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Another Unforgettable Birthday - Shrewsbury & London - March 2023

5/4/2023

So proud to be a Four Seasons Brand Ambassador. Readership of #luxury #travelblog is up 68% on the day of this post.

What a birthday! Meeting Chef Wolfgang Puck again & him introducing me to his son; meeting my neighbour from Tucker's Town, Bermuda; balloons & champagne at Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park; having Claridge's 'new' pool to myself; and a welcome at Four Seasons at Park Lane like no other.

I was given too many fantastic one-off gifts. A Mandarin Oriental leather notebook with my initials embossed on it; a Four Seasons at Park Lane leather wash bag; a cocktail shaker engraved with 45 Park Lane; and a teddy bear chocolate birthday cake & flowers from Four Seasons at Park Lane.

It was kind of 45 Park Lane to cover my Spago, Beverly Hills dinner bill & love the Gym Face products that were a gift from Claridge's.

Thanks to everyone who made my birthday so special (eg the magnum of Veuve Clicquot champagne) and hope you enjoy the photos below.

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Christmas - London & Shrewsbury - December 2022

22/12/2022

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Sorry for the silence last month but mum & I have been struggling to deal with dad's death.

However, as you will see from the photos below, I intend to make it a good Christmas in Shrewsbury, despite everything. Hope you have a good one too.

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Our First Christmas Without Dad at Home - November & December 2021 and January 2022 - Shrewsbury & London

2/1/2022

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With so many complex gifts, Maria needed her full concentration during our Christmas Day lunch.

November & December 2021 were a whirlwind. The fact I signed the contract for my new banking job at The Rosewood Hotel, London, and started my new role in Canary Wharf in December, means 2022 should start well for me.

November 2021 included a meeting at The Guildhall to represent Barbican residents; a visit to The English National Opera to see HMS Pinafore; a Chinese breakfast at Four Seasons Hotel Ten Trinity Square before The Lord Mayor's Show etc

December included seeing The Dior Christmas Tree at Claridge's; being given the 2021 Harrods Christmas teddy bear by the Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park; trying the new scones at Four Seasons on Park Lane before their public launch; Christmas shopping for Maria at Hamleys etc

Christmas itself was our first without dad at home. However, mum & I were able to visit him on Christmas Eve & again before I returned to work in London. His granddaughter Maria flew in from Moscow again and we had a very special family Christmas with her.

Hope the photos below convince you it has been a '7 teddy' few months, despite COVID-19. I am double vaccinated and have had my booster shot & flu jab.

Happy New Year to all the readers of this blog. I really value all your support.

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Hurtling Towards a COVID-19 Christmas - London/ Shrewsbury - November 2020

6/12/2020

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My Fortnum & Mason and Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Christmas decorations are up in The Barbican. I adored the Christmas trees at Four Seasons at Park Lane, The Dorchester & Claridges's. I am just a little sad that Four Seasons at Ten Trinity Square & Threadneedles Hotel will not reopen this year.

Today I learnt my brother had sorted out his flight home. This, combined with the fact my sweet young niece will be in Shropshire for Christmas, means my COVID-19 Shrewsbury Christmas is shaping up well.

Last week John (GM of 45 Park Lane) showed me their stunning new swimming pool. I was one of the first non-staff members to see it, and have agreed not to post my photos, but can assure people it is one of the most beautiful indoor pools have ever seen.

This made me think about the fact I was shown the Private Members Club at Four Seasons at Ten Trinity Square, before its members, and stayed at Four Seasons Resort: Dubai at Jumeirah Beach & Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay before they were open to the public. My meeting with Four Seasons Founder & Chairman Mr Sharp, as his private home in Toronto, really did change my life.

On the #travelblog front, it was also interesting that Grant Campbell has been appointed as the first GM of Nobu Hotel London Portman Square & Anne Golden at the first GM of Pan Pacific London. Despite the damage the COVID-19 restrictions have wreaked on the hospitality industry, it does not seem to have reduced my extensive network of General Manager contacts.

England's lockdown2 was made better for me by more Daniel Humm breakfast granola from Claridge's. I am still using the Davies & Brook jar it came in this time and was honoured to be one of the only people to see the Claridge's lobby during lockdown2. I also managed another Shrewsbury trip, ladened down with Fortnum & Mason gifts again.

People who see me over Christmas & New Year should feel free to ask me about the November 2020 photos below. Hope everyone has a special Christmas & better 2021!

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Coronovirus/COVID-19 - When Will All This End? - May & June 2020

10/6/2020

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I decided to name the bellboy teddy bear Claridge's sent with my Daniel Humm take-out dinner Thomas, after their GM I met.

Despite experiencing Fortnum & Mason & Avanti West Coast First Class train travel alone; a Daniel Humm Claridge's Fried Chicken dinner at home; showers with Aromatherapy Associates oils, my Frette sheets & my Dorchester hotel bed here in my Barbican London place; seeing a Red Arrows display on VE Day by Palace of Westminster; another spectacular Dorchester hotel roses bouquet specially created for me by Philip Hammond; walks in St James's Park looking at the black swans & Buckingham Palace etc, the UK lockdown since 23 March 2020 has been too long and the UK's new travel quarantine rules wreck www.sifrew.com and so many of my work plans.

My dad's birthday next weekend, & a 'physically distanced' picnic in Green Park with friends from my Qatar days, has made me think how much a miss hugging my mum, swimming & my personal training. Look forward to answering questions about the photos below, when we next meet!

Off for another walk now to try to drop some of the weight gained in the last few months.

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Claridge's Flowers from McQueens; a Riviera Travel Wine Cruise with Oz Clarke & Will Lyons; the Fox & Anchor Pub in Smithfield and a Green Negroni at The Goring - London, UK - September 2019

10/9/2019

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My stunning McQueens flowers, with my spectacular Nurture Landscapes window boxes behind.

I just got back from weight training with my personal trainer Bart at Virgin Active & felt I must write something about my gorgeous flowers from McQueens. I love the work these florists undertake at Claridge's and, as my neighbour said, "the arrangement is so Barbican".

This month I have booked to join my mum & dad on an 8 day Sunday Times Wine Club cruise featuring Oz Clarke & Will Lyons. I have questions to ask the former about Jilly Goolden, from the time when I worked at the Bank of England.

I must also mention incredible breakfasts at the Fox & Anchor in Smithfield & The Ned and a green Negroni in the refurbished bar at The Goring, with their excellent young bar staff.

Hope the photos below evidence the '7 teddies' (🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻) month September 2019 has already become.

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the luxury travel blog

Another Unforgettable Birthday - Shrewsbury & London - March 2023

Christmas - London & Shrewsbury - December 2022

Our First Christmas Without Dad at Home - November & December 2021 and January 2022 - Shrewsbury & London

Hurtling Towards a COVID-19 Christmas - London/ Shrewsbury - November 2020

Coronovirus/COVID-19 - When Will All This End? - May & June 2020

Claridge's Flowers from McQueens; a Riviera Travel Wine Cruise with Oz Clarke & Will Lyons; the Fox & Anchor Pub in Smithfield and a Green Negroni at The Goring - London, UK - September 2019

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