I am getting old. How do I know this? Well, I am suffering - for the first time - from jet-lag! I have always got over it in a day but on this trip, I seem to be coping quite badly to the extent that last last night I was in bed by 10.30 (I am writing this diary entry at 4 am!) totally wiped out and sadly forfeited delicious desserts! I also seem to have deleted a whole load of photos from my day! There's a moral in there somewhere ...

Anyway - GREETINGS from Chateau Yering in the Yarra Valley. It was "filming on property day" today and we got through an enormous amount.

Arrival by helicopter from Yarra Valley Helicopters. The hotel has 250 acres of land ... stretching down to the Yarra River ... and it looks amazing from the air. In 2009, a huge fire swept this area, killing over 170 people. It's taken a year but surely, the Yarra Valley has come back from the brink and there much more green than black visible ...

I arrived in a R-44 ... a small but extremely cute helicopter!

I was greeting by the wonderful General Manager Sue O'Brien who has been looking after us so well that they boys have already remarked that they don't want to leave! Don't get me wrong, I totally agree!

A brief "borrowed" history lesson now:

"This welcoming property in the European tradition is surrounded by historically significant gardens. It is a fitting tribute to Paul de Castella, a Swiss immigrant who established this superb residence in 1854.

The accommodation at Chateau Yering consists of 32 suites individually decorated with different color schemes. Word has spread quickly of the high standard of food and accommodation and the accommodation is full on most weekends.

This heritage listed Victorian mansion on 250 acres, borders the Yarra River and is set amidst established gardens dating from 1854. The luxury period accommodation and award winning Eleonore's Restaurant boast some of the best rural vistas in Victoria, while the lounges and sitting room are a showcase for fine paintings and antique furniture."

I have a Yarra Suite - around 50 square metres in area. Bathroom, lovely bedroom (complete with cat) ...

Living room and suite-hugging balcony ... and views to the Great Dividing Range and Yarra River! These photos got lost - will take more later today!

Eleonore's Restaurant is run by chef Mathew Macartney. He prepares some brilliant, original dishes using local produce as much as he can. It's a popular restaurant in the area and if Michelin was down here, he would be starred. The desserts are to die for! He taught me how to make a truffle ravioli today ... YUM!

The hotel also has a cafe with contemporary cuisine, the Oak Room (conferences & weddings) and the Bar where the property's Food & Beverage manager Cameron Hogarth prepared the "house cocktail" which included Canadian Club whisky and Cointreau ... it was STRONG!

To end the day, Sue and I drove 10 minutes to visit some roo-poo courtesy ...

of the local wild kangaroos! There are around 300 of these happy & sweet looking creatures bouncing around in two mobs ...

Just 45 minutes out of the city ... and nature takes over. A great way to end a filming day ...

Up early as I am off hot-air ballooning!

Song of the Day: Dream a Little Dream - Louis Armstrong

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-xzfwDAn1I

Weather: Hot, hot & hot!

HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY to The Goring in London!

The one hour stop at wonderful Changi Airport in Singapore was a blur! Jumped off the plane and into a shower and still had time for a quick diary entry before catching the QF10 from there to Melbourne!
The boys were waiting in the lounge for me ... so packed that they sat on the floor!
Back on the plane ... for the 6000 km + journey to Melbourne ... we arrived there at 0630 ... looking rather bleary eyed.

It's a 75 minute drive or so from the airport to the Yarra Valley and Chateau Yering. More about this lovely property tomorrow. I have a lovely suite overlooking the 250 acre estate with hills in the background. On arrival, we were met by the gorgeous GM Sue O'Brien ... we WILL be having a GREAT time! Also, it's lovely and warm here ..

The view ...

Noisy crows ..

Tim's awake and eating yummy pizza!

Song of the Day: Stylo - Gorillaz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9vAOzYz-Qs&feature=featured

Weather: Yum!

Have just arrived in Singapore
10885 kms gone ... with 6027 kms to go to Melbourne
It's 7 pm here and we leave in 45 minutes so no time for huge diary entry
Qantas flight good ... lots of sleep ... and a 12 year old Glenlivet to keep me company
The bed reclined to 172 degrees (give or take) ... but bot 180 degrees (flat) - I wonder why ...
6 degrees in London, 32 degrees here in Singapore
It's odd that in a 24 hour period, I am only "on the ground" for one ...
I am being called ... ooops

1st of March??? Where has the year gone???

Greetings from a BA lounge in T3 at Heathrow.

We are off on our new series! First stop, Melbourne via Singapore ... then Tasmania ... I/we are VERY excited!

It's been a long day and I am looking forward to a good sleep on my Qantas flight. I haven't flown Qantas for an age so I am very curious to see how it goes.

