THE most wonderful part of my job is that I get to meet some brilliant people! One such is Angie Wong from Hong Kong. She is the Numero Uno foodie in the city and (excuse the pun) an all round good egg. I met Angie on a boat in Victoria Harbour during a thunder storm! Anyway, she has committed to a 'yes' pact. On her Facebook, it says, and I quote "For the next week I have to say 'yes' to everything life has to throw at me. Bring it. Follow my progress on http://yespact.blogspot.com/". This is an experiment that has come from the new Jim Carrey movie. Carrey is no longer funny - but I have a feeling that Angie will experience some real comedy from her pact! Go Angie!

monster, nicola, me and angie

I can't believe it's nearly May! Where has the year gone? I am sure yesterday was January ...

It's not often that I am in awe of a fellow traveller but there is a chap called Mr P Bear (on Facebook) who has in the past few weeks visited Dubai, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Bulgaria and Germany! He comes from The Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong and is certainly an international bear of mystery! Very impressive ...

Canada and Ireland is coming on nicely. Very exciting!

This coming weekend I am off to Mediterranean to visit an island that I always thought was at the heel of the world luxury scene BUT I have been convinced that Tenerife is actually up there (on at least the vamp)... I am positively curious.

Gemima the Dog has taken up eating onions & potatoes! I am not sure why ... answers on a postcard please.

Song of The Day: Wicked Game - Chris Isaak (another fabulous video - lucky dude)

Weather: Lovely!

vrrrroooooooooom! what a day!

Song of the Day: Easy Lover: Philip Bailey & Phil Collins

Weather: Easy

p.s. Ladies, I heard this lyric on the radio today - if a man ever utters it to you ... run like the wind ... he is very probably wierd ... the lyric "scoot over here, so i can nibble on your ear" .... YUK!

How can you sightsee, when there IS nothing TO see???

Bananas!

Song of the Day: Where the Streets Have No Name - U2

Weather: Fair to Middling

It's been a long week. Have achieved much ... and strangely so little.

Today I received a gift ... when we were in Singapore, I was fitted up for a shirt at one of the city's top tailors - Rossi. Well - unexpectedly - a package arrived ... the shirt we "designed" ... I will wear this weekend. There is something about bespoke clothing ...

The next few weeks are going to be crazy. I need to play some golf in there somewhere as I am sure I will remember all my bad habits ... like ... forgetting to hit the ball, missing 1 foot putts, thinking that every water hazard is a green and eating too much at the half-way hut. Hmmm ...

OK - the weekend is here and I have planned fun. I am off, off and awayyyyyyyyyyyy ...

Song of the Day: The Chicken Payback - The Bees

Weather: OK

It's been an extremely busy day! I love it! There's nothing worse than willing the clock to advance ...

All good stuff and looking forward to a very, VERY busy few days & week! Yay!

Song of the Day: Hyperactive - Thomas Dolby

Weather: Beautiful

Apparently I can now post my blog via email and my cell phone! How nice and dandy.

There is a scheduled outage of blogger.com in 5, 4, 3, 2 ...

Song of the Day: Come Dancing - The Kinks

Weather: Not bad, not bad at all

... 1 ....

First Mexico ... now Thailand! Am I cursed? Mexico City is looking decidely unsafe so it looks like that we will not be going there (but we have a fabulous alternative) ... and as you may have seen in the news, Thailand is having problems of its own. Maybe it will be okay by December though ...

Anyway - it was a long weekend and today I am paying for it. The paperwork has been mounting up and today it has blown up in my face. Visas, I-visas, work permits, filming permits ... phew ...

I did find a HUGE box of my beloved 80's music though which has meant one trip down memory land after another.

We have just done the 3rd cut on the Singapore show .... brilliant! We have done this gag with Tintin and Snowy that works amazingly (guest star - Gemima the Dog) ... in fact, the only that spoils the show is ...

Song of the Day: Sweet Harmony - The Beloved (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fflbSnB9sE4 ... NOW that is a great concept for my Sydney show ... )

Weather: unfortunate

even better than Snowy ...

A fabulous loooong weekend!

Vive La France ..........!

Song of the Day: She's Always A Woman To Me - Billy Joel

Weather: Magnifique

www.google.com

enter "Google Easter Eggs" and then click on "I'm Feeling Lucky" ...

and enjoy! :)

HAPPY EASTER everybody!

Song of the Day: The Egg Song - I Love Egg (truly awful)

Weather: Outstanding

Paws up ... :)

Song of the Day: Moonlight Sonata - Beethoven

Weather: Stunning

I need lessons in photography! The basics ... you know, like learning how to recharge the battery ... or how to delete old photos from the memory stick. Anyway, I have been without my photograph-taker for the past 18 hours and it's a pain.

I have several "homes" in London but the one of choice when I am working is The Athenaeum on Piccadilly. The hotel itself holds fantastic memories for me. It was once run by a wonderful lady called Sally Bulloch. If it was not for her - opening doors (& windows!) and encouraging me - I would not have started luxury travel television all those years ago. She actually starred as an unruly pupil in the first St Trinian's movie AND her brother played Boba-Fett in Star Wars. Sadly she died a short while ago - she is missed terribly by all who knew her.

