Greetings from The Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur ... one my "Top Ten" hotels in the world ... situated at one of my "top ten" locations in the world!

The view from my suite is simply breathtaking ... more on that tomorrow.

The last 24 hours have been just fabulous. I love my job primarily because of the people (& animals) I meet ... and what a treat I have had.

Sunset last night at The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay. We checked out this morning ... we had a wonderful time and the staff & the property itself are magnificent.

The lovely Erin Lim - the on-property PR ... she is also an expert in all things baseball ... http://www.urbanbaseballchick.com/

We had access to the Club Floor where we were "mothered" by Dani Bocchi. It is worth spending the extra pennies to upgrade to the Club Floor in Ritz-Carlton properties - especially with staff like Dani ...

Last night we all sat around one of the fire-pits, watching the sun setting, the piper bagpiping (well almost) and I met Molly the King Charles Spaniel -- who just needed permanent cuddling!

This morning we headed to Pescadero - 20 minutes south of the resort to meet with Dee from Harley Farms. This farm is famous for its goats. She started the business without knowing anything about goats and now she breeds milking goats and then produces everything from cheese to fantastic spa products from the milk. Harley Farms is a source of goats cheese ricotta for the RC resort's ravioli dish ... and now a source for some of my spa products! Yum!

This is 12-year old Doggy. This gorgeous pooch and his sister were abused by a horrid man for 9 years. Dee took them on and nursed them back to health. Sadly, his sister passed away BUT Doggy - although shy & timid - is now a loving and happy member of the Harley family. I fed him some of my ravioli ... I made a friend there!

Dee has also adopted several kittens who live with the baby goats (kids) or in the house ... and share food & water ...

Dee has over 100 milking goats ... who love visitors. The Farm is a tourist attraction ... and when we went in to say hello, the goats became very curious and molested Tim, his camera and also his clothes. How we laughed!

They also pooped on my shoes and tried eating my Robert Graham shorts and shirt! No-one laughed but goats have good taste! ha!

This goat decided that she wanted Tim's job ... she was promptly hired ...

I am lactose intolerant and I was VERY pleased when Joey the resident chef cooked up a ricotta pizza for lunch. Yum!

Caramel is the Boss of the Farm. What she says ... goes!

This kitten explored our crew van ...

and tried hiding in a computer bag! Cheeky!

Dee - a thoroughly wonderful person - who cares about people and animals ... in equal measure. She makes my job just so special.

Oh and I got to cuddle this baby goat who bleated happily and kissed & licked my face! Memory moment ...

I AM ALIVE!

... and so is everyone here in Half Moon Bay. The predicted "Rapture" has not hit California ... or anywhere else around the world. What a load of rubbish that was all about.

Anyway - today we had quite a fun one - golf & horse rising.

Up early and we popped next door to Half Moon Bay Golf Links. Two courses Ocean and Old ... I met up with the Director of Golf - Kevin Niessner. The sun was shining (no thunderstorms and no fire & brimstone) and the sky was blue. I drove 270 yards - a record for me ... and had some fun along the way .. These courses are not easy ... but there is something for everyone ... I took everything on offer!

From there we tootled down to Moss Beach - around 20 minutes away. I met with Renett Haugh from the Moss Beach Ranch and she taught me "American" riding as opposed to "British" riding ... it's all in the saddle - don'tcha know ... !

It's sadly the last night at the Ritz-Carlton ... it's been good! I am VERY pleased we came here ...

With Kevin

With Renett and Buzzy ... my lovely horse

Bailey & Bear - horse-friendly pooches - goof about ...

Bear has 1/2 a haircut ... she really needs the rest to be done!

Filming day at The Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay was enormous fun! This was mainly due to Erin and Steve - resident PR and regional PR respectively. We decided that moustaches were the best way of expressing our love of ketchup (Sir Kensington's) ... and that we looked good with them ... especially Erin! Ha!

We started filming at 0700 ... this GMC beast has very little leg-room in the back ... and my driver (Steve) is a demon behind the wheel.

 In my suite there is a telescope ... and I could see cormorants on the rocks ... all day!

 The General Manager Bernd Kuhlen ... interview outside ... surrounded by warm cloud

The property has 261 rooms & suites. Mine is rather nice ... well ... it's the Presidential Suite after all! Two bedrooms, dining room, lounge, balcony that looks over the Pacific Ocean. Just fabulous. 250 square metres in area ... kitchen ... ALL FOR ME!!

The property itself has a large gym, Spa (had a wonderful massage this evening - thank you Rianon), fire pits, 2 restaurants AND 2 golf courses attached ... golf ... hmmm ... tomorrow I think!

The day was finished with a visit to the Head Sommelier Ian Cauble. He educated me in the ways of wines local to here. We shared two great wines ... a 2007 Ridge Montebello ... and a Pisoni Estate 2007 - Santa Lucia Highland ... both delicious ... collect now my friends ... !

Greetings from the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay! I have a 2-bedroom stunning suite with 2 views ... one of the 18th green of the golf course ... and one of the enormous Pacific Ocean. Just brilliant ...

Am watching Prince sing "Beautiful Ones" on some chat show ... and I am full of awesome Japanese cuisine and a superb peanut dessert ... (diet took a rest this evening!).

So today was a quite unique & memorable one as we spent most of it at arguably the greatest winery in the USA .... Opus One. We drove 90-minutes from Cavallo Point Lodge to Oakville ...

Waiting for us was Michael Silacci - Winemaker at OO.

The idea of a joint venture was born in 1970 when Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild met in Hawaii, but the concept did not materialise until 1978 when Mondavi paid a visit to Château Mouton Rothschild.

The winery is independent ... produces only 300,000 bottles a year ... of just red wine. And it would be fair to say that the wine is quite pricey!

Michael was an informative interview ... and also gave us a wine-tasting in the Barrique cellar ... where there are nearly 1000 barrels of 2010 ... which will be released in 3 years ...

We tasted 2005, 2001, 2007, 2008 (released on October 1st this year ) and I am one of just FIVE people in the WORLD who have tasted the 2009 which is released on October 1st 2012!!!! How cool is that ...

Oh - is the wine as good as the reviews? NO ... it IS better!

I want it all - and I have got it!

Michael doubles up as lighting assistant out in the vineyard ...

Here's a unique photo! In the fermentation vessel ... I am INSIDE!

The 2008 vintage - yumyum!

The 2009 vintage - yumyumyum!

The sun was shining and the sky was blue today! We got some great footage from the Cavallo Point - Lodge at the Golden Gate Bridge ... in Sausalito ...

0730 - yoga - painful ...

The gorgeous Maddy Morgan from California Tourism in London - out here with a "press trip" - ensured that we were happy! We are!

 No cigars then ...

 Headmistress/Principal of the Cooking School at the hotel - Jayne Reichert

 She taught me to make a fish dish ... which I did NOT burn!

 She is my culinary hero!

 The hotel boasts a Michelin-star restaurant - Murray Circle

 and I cooked with Chef Joseph Murray (fabulous chap)

A blast from the past - Carol Stevenson and a photo of Yuki - my beloved elephant from the Four Seasons, Tented Camp in Thailand. She is the greatest elephant photographer in the world ... and she brought Yuki back to me! Thank you Carol!

Finally - last evening at the Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire in LA some of my favourite PR ladies the world had a party - and I sadly was not there. SO close but yet so far. They took this photo just for me .... thank you darling ladies ...