travelog

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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Making Mum's 80th Birthday Very Special - Shrewsbury & London - February 2023

3/3/2023

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Mum looking Paul Smith fabulous on the day of her 80th birthday.

Mum's 80th birthday meant two trips to Shrewsbury in the month of February 2023.

The love mum's friends showed to her made me feel better over all we are dealing with at present. She was inundated with gorgeous flowers, countless cards and generous gifts. Welsh relatives ringing on the morning of mum's birthday , a cake from Shrewsbury Market Hall & an afternoon tea hosted by great friends of mum & dad made it a remarkable day for mum.

I did my best to spoil mum with a birthday cake; birthday dinner at Riverbank Bar & Kitchen (problems with their on-line reservation system) and Sunday lunch at The Armoury. The latter must be one of the best Sunday lunches in Shrewsbury.

This short month was, therefore, packed for me. Oliver from Shrewsbury School Foundation took me to lunch at St James's Hotel & Club; Four Seasons at Ten Trinity Square served me caviar at breakfast; had a manicure with my haircut at Truefitt & Hill; ate Chef Elliot Grover's Wolfgang Puck Oscar menu at 45 Park Lane; enjoyed fish & chips at Four Seasons at Park Lane; and my work as a bank board member at Jordan International Bank Plc continued.

Hope the photos below do justice to mum's 80th birthday. My birthday again on 29 March. Chef Elliott Grover's Wolfgang Puck Spago Beverly Hills experience at 45 Park Lane is booked on 30 March and I will be staying at The Manor House Hotel in Moreton-in-Marsh in The Cotswolds at the start of April for another special lady's 80th birthday.

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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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Life Continues - London & Shrewsbury - September 2022

24/9/2022

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Since I returned to London, so many people have been too kind to me.

This ranges from the mother of my godson, & one of my best friends, taking me to afternoon tea at Fortnum & Mason to celebrate my new banking Board role; The Dorchester inviting me for a complimentary cocktail on their roof; and Four Seasons at Ten Trinity Square treating me to 'free' Veuve Clicquot champagne & presenting me with a napkin 'teddy bear' embroidered with my initials.

I am off to Shropshire again next week to spend more quality time with mum & dad.

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Flying With KLM Royal Dutch Airlines - A First & Last Time? - Dubai, UAE - May 2022

26/5/2022

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My seat on the Boeing 777-200 to Dubai. It looked new & went fully flat. Perfect for the just under 7 hour flight to Dubai

I was so excited about my first flights with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Leaving from London City Airport is so convenient for my Barbican place; I had heard great things about their Business Class lounge in Amsterdam Airport Schiphol; the exemplary service and quirky details such a clog salt & pepper shakers & the BOLS Blue Delf Amsterdam houses given away.

The reality was far more mixed. A delay on the London City Airport to Schiphol route was blamed on staff shortages at Amsterdam airport and I assume that is why the KLM Crown Lounge at Schiphol was in such a mess. The upstairs terrace where you can sit outside was awesome but the bar was closed at 1:30pm & I was surrounded by dirty cocktail glasses. Hardly the additional thorough cleaning promised relating to Covid-19.

Food on both flights was mouthwateringly good but service on the second plane erratic to the point of being poor. Being asked if you minded switching to the vegetarian option, after just experiencing the dirtiest Business Class lounge of my life, left me speechless and, when I refused, led to a strained relationship with the crew for most of the rest of the flight. Luckily watching 'Belfast' and the 'Trust' TV Series, with Donald Sutherland playing Getty, took my mind off all this.

Some time ago I agreed with Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong that criticising is far too easy and to be avoided. If I do not like something, just do not feature it in my blog. However, the BOLS Blue Delf Amsterdam house will take a proud place on my Barbican coffee table and so I hope the photos below help to explain why.

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A Very Special Birthday - March & April 2022 - London/ Shrewsbury

11/4/2022

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Cannot thank my mother, Kathy, Alejandro, Four Seasons, John & Bilal, Jolee etc enough for all they did to help to make it such a memorable birthday again.

Hope the photos below help to demonstrate that it was another '7 teddy' birthday

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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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The Bank of England; The Buckingham Palace Gardens; A Test Match etc - London/ Shrewsbury - May to August 2021

26/7/2021

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Another dream came true being in the Buckingham Palace gardens with mum.

