Browsing Tag

relax

Mini break

After the Antigua holiday was cancelled for the second time, we decided to book a weekend mini break at The Peartree in Purton. We’ve been here before a few times, so it was familiar territory and we knew it would be relaxing. I’ve felt under the weather for over a week, and was looking forward to lying around and doing nothing. Which is exactly what I did. I even got to lie under a tree on a Summer evening and read a magazine, and look at the sky. It gave me a chance to have a little think about life.

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18th July 2016

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The end of May

The weather is still a bit chilly and rainy – we haven’t had a proper sunny warm day yet. Not a full-on t-shirt day anyway, though the sun is starting to poke through here and there. It’s been a pretty busy week in work and out of it, and I seem to have done a lot more than I was planning to this time last week.

We had an unexpected visit to Nobu in Old Park Lane with our friends Ben and Emily. They were in London and texted to see if we were around, on the off-chance on Wednesday.

The cocktails and food were amazing, as usual for Nobu. We normally go to the one in Berkeley Square but they were full so we went to the Old Park Lane restaurant. I think I prefer it actually, with its views over Hyde Park. For a Wednesday night it was really busy, but because we were early we still managed to order the Bento boxes. Apparently they usually stop at 6.45pm but they made an exception, which was ace as they are the best thing on the menu – though I’m probably biased because I like having lots of different things to taste and try, without the effort of working out what to order.

We ordered two of the deluxe and two of the regular boxes, with a side order of the signature black cod. The black cod and the rock shrimp tempura were gorgeous, as were the Cosmopolitans. The puddings were also amazing, though without a doubt a step too far! I ordered the Fuji Apple Crumble to share, which was seared fuji apple with sesame oil, miso salt, toffee, peanut ice cream and coconut crumble and we couldn’t finish it, even though it was delish.

I was stuffed when we left, and practically waddled to the cab rank. Definitely a nice way to spend a Wednesday evening!

I also got to do a flying visit to Reigate on the way back from a meeting this week and have a quick cup of coffee with my friend Katie, and I’ve carried on listing more unwanted clutter on ebay, including fat jeans – as an incentive not to put weight on again, and some old books and Apple accessories. Still have loads more to list, and loads to sell at a car boot, but I learned from last time that if you have everything finish on ebay at the same time and it all sells then you have a mountain of packing and posting to do.

Yesterday was my Mum’s Birthday so I was up and out early to buy a cake and flowers – her real present is when we go to Urban Retreat next Sunday – so I just got her a little gift to open. It was only when I got the candles out that I realised I was missing a ‘D’. Luckily it didn’t matter, and the raspberry and coconut cake was yummy.

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31st May 2015

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What I’m reading

I’ve got two books on the go at the moment, along with about three magazines and endless bookmarked links of things to read. Lots of these are to do with work, but because I love my work and the industry I’m in, they mostly don’t feel like a chore to read. I tend to dip in and out of things, and I’m sure that my concentration span is getting shorter and shorter. A sign of getting older or a brain that’s now used to bite-sized information (140 characters!) and short updates?

I’m no book reviewer, but I thought I’d share my current reading:

1) Guy Martin – My autobiography

Lots of people will know Guy Martin from the TV show ‘Speed’, where he set out to break a series of speed records. But I’ve known of Guy for longer than that – as an international road racing legend, star of ‘Closer to the Edge’ and maverick never-winner of the Isle of Man TT.

It’s a really good book. There’s quite a bit of technical building-bikes stuff, which can be a bit hard going, but mostly it’s a pretty riveting read and a pretty good insight into the head of someone who regularly stares death in the face. It’s written completely in Guy’s ‘voice’ and you can almost imagine him saying it. It clearly appeals to motorbike racing fans, but would be a great read for anyone who likes a good autobiography, or who has seen the TV shows and wants to find out more about the man!

2) Creativity Inc

“When faced with a challenge, get smarter.”

Probably the best non-fiction book I’ve ever read.

Written by Ed Catmull, who alongside Steve Jobs and John Lasseter created Pixar, this is a book about creativity in business but also a manual for anyone who strives for originality.

I’m only half way through and I know the minute I finish this book I will want to start it all over again. It’s taking all my self reserve not to read it with a set of post-it notes and a pen, making notes, like revising for an exam. Ed Catmull really unlocks the secrets of Pixar, how they created an amazing environment and culture to pursue innovation and imagination, and most interestingly, how they empower their leaders to accomplish it. Inspiring.

“If you give a good idea to a mediocre team, they will screw it up. If you give a mediocre idea to a brilliant team, they will either fix it or throw it away and come up with something better.”

3) Bonkers: My life in laughs

Ok, so technically I’ve finished this, and technically I didn’t actually read it, but I reckon audiobooks count. This is Jennifer Saunders autobiography – and I’m so glad I listened to her read it to me. Listening to her recount the funny stories, the memories and her experience with breast cancer was so much enhanced by hearing it told in her own voice. Funny, warm and charming. Loved it.

