So, with the travelling, I tend to to miss - among others - friends n' family birthdays, anniversaries, Father & Mother's Day .... so today it was Their Day as I went to see my folks! And - as ever - it was just wonderful. My Pops is the inspiration for my travels ... he has a sense of adventure that thankfully was passed down to me!

Heston Blumethal is The Fat Duck in Bray (Berkshire, England). In 2001 it was Michelin Guides top restaurant in the world. He is a true culinary genius. For a television programme this year he took a "Little Chef" in Popham and transformed it from a dismal/awful roadside diner into a hip & trendy eaterie that was the first of a new breed of Little Chefs. So - I stopped there for a bite ...
The bread was NOT bloomer, the field mushroom (see below) was very small and tasteless .. and cost a whopping £1.20 (US$2.00), the fries were McCain (I saw the bag) and bacon was ... yuk. Very disappointing. I do worry that chefs that put their names to all and sundry can only dilute their brands with such obvious failures. The bright spots of the meal were the service ... which was perky ... the OJ - very fresh ... the bags of jelly-beans as gifts ... and the looks of sympathy as the server hands you the bill ... !

Song of the Day: Sex-o-Matic venus Freak - Macy Gray
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHLaDhm2ezQ

Weather: As bad as a field mushroom at

experimentation ...

the US$2 mushroom ... !

Today was dedicated to "House" ... and I don't mean I did any housework - nay - I sat in front of the television and watched all the episodes that I had recorded while in California.

He is: obnoxious, rude, cruel, insensitive, selfish, mad, boorish, mixed-up and acidic ... but also caring & thoughtful ... a strange but wonderful mix.

Anyway - off to see Transformers 2 for my Megan Fox-fix! prrrrrrrrrrrr

Song of the Day: Teardrop - Massive Attack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmB5SG5PpSI

Weather: Has rained ALL day. Fat English raindrops ... not cold, just annoyingly obese and ever-lasting.

I learnt a few lessons today:

1) By wearing shorts all day, it does not mean the sun will come out. In fact, it's heaving with rain right now

2) Don't leave 'til tomorrow what needs to be done today - one of the tyres on my car blew up mid-journey (literally) - and I should have changed it .. yesterday!

3) A beer is never a substitute for a good whisky

4) Life is not fair

Song of the Day: Owner of a Lonely Heart - Yes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWvzZCZF1gw

Weather: July Gloom

things could have been much worse!

I have done a huge amount of sleeping today. But I am now feeling great and am very much looking forward to the editing process that starts next week.

Oh - below are photos from the Ty Warner Suite at The Biltmore (Four Seasons) from last week. I didn't post them and found them while archiving.

So - next stop is Cape Town ... which I am very much looking forward to. The two main hotels featured are not in the centre of the city ... and a third is really out in the sticks. We have some great stories to film ... adrenaline fuelled - I have been told.

Song of the Day: Things Can Only Get Better - D:ream
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl-ai9HuR60
(I personally detest this song but it was chosen by best friend - Tim ... idiot!)

Weather: Things Can Only Get Better

1000 square foot verandah
lounge
with fireplace
bed
bath

How is that after 10 hours sleep on the plane, I am STILL exhausted and keep dozing off during telephone conversations?

A plate of fish-fingers (fish-sticks) & bed ... I will be bouncing like Tigger in the morning.

Song of the Day: Heaven Knows - Robert Plant
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtWSdJeLnv0

Weather: ?

"Opportunity dances with those who are ready on the dance floor" - H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Am sitting in the airport lounge supping on a low-calorie, caffeine-free, colourless, odourless, tasteless, slight fizzy, over-chilled, slightly wet, Canada Dry ginger ale ... hmm ... I think not!

It's been a long day already and I am looking forward to a very long sleep on the plane back to London.