Dad's rapid decline from Parkinson's disease is something my whole family is struggling to cope with. It has forced me to give up my new role at the Bank of England after only 4 month, to enable me to deal with this myself and support my family more. The Bank have been so kind and said I should be able to rejoin them for a third time, once my family life stabilises again.

I first started working for the Bank of England when the Rt Hon Robin Leigh-Pemberton was Governor; worked with the present Governor, Andrew Bailey, when we were both in Chief Cashier's Office; and Andy Haldane, former Chief Economist, was my manager in Monetary Analysis, during the period of 'the Ken & Eddie Show', before The Bank was given independence over the setting of interest rates.

All this history with The Bank, combined with my experience working in Bermuda, Qatar, Cyprus & Cayman Islands should have made me ideal to help The Bank with its work and it was painful to have to resign. However, it did free me up to take mum to see the gardens at Buckingham Palace. The Farmers' Club made the sublime rare roast beef sandwiches, and Rosewood, London the Yayoi Kusama cakes, for this picnic.

I have also been to a Beverly Hills Hotel pop-up on the roof of The Dorchester, where I was presented with more Philip Hammond flowers. Dorchester Collection know when I need cheering up. In a similar vein, I was given 'free' Ruinart champagne at Four Seasons at Park Lane and friends from my Bermuda days sent me Concorde tags from our New York trip on that supersonic jet. I also got to try the new NoMad hotel in Covent Garden. I need to make it clear that I cannot recommend Oystermen in Covent Garden enough, after an unforgettable dinner there with mum.

Last week I was taken to a Test Match at Trent Bridge by friends from my Shrewsbury School days. I am so lucky with the friends I have.

I am going through an extreme difficult period in my life at present but hope the photos below illustrated there are still some very happy moments within it and my friends are being too kind.

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Another Birthday Under Coronavirus/ COVID-19 - London/ Shrewsbury - March 2021

24/3/2021

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I cannot say enough good things about Guy's Hospital & the NHS.

29 March 2021 will be my second birthday 'celebrated' under COVID-19.

I have already had some amazing birthday presents. The main one was having received my first Coronavirus vaccine shot. This, combined with news that Nuffield Health plan to reopen The Barbican gym, gives me hope that we are, finally, returning to 'normal'.

I am thinking about Paris & their latest lockdown at present. Stay safe & strong everyone.

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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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Living in the New COVID-19 World - London/ Shrewsbury - September 2020

6/10/2020

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I was elated to find the High Court case I have been working on reported in the Financial Times.

September 2020 was a monumental month in my life with my new Banking Consultancy company 'Si Frew Consultancy Services Limited' being incorporated & the Lebanese banking case I have been working on reported in the Financial Times.

At the same time it has been a whirlwind on the travel blog side, with more iconic London hotels reopening, while the Mayfair hotels continue to surprise & impress me.

Four Seasons at Park Lane allowed me to try vodka infused with caviar, not yet on their menu; Michael (Managing Director of Rosewood, London) sent us champagne to celebrate the reopening of his elegant hotel; had a drink with Robert (General Manager of The Dorchester) to honour the busy reopening of his historic hotel; I discovered Porsche must be the 'official' car of my Barbican building; I savoured another sensational Tom Booton Sunday lunch at The Grill at The Dorchester; and also got to enjoy a drink with Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park's fabled General Manager Amanda, in their reopened Mandarin Bar.

It was also a month where I had the best dover sole of my life at Parsons in Seven Dials; had a memorable Wolfgang Puck brunch at 45 Park Lane, having the pleasure to be joined by their General Manager John & viewed 'FAME at 45 Park Lane' with photos of Coco Chanel, Brigitte Bardot, Faye Dunaway etc I will never forget; 45 Park Lane staff sent me more of their Noble Isle shower products that I adore; & I continued to be impressed by breakfast & service at Millie's Lounge at The Ned. I also visited the enchanting garden at The Goring for martinis with a friend from my Prestfelde prep school days. There I met their charming new General Manager Michael and had forgotten how beautiful their new bar is. I was also blown away by the steaks at Hawksmoor, Seven Dials in September.