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11th September 2014

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Staycating

I have a week off and I’m not actually going anywhere on holiday. This is amazing and a first for me. I have never, in 27 years of working, had any time off to just STAY AT HOME.

After a big holiday in April and with another holiday planned in December, there wasn’t really the money, or the inclination to arrange to go away this week. We could have slipped off to a European destination, but the thought of organising it, packing and paying for it just left me a bit cold. So here we are, Friday night of ahead of the week off and a world of possibilities awaits.

I am a little worried that I’m going to waste the time, that I’ll wake up next Monday to go to work and realise I haven’t rested or I’ve spent all week pottering around and doing the ironing. So I’m going to make a list. In time-honoured-project-manage-the-shit-out-of-everything tradition a list shall be crafted.

The weekend is taken care of, plans have been made and bookings confirmed. But next week stretches out like a long oasis of nothing. I might do some yoga. I might go to the gym. I might go into London. I might read a book. The luxury and fear of a completely unconstructed week excites and scares me in equal measure.

Ah well, let’s dive in and see what happens…

5th September 2014

Travel

I love a hotel, me

I’ve stayed in many, many hotels in the last 15 years but the novelty still hasn’t worn off. Well, maybe not including the Premier Inn, but generally I love staying in hotels.

One of the great things about our recent holiday was the variety of different hotels we stayed in. When we landed in LA we stayed the Hotel Wilshire. Not the famous one, but a new Kimpton hotel on Wilshire Boulevard. The hotel had a lovely rooftop pool, where you could have breakfast or cocktails. It was also next door to a fun sports bar (cheaper cocktails) and in walking distance the The Grove (good shopping). I definitely noticed that there were more people walking in LA than any other time I’ve been there, and more cabs on the street, so it seems like people are looking for other ways to get around the city than just driving.

We came back to the Hotel Wilshire for one night before flying back home at the end of the holiday – I’d definitely recommend it, though the wifi wasn’t free, which was a pain.

At Laguna Beach we stayed at a completely different style of hotel. We were in the Casa del Camino for a one night flying visit. It was OK, but the rooms were dark and the property was a bit tired. Nice rooftop bar again, but the biggest advantage was location – Laguna Beach is lovely and the hotel is right on the beach and not far from nice restaurants. I suspect there are nicer places to stay in the area for the same money, but it was fine for one night.

La Valencia in La Jolla came next.

The hotel is pretty in pink and is the grand old lady of La Jolla, occupying prime position on the seafront. Our room was amazing. We’d booked the sea view deluxe room and it didn’t let us down on either count. Overlooking the pool and facing the ocean, the room was huge, one of the nicest rooms I’ve ever stayed in. Breakfast was fab, wifi was included and the location was perfect, right in the middle of La Jolla with its fantastic shops and restaurants. Special mention to The Crab Catcher, for great food and one of the best cocktails of the holiday!

La Jolla is teeming with wildlife, we saw lots of different birds, and loads of sea lions on the rocks and in the water. The top spot was a shoal (?) of dolphins cavorting in the bay, and apparently we had missed two grey whales by a couple of hours. I’d love to have seen those.

I’d definitely recommend La Jolla for a few days. We stayed three nights and loved it all.

After a sedate drive through the desert we arrived in Las Vegas and checked into New York New York. Oh dear! What a dreadful hotel. We’d booked a suite, which was dark, dingy and tired. It had no wardrobes, a bathroom that appeared to be as old as the hotel and the choice of restaurants was abysmal. From our room we could see the pool, and even that looked dire. It was a massive let down after La Valencia. We’d booked the room because the rates are very reasonable (ie, cheap), thinking we wouldn’t be spending much time in it, but after one night we decided to check out and move the the hotel across the road, The Aria.

What a difference! The Aria is amazing. New, modern and sleek. The rooms feel like boutique done at scale. The Lobby Bar (our favourite) had great service and the best Old Fashioned in the hotel. There were 4 pools, 7 restaurants and lots of bars to choose from. The food was good everywhere and it didn’t feel like a rip off at any point. Free wifi, free valet parking and free drinks while playing the machines meant you really felt like you’d got value for money. It’s not cheap, but neither is it the most expensive, but for us it was perfect for us. I didn’t want to leave – so much so we stayed for an extra night than we’d planned to!

I can’t speak highly enough of The Aria. It was everything a hotel should be, and more. And the bonus was we even won on the slot machines!

After tearing ourselves away from Vegas we only had one night left before heading back to LA, so we took a lovely, scenic drive through the Mojave Desert to Palm Springs. The Rendezvous in Palm Springs was the perfect place to spend the penultimate night, before heading back to Los Angeles. Old school hollywood glamour, apparently Marilyn Monroe stayed here in the ’50’s, mixed with great hospitality (especially happy hour) and the best breakfast of the holiday. The hotel is low-rise and all the rooms are based around the pool. Each room was themed, we were in the ‘TV Shows’ room, which was lovely.

I’d like to have spent more time in every location, but all too soon the two weeks were up and we were back at The Wilshire getting ready to fly home. Can’t wait to go back!

Photos: all images are from the hotel websites.

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10th May 2014