She once introduced me to God ... hmm ... it's no secret that Sally liked the odd drink ... and once when I was there for 4, 5 and 6 o'clock glasses of champagne she took me over to meet God! It turned out to be Charlon Heston who pointed out that he played Moses, the Son of God ... and only the VOICE of God ... never the one ... it was an experience indeed! Sally attracted the A-list to the hotel - many of whom still return year after year.

So - The Athenauem. It's General Manager Jonathan Critchard is a lovely fellow and the PR Alison Wheatley is wonderful! They always make me feel totally at home and understand that sadly my life is a journey from one hotel bed to another. I always get a lovely room or suite with buckwheat pillows - some whisky - fruit - water and total privacy. Heaven!

A hotel is judged by service .. and staff ... and The Athenaeum does not disappoint in either. Sadly today - Alexis - from the Front Desk leaves ... but I have a feelng that I will meet her again in her homeland of South Africa later in the year.

Next time I stay at The Athenaeum, I promise photos!

Last night, I had a late-late dinner at Tamarind (Mayfair) - after the editing finally finished - which used to be my favourite Indian restaurant in London. I am sad to report that it was not exciting or tasty ... it was actually rather drab and I won't be going there again. Bombay Brasserie next time ... yum ... any takers???

It's the Easter Holidays now .. so it's time for family & friends ... I am off!

Song of the Day: Never Forget - Take That

Weather: Blustery

Sally (photo from her obit in The Daily Telegraph)

I am in a dark room ... there are 6 screens in front of me ... 4 keyboards ... a sound mixing desk .... 8 speakers but just ONE editor - Richard ...

Richard

Today is "Choppy-choppy, Squeezy-squeezy Day" ... i.e. when we cut & edit an almost final product. As said, it won't be finished properly for some time but for me to move onto the next location, I need this closure on Singapore.

Last night I stayed with some darling friends - which has put me in a great frame of mind. Five-month old Isabella - the most gorgeous baby-bear in the world - was sadly fast asleep when we took this photo ... or she would be the focus of it!

Timmy & Fifi

So - rather than words - today its pictures ... memories ...

prrrrrr .....

my verandah at The Fullerton

hisssss....

a Singapore Sling at Raffles ... Long Bar

a golf fan

a wonderful afternoon

that's it folks ...

Song of the Day: Perfect - Fairground Attraction

Weather: Looking angry

Not a long one today as I have very little time ... the editing is tricky but on first look, the Singapore show looks AWESOME!

Song of the Day: Fool on the Hill (Beatles)

Weather: There's a stormfront heading my way ...

It's been one of those days. I checked my FB this morning and there was a HUGE message saying "give a gift of love to your friends ... airline food". WHAT? A gift of love? More like a death sentence ... if you wouldn't eat it at home or on a street-corner .. or actually off the street, WHY would you eat it in the sky - 35,000 feet above ground? "Gift of love" ... haha!

SO - it's been writing script day. Well, trying to. While the filming is huge fun ... writing the script is a much more sobering experience. It brings back memories - good & back - and also fuels me for the next shoot. I love watching movies with sharp scripts ... because you know the effort it takes to write them. I am no script-writer ... and for inspiration ... I watched ... Babe! Hmmm ....

Speaking of babes:

Gemima (for those who don't already know) is just the most perfect creature to have ever stepped on God's Earth ... ok - so I may be slightly biased but hey! As you can see, "Little Moo" is sporting the latest handbag from Chewy-Vui .. that famous canine luxury brand. Gemima has agreed to accompany me on two filmimg locations this year ... payment to include chicken - roasted, poached, grilled ... you get the picture! She is being sponsored by WagTrade (a luxury doggie brand from HK) this year ... so she looks funky and yet adorable!

Singapore is sounding good ... let's hope the pictures match the words! I am actually hoping that the footage looks brilliant ... I always think that the mettle of a good travel show is tested with the sound on mute - i.e. the location is sold on the images ...

We'll see ...

It's been a rather long day so I am off for a nice glass of whisky ...

Song of The Day: You Get What You Give - The New Radicals (awesome track)

Weather: Gemima

Back to London! It looks like the weather will be miserable this week - rain, hail, snow, hurricane .. the odd twister .. same old London then. How I miss the warmth, sunshine and bright sunlight in GMT + 7.

So - a big week as we start the edit for Singapore. This does not mean it will be finished this week ... but we go through everything we have shot (hours & hours) and then start the process in which some gets chucked and hopefully, most is retained. The filming is exciting but then the editing is too.

I am most looking forward to seeing the Toy Museum feature ... I felt like a pig in mud there ... very happy indeed. The polo piece should look good - we didn't have any rain - so the colours will be vibrant and shirt tailoring ... a small but fun feature.

I can't believe its Easter this week. Working for yourself and travelling means that "Holy" days and public holidays tend to be "just another day".