I ended the month eating Eggs Escoffier (with lobster meat, caviar & gold) & drinking champagne at breakfast at Gordon Ramsay's reopened Savoy Grill at The Savoy, London and being entranced by the 'full French' breakfast & staff at Anthony Demetre's Wild Honey at Sofitel London St James. On top of all this, I managed more trips to Shropshire to support my indomitable parents.

In September my personal training also moved to Energie Fitness, so I can remain with legendary Bart but I still try to swim at Virgin Active each day too. I must also mention my new The White Company electric diffuser I was thoughtfully given by one of my best friends that is now an important part of my night time ritual, along with my Frette sheets, Dorchester hotel bed & Aromatherapy Associates shower oils.

Finally I should mention that an incident that I experienced at one of my favourite Mayfair hotels last month, & some that have happened to my caring mother (even at church), have me thinking about Four Seasons' Mr Sharp's mission statement based on The Golden Rule "To treat others as we'd wish to be treated ourselves." again. I fully appreciate that issues related to COVID-19 have left us all very frazzled but I think it is even more important to take the time to talk to people and be compassionate, understanding & flexible.

Hope the photos below help to make people feel better at what continues to be such a difficult time for so many people.

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Never a Dull Moment with Coronavirus/ COVID-19 - Shropshire & London - August 2020

1/9/2020

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The reopening of Four Seasons at Park Lane allowed me to try a new lobster dish personally prepared by Executive Chef Henry Brosi & there was complimentary Ruinart champagne to celebrate.

During August my Middle Eastern banking work was overshadowed by the tragic explosion in Beirut.

The UK Government's 'Eat Out to Help Out' initiative meant I had the best (steak) burger for years at Paternoster Chop House, with a breathtaking view of St Paul's Cathedral; drunk Thums Up Cola at Dishoom for the first time since my India trips, while working for the Bank of England; ate truffles at breakfast outside at The Connaught & saw their new 'coffee foam art'; ate Dim Sum from heaven with caviar, edible gold & black truffle at Hakkasan, Mayfair; ate Mark Hix's exquisite food again at 1 Lombard Street, with their sublime service; & ate the best cooked rump steak of my life, with anchovy hollandaise & triple cooked chips, all for GBP10 at Hawksmoor.

At the same time I was honoured to be invited to revisit the Four Seasons' Private Members' Club in London. This gave me the first chance to view Four Seasons' 'Lead with Care' global COVID-19 safety program formulated with Johns Hopkins Medicine International's assistance.

I also managed to visit my indomitable parents in Shrewsbury again & see my exceptional Qatar friends at the Everyman Cinema at King's Cross before they, finally, headed back to Doha.

Hope the photos below, which include ones of my niece (now an elegant young lady), my dashing godson & legendary parents, put smiles on your faces & illustrate what a busy month it was. It was also the month where my face was the first thing you saw on the Virgin Active website!

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Paris, London & New York - December 2019 to January 2020

17/2/2020

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It was awesome to finally meet energetic GM Susanne at Mandarin Oriental New York & Director of Guest Relations Mark there was a joy to chat with.

Sorry for my silence but I have been very busy with Banking Consultant related issues.

I have constructive feedback for Virgin Atlantic Upper Class re: the large inflexible dining table that is part of their new A350 configuration and the surrender of Four Seasons control to Wolfgang Puck over the CUT bar at Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown.

At the same time I must highlight the Grant Achatz truffle cocktail sent to my Central Park view 49th floor suite at Mandarin Oriental New York; the truffle cheeses, with grated fresh black & white truffles and Bresaola air-dried, salted beef from Uruguay to welcome me at my Hudson suite at Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown Town and chilled bottles of Veuve Clicquot champagne at both hotels.

Also need to thank Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park for the roast duck congee breakfast, being added to their menu the following week, to celebrate Chinese New Year in London.

Will upload photos re: all this when I have more time but feel free to ask me about all this, when you see me.

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I Really Do Have The Best Parents in The World! - London, UK - July 2019

4/8/2019

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I am so lucky to still have both of my parents. They decided to visit me in London. It was the first time they had stayed at my Barbican place since my days working for the Bank of England and I decided to show them 'Si Frew's London'.