Song of the Day: Candy - Paolo Nutini (LOVELY song!)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccZgxmxm32k

Weather: Weird - sun, rain, drizzle, sun, rain ... make up your mind will you??


off again!

A pretty busy day with friends and a wander down to the Jurassic Coast ... it was cold but fresh ...

Also watched a bit of the rugby ...

This time tomorrow I will be with the boys on the way Down Under. Whoo-hoo!

Tonight a fine Pinot Noir and bubbling conversation ... nice.

Song of the Day: Will.I.Am ft Fergie - I got it from my Mama
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XomQLhjCYYk

Weather: as above

West Bay

It's been a week of highs & lows. I have ended it with a massage ... which actually didn't work! I made the mistake of checking my emails after my treatment to read that a dear friend had lost her job out-of-the-blue and it made me very sad. Very sad indeed.

The weekend is here and I am off to Australia to start filming the new series ... with "the boys" Tim and James ... another year and we are as excited as puppies ... !

Song of the Day: Done with You - The Whitest Boy Alive
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqhFke_MT4c

Weather: Stunning


tim, me & james

Family problem over ... started packing for Australia & Singapore ...

New clothing from Robert Graham ... (see below) ...

Weather in England: cold & damp

Weather in Melbourne: hot & sunny ... where would I rather be? Hmmmmm .....

Song of the Day: Ramblin' Man - Lemon Jelly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bP-N9057wiQ

Firstly, apologies for this entry being late. I had a family emergency after an awesome dinner and had to rush home ... the last thing on my mind was the diary!

All is well though ... so ...
Buckingham Palace is just a wee hop, skip from my hotel - The Goring. This is why, over the years, the hotel has been used by the Royal Family as a place to dine & drink ...
Breakfast was at The Wolseley on Piccadilly. This used to be a car showroom, bank and once an ENORMOUS Chinese restaurant. While the company was great - the atmosphere, food & service were lacking ... badly.
Back to my old stomping ground in Pimlico and I found a Shangri-La ... not the hotel but a Chinese herbalist! No time for a massage ...
Lunch with a very dear friend at 41 (a Red Carnation hotel) in Victoria. Food, service, atmosphere ... all A1 ....
The lounge/dining room
Napoleon's bust ... gathers dust ... (or not)
Back to my 71 room & suite hotel on Beeston Place ...
My bathroom (spot the ducks on the back left of the bath)
A warm cosy suite ... love the colours ... the hotel is famous for sheep ... but alas none in my suite .. I was thinking about my dear Bert & Ernie ...

My balcony ... huge ... with views of the garden (which in Spring is lovely). The hotel celebrates its 100th birthday next Tuesday ... and the marquee is for a huge party.

Dinner was in "The Dining Room" a well-Linley-designed room ... and the food wasn't bad either!

I did not get enough photos of The Goring ... I will pop back & get some when I am next in London ...

I did have a lovely stay and the all important service is outstanding ...

Need to start packing for Australia

Weather: Rainy

I am sitting here in my hotel ... content! Usually for "room service" I order a pizza or club sandwich or a basic chicken dish ... but tonight ... I ordered a hot dog! It was DELICIOUS! The Cumberland sausage was just how I like it (almost cremated), with roast onions and a hint of ketchup AND awesome chunky chips ... washed down with a fresh pineapple juice! Totally, utterly ... yum!

SO - I am staying at The Goring in London, SW1 - just a skip away from Victoria Station and Buckingham Palace.

Next week, the hotel celebrates it's 100 birthday! What a milestone! It is the only family-owned luxury hotel in London and it was opened on March 2nd 1910 by Otto Goring. Over the years, it has played host to Prime Ministers, Presidents and Royalty...

I used to live round the corner and it must say that this hotel was nicknamed the "Boring Goring" for years BUT after a huge & tasteful refurbishment, the hotel could be tagged as "The Soaring Goring" .. it's up there ...

Interesting fact - The Goring was first hotel in the world to have a bathroom & heating in each room!

My day has been pretty good ... pretty, pretty good ... and tomorrow it's filled with meetings!

Song of the Day: My Boy Lollipop - Millie
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCUcbRTB6Rs

Weather: Cold & Raining ... yuk


my home for a couple of nights ...

The boys - James and Tim - have spent the day with me discussing last season and next season. We start filming next week in Melbourne.

We have done a lot of talking ... and much drinking of cider, red wine and whisky ...

I need sleep.

Song of the Day: Alabama Song/Whiskey Bar - The Doors
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnHRTmZGS6g

Weather: Sleet, snow, rain, hail ...

and friend ...

Great, relaxing weekend ... catching up with friends. This time next week I will be on my way to Melbourne, the week after in Tasmania and the week after that, Singapore! Better do some planning ...

Extremely busy week to come ..