Woke up to find that EVERY television channel is running the same story - the current economic crisis in the Ukraine. I lie - but I wish they were. MJ fever has hit LA ... it's all quite sensationalist and not since the death of Diana, have I seen and heard such awful analysis from "experts". CNN expert said "Michael touched many people" and NBC had a chap saying "there are two rivers in the City today - the Los Angeles River and a river of tears" ...

Anyway, during breakfast Jen excused herself as it suddenly transpired that her hotel was set to host the wake ... 800 hungry (I mean tearful) people would be invading her property ... the eyes of the world are currently trained on the Beverly Wilshire ... GO JEN!

Checked out of The Montage - had pineapple juice with Frank - and managed to get to the airport without much of a traffic snafu. I am pleased that I am flying home on the best airline in the world - Air New Zealand.

SO - that's two more shows filmed. Editing begins next week.

California has been a hoot ... I have made lots of new friends and antagonised old ones! I have laughed, cried, attempted to fly (without wings or parachute), surfed (almost), drank oodles of pinot noir, golfed (goofed), cooked AND most importantly lost weight despite being attacked with elephantine portions of food!

To dear Radha, Frank, Laura, Steve, Jamie, Tony, Pete, Sandy, Rich, Shannon, Joe, Buddo, Dan, Alyssa, Chris, Craig, Tohnia, Sophie, Krista, Karen, Baby-G and Really?, (you know you who are!) - THANK YOU!

Also - HUGE thank you to the boys - Tim & wee Jimmy, Maddy Morgan - tourism supremo in London, Em for setting everything up so brilliantly, Gary the Dude from ANZ and Heinz for producing the finest Ketchup in the world.

Cape Town is the next location for filming. I can't wait!

Song of the Day: California Dreamin' - Mamas & Papas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtVIhDgo_uU&feature=related

Weather: BAD! (well, actually quite good)

"beauty and the beast" ... well, 2 beauties - radha and darling jen ...

on my way home ... with my favourite airline ...

"Dance like nobody's watching ... (especially in hotel suites!)" ...

I slept for 8 hours last night ... the first time I have managed over 5 in three weeks! So, I attacked Beverly Hills with added vigour this morning.

First - what I like about The Montage:
a) the most perfect breakfast
b) the pens - filled with gold ink (very stealable)
c) in-room tv/video system
d) the concierge desk (THE best in LA)
e) that it's opposite Madame Chocolat - home to the "home of chocolate"
f) stamps on postcards as standard
g) free internet
h) Frank Bowling
i) both rain & fixed shower heads
j) the John Lobb shoe regeneration service! My Tods are in for a treat!
k) Kristy Karlovec

No time for the spa today ... will try in the morning!

SO - up early to do some postcard writing and posting. Then off to the Chi Spa - a 5 minute walk from the hotel. Esther and Fawn entertained for an hour while giving me the best manicure ever! Yes - a MAN-icure ... not a girlicure ... MAN ... i.e. meant for a man!

Then lunch on the 9th floor with lovely Frank and delightful Rodolfo ...

From there to Madame Chocolate and Hasty ... who knows more about choc than anyone alive! I filmed with her a couple of years back and she is still as lovely as ever! She's busy because she's good ... my sweet tooth is sated!

Off now for my last evening in LA and indeed the USA until Autumn (Fall)!

Song of the Day: Flawless - George Michael
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl-oh-ecvBc
(I am actually the fat guy at the beginning! Note, I can't dance!)

Weather: Yummy - milk chocolate infused with Johnny Walker Blue Label!

north canon artwork

fawn & esther ...
dear rodolfo & frank b.
hasty - madame chocolat

lovely bathroom
the suite

"It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Arrived in Beverly Hills at 1045 and checked into The Montage.

A couple of years ago, I stayed and filmed at The Montage in Laguna (around 60 minutes drive from LA) ... one of the finest properties in America ... so I have high hopes for the BH hotel.

