisley Golf Club.
Pages: 
Ronnie arrested (Read 24,814 times)