I watched Wall-E for the first time yesterday. I have bad enough emotional travel issues without getting involved in probably the greatest love story ever told. I cried like a baby.

Wonderful ....!

No news is good news - so the saying goes. Last week in Singapore, I got into my head that I was going to buy & ship a lame polo pony to the UK ... sadly, I think that this idea/dream has bit the dust as I have yet to hear about the "adoption". I am going to have a riding lesson this week instead ... one day ... one day ...

Today has been "purge day" ... I have cleared out most of my wardrobe (shopping! yay!) ... a few people off Facebook ... books I will never read ... whisky I will never drink ... cigars I will never smoke ... and you know, it feels rather cathartic ... I feel content ... now to shed a few unwanted pounds around my waist! haha!

Song of the Day (well, two film themes): Death Theme - The Untouchables - Ennio Morricone and Farewell & End Title - Dances with Wolves - John Barry

Weather: Wild

"The Muppets take Manhattan"
"no cherry with that please bar-keep ... keep them coming though ... "

Song of the Day: Hey Manhattan - Prefab Sprout

Weather: Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

"in a New York State of Mind"
"walking down Madison"
"New York, New York"

In search of Catwoman in this sprawling Metropolis!

I NEED SLEEP!

Songs of the Day: All of the above

Weather: A wee chilly ... brrrrr ...

Just a quickie as I am off on another trip.

The biggest issue after spending a week with a butler is that when "one" gets home, "one" cannot drop a towel on the floor and expect it to vanish by the time "one" needs the bathroom again! There's something to be said about living in a hotel permanently ...

I have had over 80 applications for a "Tv Wife" ... the winner is ...

James has set up a Facebook page for "Inside Luxury Travel". He's a star that one.

I have booked a couple of riding lessons for next week. Yay!

Song of the Day: Papua New Guinea - Future Sound of London
Weather: Bright ... but a wee nippy

Phew!

13 hours (++) on a plane ... which then has problems in the last 10 metres with it's sat nav. Scary.

Am home, am tired ... am very sad about the loss of my favourite time-zone but excited about the next one.

From 28 degrees - warmth - t-shirt and shorts to 8 degrees - cold - with scarf, coat and jeans. Yuk.

More when my brain & body starts functioning properly. I have "jet-sag "...

Song of The Day: Miss you Much - Janet Jackson

Weather: British

It's the last day in Singapore.

I actually got some sleep last night ... which was fabulous.

First up, a trip to the Amrita Spa on the 3rd floor of the hotel where I had a lavender massage. I think I was "pressed" with lavender infused bundles and then massaged. Anyway, I feel totally relaxed now. I was lucky ... we filmed first ... which always stresses me out ... and after the boys went to film my suite I was treated to a full hour. Yay! THANK YOU BRIDGET & JANICE!

OK - to the Sarkies Suite - which has been my home for the past few nights. There's a lounge with a wet bar, a kitchenette, dining room (with a 12-seater table that can be transformed from a rectangular Western style table to a Chinese round table in 5 minutes), a huge four-poster bedroom suite (for me) and another enormous bedroom with a jacuzzi bath (for a TV wife?). It's named The Sarkies Suite after the four Sarkies brothers who created Raffles along with other legendary hotels in Asia like the Eastern & Oriental in Penang.

The list of guests who have stayed in the hotel is a roll-call of ALL the rich & famous who have ever lived. From the likes of Ava Gardner and Elizabeth Taylor to the A-listers of today. I am hoping that maybe Audrey Hepburn slept on my side of the bed!

The final feature of the day & show - MINT - Museum of Toys. MINT (moment of imagination and nostalgia with toys) houses some of the greatest toys ever made ... and some of the most valuable. A Mickey Mouse Hurdy-Gurdy - US$35,000 ... a Robot - US$15,000 ... a poster of Robby the Robot - US$18,000!!!!! It has to be said that this is one of the most wonderful features I have ever done ... we were all kids once ... some of us still are ... and some of you will bend to my will and become one! Haha! Original Star Wars dolls ... amazing! This is a fabulous place and a DEFINITE must-see in the city.

Off to The Fullerton now to catch a sunset.

SO Singapore!! It's been a quite brilliant week filming here. We have got just about everything we need. Singapore offers a wide range of activities and hotels ... to suit just about every pocket. The service is hit & miss .... as is eveywhere I have visited lately.

I am hoping to be back very soon ... to play some polo maybe.

The people .... gorgeous!

Big, huge, enormous thanks this week to - The Singapore Tourist Board, Mohd at Singapore Airlines, Toon Hee (the guide), Louis, Pierre, Carolyn, Iori ... and the cast of lovely people that made this week superb!

I think this is my favourite time-zone!

Song of the Day: Lucky Man (The Verve)

Song of the Week: You're Gorgeous (Babybird - acoustic version)

Weather: Sad & Moody


lavender massage



lounge
bedroom

if only she were blonde :(

FAREWELL SINGAPORE - WE LOVE YA!