Song of the Day: Last Night a DJ Saved My Life - Indeep
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgQ0At6fo1I

Weather: Cold & damp

tasmanian devil

Today has been all about catching up on 30 days of Sky Plus (TIVO) - The Simpsons, 30 Rock, Curb your Enthusiasm, Drag me to Hell and Max Payne ... comedy, horror, action ... it was like reading a Dean Koontz book!

Anyway - off to eat some cheese now - my dreams tonight WILL be bonkers!

Song of the Day: Do the Bartman - Bart Simpson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jmhlyuxULI

Weather: Frosty

the bart man ...

So here was my crazy dream from last night! For some bizarre reason "Take That" took pity on me after watching the Chicago episode and offered to teach me how to dance & sing. I took a month out of travelling and learnt the basics ...

The group were on tour and I had learnt Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" with a few shuffles of my feet.

Anyway on one night of their tour I got dragged on stage and performed ... totally out of the blue ...

Just as I was about to start to sing, my kitten Maisy jumped on my head and woke me up! I am confused about the dream and thankful to Maisy for waking me up before I started to sing!

HAPPY WEEKEND EVERYBODY!

Song of the Day: Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNB1EUJg1-w

Weather: Cold & snowy ... brrrrrrr

Take That!

Today has been about putting my "affairs in order" ... VAT return, tax return, health insurance, life insurance ... phew! It never ends ...

Another one of those days in which, yes on paper it doesn't look like I have done much BUT I have pleasingly, achieved a lot!

9 days until I start filming the new series ...

Song of the Day: We Built This City - Starship http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxGGckAc1rs

Weather: Yuk

Melbourne Photo 1

I am not happy. I want to be back on holiday.

I am cold ... it's dark (at 5 p.m.) and I want be by a swimming pool sipping cocktails & puffing on a good cigar.

Today has been about answering over 350 emails and texts ... and choosing the winner of "Spot the Varun" competition ...

Song of the Day: Don't Stop The Dance - Bryan Ferry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5W7hpm0MP6k

Weather: Poo

Spot the Varun! I am not there! Boohoo ...

"Travel is sold as freedom - in reality we are as free as lab rats ... "

Well, if you hadn't guessed, for the past few days I have been sleeping in Oman at the Shangri-La's Bar Al Jissah Resort .... at Al Husn (The Castle).

I haven't had a holiday for three years and this one was not only welcome but sorely needed as I fly off to Australia filming for the new series on March 1st.

So I was there 6 days/5 nights and I am now so relaxed that I was actually tempted to not write this diary entry!

I am on the plane home to London. There was a slight delay as SEVEN passengers had sat down in their correct seats but on the wrong aircraft! I am bound for London – they to Munich! There was much bemusement and lots of red face on airline staff. (Another issue I have just found out is that ONLY Johnnie Walker “Red Label” is available for whisky lovers!!! No single malts or even a premium blend! Oh dear ...

Oman is one of the few true luxury destinations in the world. You cannot go there for a backpacker holiday ... there is no rail system ... it’s so hot that you can’t hitchhike ... cabs are rather expensive and the bus service is not totally reliable (so I have been told). I filmed a show here in 2009 and found loads to do and see but needed a ground handler to facilitate this ...

SO – my holiday! Thanks to the resort GM – Arbind Shrestha and PR – Kate Jones – it was a total success. When I mean “success”, I mean that I did a load of sleeping, swimming, sunning, stuffing my face with delicious fare and relaxing! I haven’t felt this good for years! With the Gulf on my doorstep, no high-rises or outrageous building going on, I felt truly at ease ...

The resort has three separate hotels – one for families, one that’s slightly “corporate-y” and Al Husn – the adults only ultra-luxury property. I stayed here ..! There is something for everyone there and with year-round superb weather; it’s a far superior offering to anything that Dubai can offer!

There are so many restaurants offering stunning cuisine that I was spoiled for choice. Al Tanoor offered “buffet”, there was tapas and I enjoyed a superb Italian meal too ... not to mention a sensational meal at Sultanah ... sea-bass cooked in a salt crust ... and roasted duck.

While I am pleased that I am on my way home – I will always look back at my time in Oman as one of the best holidays of my life.

The last words will go to the couple, with strong Cockney accents, who I overheard conversing in the swimming pool ... husband to wife ... “I love this place ... no kids, no Americans ...” wife to husband “or people from Essex” ... “Posh Spice” take note, you may not be welcome here!

Song of the Day: Mnah Mnah from The Muppet Show
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdUeVAkzEas

Weather: From the sublime (28 degrees & sunny) to the ridiculous (2 degrees & raining)

General Manager - Arbind K Shrestha
My suite Lounge
Bedroom
View from balcony
Out to the Gulf ...