This included lunch at The Ned hotel; Veuve Clicquot champagne on the balcony at my place; cocktails at the pop-up at Four Seasons @ Ten Trinity Square with breathtaking views of London; dinner outside by the river at Le Pont de la Tour; mum & dad also staying at The Farmers Club; dad & me having Scottish breakfasts at The Farmers Club; seeing 'An Enquiring Mind: Manolo Blahnik at the Wallace Collection'; shopping in Heal's with mum; and checking out the window boxes at Rules in Covent Garden with mum & dad.

It was a '7 teddies' (🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻) experience, with '7 teddy' parents. Hope the photos below do justice to all this.

At the Four Seasons @ Ten Trinity Square pop-up. We walked through a David Linley furnish Residence to get there & this ex Qatar guy had stories about The Shard to tell.

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RHS Chelsea Flower Show & My Barbican Window Boxes - London, UK - May 2019

28/5/2019

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The mother of my awesome godson. We have been friends since our Bank of England days & she took me to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

My Barbican window boxes are now looking, & smelling, fabulously thanks to the geniuses at Nurture Landscapes. The smell comes from rosemary & French lavender and the bees already love the latter. My original window boxes were based on work done at Four Seasons at Park Lane but this year's are inspired by Rules, the oldest restaurant in London.

The day before the work on my window boxes I visited the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Before this I walked through Mayfair to see Annabel's & smell the flowers at The Connaught and had lunch with astonishing friends from Shropshire at Four Seasons at Park Lane.

Hope the photos below help to evidence the '7 teddies' (🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻) life I am living here in London.

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Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park is Back & Better Than Ever - London, UK - May 2019

16/5/2019

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Remarkable GM Amanda, my stunning breakfast view of Hyde Park and the Plaza Hotel, New York Merrythought teddy bear that got me think about my London - New York Concorde flight.

I have settled back into my London life. Personal training with Bart at Virgin Active, Barbican and enjoying my swims there.

I am living in my redecorated Barbican place again, with its Dorchester Hotel bed, personalised Frette sheets from Harrods, new Ligne Roset table from Heal's etc. Just the 'Four Seasons at Park Lane' window boxes to recreate again.

Since I moved back to London Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park has officially reopened. I visited on the day this occurred. On that, notable, occasion I met Rodolphe & Marco in the Mandarin Bar and was served a divine truffle gin martini that was not yet on the menu. Legendary GM Amanda also came for an inspiring chat.

On my second visit I brought one of my unbelievable friends from Shropshire and got to try more cocktails and snacks being developed for the menu and was presented with a Mandarin Oriental teddy bear, MO tie pin and MO key ring, to add to my MO clufflinks from Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur.

On my latest visit I decided to try their Hyde Park breakfast with Moet champagne, a choice of truffles or caviar and a spectacular view of Hyde Park. Breakfast ended up being better than I could possibly have imagined. Even the bellhops on the lobby stairs greeted me by name, the gorgeous dining room is so bright and impressive, the other guests as refined as I found before the deeply unfortunate fire and Amanda and her staff (eg Silvia the House Manager) seem reinvigorated/improved, what a contrast with when The Savoy in London reopened.

Hope the photos below help you to understand why it was such a special day.

A '7 teddies' (🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻) hotel, with '7 teddy' staff and a '7 teddy' champagne/truffle breakfast.

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My 50th Birthday: 'The Fat Lady has Sung' - Shrewsbury & London - March 2019

5/4/2019

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In fact it was a thin jazz singer at Four Seasons Hotel Ten Trinity Square who sang happy birthday to me!

From the overwhelming party my parents hosted, with Tanners champagne & divine canapés; to the private dining room at The Golden Cross in Shrewsbury; to Four Seasons Hotel Ten Trinity Square giving me three bedroom Residence Number One with a terrace with breathtaking views of Tower Bridge & the Tower of London; to walking back from a birthday dinner at Le Pont de La Tour over Tower Bridge with unimaginable friends from Berlin; to Four Seasons Hotel Ten Trinity Square sending a member of staff to my Barbican flat to help with my embarrassment of sensational birthday presents, it was a 50th birthday like no other.

I now have an exquisite bracelet from KaDeWe in Berlin, 19th Century prints of the City of London to remind me of my years working for the Bank of England, magnums of Veuve Clicquot champagne, a Smythson of Bond Street travel case, more Tiffany & Co gifts to add to the mountain I received at my 40th birthday party in The Penthouse at The Dorchester, a gift from my indomitable godmother and the Wade NatWest piggy banks I had wanted since I was a child, my mum finally made another dream come true.

