Just back from a nice karaoke evening at the O2 Arena in London's Docklands. Actually it was Paul McCartney in concert ... but it was actually a 20,000 strong sing-a-long which was actually quite good fun!

ANYWAY - greetings from Suite 712 at The Four Seasons in Canary Wharf. It's the Presidential Suite which is completely wasted on me as I arrived at 6 pm and leave at 6 am tomorrow! Such a shame ... it's so comfy and the views are fabulous ... THANK YOU MICHAEL!

It's been a long day as the weather has been so bad.

First stop - The Four Seasons, Hampshire with Claire Blackshaw - PR there. The setting of this property is magnificent ... in the country ... and on a day like today - snow, snow and snow - it's quite a picture. I love Claire --- she is passionate about travel and that works for me! This was Darling Jen's first look at Hampshire and she was impressed.

Next stop - Canary Wharf ... hmmmm ... homely City of London hotel ... smells so good ....

SO - the concert. We were VERY lucky as we were in a box ... with food & drink galore! The show was around 2 hours & 45 minutes and even though I am not a fan of the Beatles or McCartney (save Frog Chorus and Mary Had a Little Lamb) it was a VERY decent start to Xmas! The highlight for me was Mull of Kintyre with a line of bagpipers ... For Jen, the highlight was the ENTIRE show ... which was rather "fab"! THANK YOU RUPLI ... !

Back home tomorrow and sadly Jen is back to Texas ... I am going to miss her ...

Jen's Song of the Day: Let It Be - The Beatles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9SgDoypXcI

Weather: BLACK & ICE ... (and that's not a cocktail!)

claire-bear, me, sarah & jen

jen lounging ....

in the living room

pizza .. yum

where????

live & let die - kaboooom!

there he is!

darling jen in residence!

It is snowing! It is cold! It is slightly windy! It is PERFECT Xmas weather!

Darling Jen is still here and today we ventured into the countryside exploring! She loved it!

Lunch at Summer Lodge. You see, I don't really get an Xmas party (and haven't had one for 10 years) ... so this is the closest thing to it! We ate, drank and made merry!

Tomorrow - an Xmas concert - with a difference!

Song of the Day: Fairytale of New York - The Pogues & Kristy MacColl
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrAwK9juhhY

Weather: Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

darling jen wanders around sherborne

the "inside luxury travel" xmas lunch - with darling jen as guest speaker

venue: summer lodge hotel & spa ...

stephen titman (executive chef), charles lotter (general manager), emma & darling jen

Lots of driving today (in my new car)!

Last stop - Heathrow to pick up "Darling Jen" .. who is here for a few days.

BA has issues ... the queues for the "help desk" were VERY, VERY, VERY long ... "good luck" to anyone who has to travel by BA this Xmas & New Year!

HOWEVER, I did see something at T5 which made me smile - the world’s largest sprig of Mistletoe – a giant ten foot by eight foot structure which hangs above the arrivals gate ... sadly, no-one kissed me ...

Song of the Day: Kiss - Prince
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YFBYtGi4xo

Weather - Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrright & brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

jens' flight from mumbai! late ... ha!
hahahahahahaha!

It's so cold here in the UK! Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

So - home just 1 day and it's quite lovely.

No jet-lag. No itchy mozzy bites. ALL GOOD!

New York on January 4th! Whoo-hoo! I have never filmed there in Winter so I am very excited.

Song of the Day: You've Got the Love - Candi Staton
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7dMGw3uzEU

Weather: Brrrrrrrr but dry! Yay!

January 4th 2010 ...

Just home.

Checked out of The Banyan Tree at 0330. Bangkok to Oman - 0640 to 1030 ... Oman to London, Heathrow - 1315 to 1750 ... phew! Thankfully I was "up front" of the Oman Air aircraft so I did sleep for 75% of my day! I am still exhausted though ...

32 degrees this morning ... -1 this afternoon! Ha!

Off to bed ... AGAIN!

Song of the Day: Let It Snow - Dean Martin
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN7LW0Y00kE

Weather: Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

jimmy's favourite beverage! i agree ... PULPY!

hot in Oman

jimmy eats MORE sweeties

almost home

A300

sun going down ...

the night sky

It's a wrap!

Left the lovely Four Seasons - Chiang Mai at 0630 and flew the hour to Bangkok. No stress - no hassle - easy - Air Asia rocks!

Back to the hotel for 2nd fitting for my suits & shirts! They look LOVELY!

Off to the Grand Palace. Built in 1782 by King Rama 1st - it's THE number one MUST DO/MUST SEE in Bangkok. Amazing buildings inside ... gold, ornate, lovely! The Emerald Buddha is kept here too ... 66cm tall and carved out of ONE piece of jade. It is the holiest statue of Lord Buddha in the country.

The Grand Palace was home to the Royal Family for 150 years but now is mainly ceremonial.

Back to the hotel for the final piece to camera on the 61st floor - Vertigo.

1130 pm - Arun is back for my final fitting!

We leave at 0330 for the flight home (via Oman).

Song of the Day: One Night in Bangkok - Murray Head
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnqj31VPNoE

Weather: Warm



arun from james fashion - for 2nd fitting!
the emerald buddha
an armed piece to camera!

final ptc on the 61st floor of The Banyan Tree!

my boys!

Last day in Chiang Mai ... another long day after no sleep.

So - it's all about photos ....

They tell a story ...

Song of the Day: Hot Hot Hot - The Cure
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJqpVVqURkk

Weather: Hot hot hot!



morning mist over paddy fields

Ganesh-ji ... the resort shrine

with old friend - Jim Kostecky - General Manager

pad thai ingredients

chef Pitak - headmaster of the cooking school!

my dining room

living room

kitchen - with jim pilfering the larder!

downstairs "excuse-me"

staircase

observatory

Penthouse bedroom

bathroom

bath!

verandah

view ..
mr rice-man and mr oh

with tong - the water-buffalo

off to the fields

i fell in ...

he didn't!

with jim and darling maria kuhn - PR for Four Seasons in Thailand!