When I am not filming, I always stay in hotels where I have friends ... and in LA I have always stayed at the Beverly Wilshire (Four Seasons) as the PR-lady is one of the nicest people in the world and a dear friend. I am staying here at The Montage, because of Frank Bowling - the legendary hotelier - and also one my mentors when I started the show 9 years ago.

SO - more on the hotel tomorrow after I have spent 24 hours here.

This evening, I have just had dinner with London friends. After 3 weeks of hotel - albeit gorgeous hotel food - having home-cooked food was just perfect. It's just been a totally lovely evening ...

I am now sitting at my desk eating gummi bears! yum!

Song of the Day: The Honey Thief - Hipsway
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aUCv3ARJ68

Weather: Summer Loving

my current home in beverly hills

dinner table al fresco

Songs of the Day:
I Left My Heart in San Francisco - Tony Bennett
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6d03gbmAzc&feature=related
Back to Life, Back to Reality - Soul 2 Soul
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB54dZkzZOY

Weather: Red, White & Blue

Drink of the Day: Red & White ... no Blue

-- Inside Luxury Travel is taking a wee break --

Song of the Day: Still Magic - Peter Skellern
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihYHTIwISV0 (You're a Lady)

Weather: Platten-tastic

Drink of the Day: Fiji

Tim Platten and Friend ...

-- Inside Luxury Travel is taking a wee break --

Song of the Day: Thursday's Child - David Bowie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S227FFNwl8 (great video)

Weather: Californication

Drink of the Day: Double Bombay & Tonic

-- Inside Luxury Travel is taking a wee break --

JULY 1st - HAPPY BIRTHDAY VIV ..

That is it! Yes - after 3 weeks, my California adventure is over ... almost ...

First. meet up with Shannon from the Tourist Board. She has had the unenviable task of looking after us ... while also trying to deal with the whole MJ debacle that is in Los Olivos - just a few miles away.

We zoom up the 101 to Los Olivos and the Fess Parker winery ... we meet with Pete Ganibi from Vino Vaqueros - which basically takes people on a horse-rise through the wineries of the Sant Ynez Valley. He has two pups Doc & Kate who rock my world. They followed us through the vineyards, making sure we didn't get lost ...

The trip took 2 hours including lunch and a show from Andalucian horse trainer Ramon Becerra. What he does with a horse is just ... BRILLIANT!

The trip was awesome! Loved it throughly and I "think" that Shannon enjoyed too ...!

From there, we drove to Goleta and the Dioji pup resort. SO - what a way to end the filming show - 50 + pups and me barking and having fun! These pups are pampered - spa, manicure, swimming pool ... and overnight stays on beds WITH staff! Awesome! I fell in love with so many of the little ones .. Maya ... GORGEMOUSE! It was so much fun ... I am STILL smiling!

For dinner, dear Shannon took us out for pizza and wine. What fun!

I can't belive that I am leaving Santa Barbara in the morning. I have had so much fun. The hotels are brilliant - the Canary and The Biltmore. The GMs - Laura and Karen respectively made me smile and happy .... I am VERY sad to leave this place ... one day, I will be back ... on holiday maybe.

THANK YOU ... beautiful Gena, Goddess Karen, delightful Laura, yummy Shannon ... Tim, Jimmy and all the lovely pups ...

Hasta La Vista ... baby!

Song of the Day: Skinny Love - Bon Iver
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=103469&id=580685776&comments

Weather: PERFECT ... like The Biltmore ...




with cow-girl Shannon
katherine - baby cow-girl

huff-puff

me and "cash" the gorgeous horse

kate

pete, doc & kate

maya waiting for me

champ needs a kiss

a gaggle of pooches - HEAVEN

an ear-lick from Maya

what the heck?

my boys - tim & wee-jimmy

I have two cats - Maisy & Mittens the Baby Kittens. They have both lost several of their 9 lives in various ways. Well today their Daddy lost one of his ...