I want to thank everyone who made this birthday so special from the bottom of my heart. I have lots more photos & stories to share with people when they meet me and should add that I loved the balloons Four Seasons put in my suite.

At an 80th birthday party yesterday a lady chastised me for bringing balloon, saying they were just for children. I could not disagree more over this sad opinion!

A '7 teddies' (🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻) 50th birthday is finally over & it could not have been better.

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An Epic Return to the UK - September 2018

16/9/2018

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Finding a Rolls-Royce on my return from Cayman Islands turned what could have been a fraught experience into a pleasure.

Flying American Airlines First Class, & staying at The Dorchester, meant I had to return from Cayman Islands to find a Rolls-Royce.

The Dorchester helped me celebrate by giving me one of their gorgeous Dorchester suites again, hotel legend Amanda Hyndman met with me, I (finally) met Four Seasons' Lynn Brutman, Dorchester butlers repacked my luggage beautifully and some of my best friends from my 10 years in Qatar joined me for drinks.

🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻(7 out of 5 ‘teddies’) - no return to the UK could have been better. I must thank Robert, Janice & Emily at The Dorchester, John at 45 Park Lane, Lynn & Irene at Four Seasons at Park Lane & Amanda Hyndman at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park for all they did to make my welcome back to the UK so special.

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'Last' Night in London in an Exquisite Westminster Suite at Four Seasons at Park Lane - London, UK - April 2018

1/5/2018

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The sitting room of my Westminster Suite with the Veuve Clicquot chilling and afternoon tea in the background.

I was nervous about staying at Four Seasons at Park Lane so soon after legendary GM John had left. However, Manager Mali ensured it was another memorable stay in opulent surroundings with exemplary Four Seasons staff.

It was just a pity I did not get to meet new GM Lynn, as she was not yet in place. However, I did leave a #travelblog www.sifrew.com. baseball cap for her.

Four Seasons at Park Lane remains one of the best Four Seasons in the group and a hotel Mr Sharp can still be justly proud of.

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Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London: Class You Cannot Buy - London, UK - April 2018

30/4/2018

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Gwyn from The Going, Issy and Robert (named after the new Dorchester GM I had met that morning) in The Rosebery Lounge.

This 'Celebrity Fan' stayed at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London before its recent refurbishment and was eager to see what the over GBP85MN spent had achieved.

Marie (the hotel's PR Director) and Ines were kind enough to give me a tour and even arranged a complimentary lunch in Bar Boulud. I have eaten there before & also in Daniel Boulud's New York places.

The refurbishment is stunning, with all the attention to detail and additional light but it was my fellow dinners in Bar Boulud that evidenced the class/caliber of this London institution of a 5 star hotel. The 'great & the good' of Bermuda always stayed there during the 6 years when I lived, and worked, in Bermuda.

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Stay in a Sumptuous Dorchester Suite at The Dorchester & Meet Their New GM - London, UK - April 2018

29/4/2018

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Issy & Gwyn from The Goring in the sitting room of my lavish Dorchester suite. There were balloons, as well as Veuve Clicquot, to celebrate this Brand Ambassador's return.

Problems with emails from my iPhone X to Dorchester Collection email addresses in London & Paris meant I had not stayed with them since my big Far East trip.

I was so glad I did stay at The Dorchester on my last London stay. Emily (Director of Guest Relations) welcomed me back with such warmth; my Dorchester suite brought me near tears with its luxurious, but comfortable, beauty; and I was able to discuss my connections with the Qatari Royal Family with their ex-Four Seasons GM Robert.

The warmth of my welcome back; prints by HRH Prince Charles, the Japanese remote controlled toilet in the suite etc; and meeting new GM Robert, and talking to his brilliant PA Janice again, made this a 🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻(7 out of 5 ‘teddies’) stay at this iconic London hotel.

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An Invitation to Try Scarfes Bar at Rosewood, London - London, UK - April 2018

29/4/2018

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The 'Doha dream team' in Scarfes Bar in Rosewood, London. Note my new www.sifrew.com polo shirt!

