Month: July 2017

I was very impressed a few years ago when Olivia managed to dismantle two single beds and then reassemble them in another room, using just a spoon and a knife.  It struck me then that cutlery is very much more versatile than it would have us believe; just lying there passively on a table for…

Imagine the excitement of reading a review in Time Out of a fab new cocktail bar, and then discovering that it’s just around the corner! As soon as I’d read it, I was determined to visit The Pawn Room, but it’s one of the new, secret, speakeasy-style bars, which are very difficult to find.  In…

With less than two weeks to go before the eagerly anticipated public holiday to mark the King’s birthday, he changed the date … again! I wondered what would happen in other countries if a public holiday was changed at such short notice … rioting in the streets, probably.  Here they just shrug and accept it,…

As a belated celebration of Ascot, Henley, Wimbledon and the whole English summer season, I hosted a Pimm’s party last night. I had originally planned it for 4 July – but an American friend cut up rough about that … can’t think why. I held my ground, insisting that 4 July was a perfect day…

I went on my first jungle hike this week. ‘Don’t pee in the forest,’ Frankie said sternly as he drove us out to the jungle. I promised that I wouldn’t, thinking that this was a very sensible rule, given all the snakes and spiders and other nasties that you wouldn’t want to find attached to…

I’m starting to realise that I’ve never been particularly vain;  I’ve always prioritised being healthy and in (relatively) good shape, rather than wanting to look 20 years younger than I am. This approach to life, which I can only attribute to serendipity rather than wisdom, must have saved me shedloads of cash and endless trauma…

No expat should pass up the opportunity to spend a couple of days in hospital in another country, just to enhance the immersive experience. My weekend jaunt to the local private hospital cost about as much as a weekend at the Dorchester, and was considerably less fun. The view from my room wasn’t bad But…