0700 we leave the Biltmore and head 5 minutes to Jeff Elings Park .. and meet up with Ty Sporrer from Eagle Paragliding. I was under the vague assumption that Ty and I would, in tandem, fly together ... but was I in for a shock! I was going to fly solo. Now, while most may think this is easy ... it isn't! It's not a parachute ... it's a "wing" held up by wind ...! After several launch attempts, I was airborne - around 500 feet in the air - circling and then landing. Some people take at least a DAY to go solo - I was up & around in an hour. SO then we had a second flight ... this time all went well until I came into land. A sudden gust of wind blew me into Tim & the camera and I landed on the ground ... well ... with a thump. Thankfully the only thing very bruised was my ego ...! Tim, well, he laughed so much he was in tears ... the camera was ok ...

Back to the hotel ... and then with Gena - lovely PR - we headed down to the main beach to try paddle-boarding/surfing. I failed in regular surfing last week so was determined to master this. Gena, very gamely, joined me on the water - this was her first foray into the sport too. Chris - a dude/bro - from BlueLine surf and the instructor, explained the technique and showed us how it was done. Gena took to it like a duck to water. I did not ... I fell in the Ocean several times before FINALLY I managed to stay on AND paddle about! Yay!

Now - THIS is the legendary Four Seasons service for you! Firstly Gena came along, then she tested the water out for me (with small toe) and FINALLY provided a bath-robe for me - knowing full well that I would fall in the cold water! She didn't fall in once ... they are a multi-skilled lot at the Biltmore! hmmm!

SO - one more day to go! And it's going to be a fun one!

The boys are looking rather tired but very happy! It's been a fantastic couple of weeks.

Song of the Day: Just Like Heaven - The Cure ... (simply elegant)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5StFADI9NM

Weather: Four Seasons Tastic

ty
ready ....
set ....
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
coming into land ...
"houston, we have a problem ..."

nothing broken! phew!
gena (honey) downey
a big paddle-board
mason comes to say "ruff"
gena perfects the sport in 5 minutes
i try walking on water ... i can't!
one is rather wet ... one rather dry ... !
Four Seasons Tastic

Biltmore Filming Day...

So - the Biltmore was opened as a resort in 1927 ... and in 1937 it added the Casino Club ... a members "club" with pool, cabanas, restaurants etc.

Being on the "American Riviera", the resort was frequented by all the rich n' famous from Hollywood and coming to think of it ... it still is!

It's now owned by Ty Warner ... he of Beanie Baby fame. He also "owns" the Four Seasons in New York.

I am loving in Suite 840 - Ty Warner Cottage. It was originally built in 1904 ... but has been very tastefully refurbished. Photos tomorrow when it has been cleaned & tidied properly! As today was film day, it's in a wee mess.

The suite in 2000 square feet - huge lounge with open fireplace - a butler kitchen - a four poster bed - shower/steam room - ENORMOUS bath-tub - 1000 square foot outdoor terrace ... and 2 further bedrooms should you wish them! It's quite spectacular ...

Anyway, met for coffee at 0730 and then waited for the weather to improve. It didn't (in fact until 6 pm!). Gena (hon) was looking after us all day ... and after filming the room, we headed off to interview the General Manager Karen Earp. I have known Karen for a decade ... she is one of the most fun (ny) GMs you could ever meet ... but also one of the most knowledgeable. Her staff love her ... as do I ...

After that we headed to Casino Club for a shoot in a cabana before I learnt to prepare an excellent local, Summer seabass and prawn dish ... with the resort's exec chef Martin Frost.

More resort filming: spa, putting green and croquet lawn. Finally onto the beach - in the sunshine - for an intro shot.

TWO more days to go until the end of my California adventure ... sadness mixed with relief ... I need sleep!

Song of the Day: Together in Electric Dreams - Giorgio Moroder and Phil Oakley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rZ0Dp06OO4

Weather: Earpy

karen earp - general manager and goddess

putt putt putt

martin frost - exec chef (& tim!)

the life ...