After seeing three 5 star London hotels already that afternoon, I almost cancelled Rosewood, London. However, my friend was making a special effort to see me, despite a flight to Sao Paulo the next day, and I love charismatic ex-Four Seasons Michael Bonsor and Rosewood, London.

I was so glad I tried Scarfes Bar. Gerald Scarfe CBE's iconic illustrations/ cartoons/ caricatures were a major part of my childhood (eg Pink Floyd's 'The Wall', 'Yes, Minister' etc) and this cosy but lively 'real bar' is a place people must try. The only venue where you can "get Scarfed".

Champagne to start, Marie (their Director of Communications) coming to say hello at 8:30pm, my fascinating guest, the tartan trousers of the waiters and Mr Scarfe CBE donating his earning from the venture to Parkinson's UK definitely make this a 🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻(6 out of 5 ‘teddies’) experience.

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The Ned Hotel; Hotel Threadneedles; & Four Seasons at Ten Trinity Square: 5 Star Hotels in The City of London Get Visits from #travelblog www.sifrew.com - London, UK - April 2018

28/4/2018

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David (Manager of The Ned) & me outside the former Midland Bank vault door. Now the entrance to a private members' bar. My face says it all about the fun I had seeing The Ned with David.

On my first afternoon back in London, after Shropshire, I undertook a whirlwind tour of The Ned with their energetic Manager David.

He showed me the private members' areas (the rooftop pool is small) and an elegant Terrace Suite. I was given a new teddy bear, who must be called 'little Ned'.

This is clearly a 🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻( 5 out of 5 ‘teddies’) hotel that I would encourage readers to visit.

Next I went to meet Cedric (GM of Hotel Threadneedles). It was a pleasure to have a drink with this charming Belgium hotelier, swap hotel stories and talk about why readers of #travelblog www.sifrew.com should never use Santa Fe Relo. They issued me with false invoices for more than a year, appointed debt collectors to recover funds I never owed and are now hiding behind bad legal advice to avoid paying compensation for the stress cause to me and my family.

Finally I went to Four Seasons at Ten Trinity Square where I met their new GM Vincent and talked about my stay at Four Seasons Amman in Jordan, where he was last GM.

This was all before an evening in Scarfes Bar, at the invitation of Rosewood, London, with my friend who formerly work for Tony Blair in 10 Dowing Street.

Another unbelievable day in my life.

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Divine Christmas Stay in a Deluxe One Bedroom Suite at Four Seasons at Park Lane, London, UK - December 2017

29/12/2017

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A Veuve Clicquot fridge was put in my suite with a magnum of Veuve Clicquot and so much fruit there were complaints from some of my Twitter Followers!

I have an incredible history with Four Seasons at Park Lane. I first stayed there as part of a Paris, New York and London Four Seasons 'themed' trip from Qatar. It had not been refurbished at that stage and I wrote to Mr Sharp (Founder & Chairman) saying it should not be part of Four Seasons. He wrote back 'agreeing' and it shut down shortly after!

I then stayed there again after the refurbishment, when they left Sichuan pepper and Parmesan popcorn in my suite, relating to an 'incident' three years before.

The service & attention to detail in this uber luxurious Four Seasons is legendary and I knew I must stay there on this Christmas trip to wish Four Seasons star GM John congratulations on his 35 years with Four Seasons.

I was so glad I did. My suite, with a working fireplace, took my breath away and everything about the stay was beyond perfection. An incredible way to end Christmas before flying back to Cayman Islands for a night before Four Seasons New York Downtown again for New Year.

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My First Red Carpet Welcome @ Four Seasons, Ten Trinity Square, London, UK - December 2017

24/12/2017

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The hotel literally rolled out the red carpet for me. With party poppers, a glass of cold champagne and a hug from F&B Director Antoine, it was an incredible way to return to this beautiful hotel.

I visited Four Seasons, Ten Trinity Square in London on the first day it opened, and have been shown their private members' club and residencies, and they had been storing Veuve Clicquot I did not want to take to Cayman Islands for 8 months. This was, therefore, the natural choice for my first hotel of Christmas 2017.

I wanted it to be a special start to Christmas and Four Seasons, Ten Trinity Square exceeded my expectations by far. It truly is a 'seven teddy' hotel now.

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