It's hot here....

....and I am sat in a barn conversion of an office in glourious Gloucestershire.

One week of relatively warm weather doesn't make a summer, nor does it confirm the impact of climate change, however it does get you thinking about the designs of where we live and work. We have friends who live on the Atlantic coast of Spain, a little way from Seville. Their house is in a narrow street that doesn't let in much light, angled so the sun does not directly shine on the front windows for most of the day and has a verandah where the family sits for most evenings until the early hours. Our houses have fitted carpet, poor ventilation - we call it blocking out the draughts and through the benefit of government aid and lots of B&Q adverts insulated to the hilt to keep all the heat in!

One of the guys in the office wore shorts, good for him, however like most other people I did do a double take. Which is an interesting point about how expectation of acceptable standards is impacted by circumstance. Shorts in an office might be a little stange, but OK for strolling down the down the High Street on a Saturday lunchtime. I am always slightly amused by people's attitude to topless sun bathers - some people are able to a filter out the obvious talking points and others become transfixed by the matter.....both of them.

But's it's still ruddy hot. In an office space the IT revolution doesn't help, with PC's, Laptops, screens and printers all chucking out heat all over the place. I am sat in my little corner of the office with 2 fans going.

There are some ladies and gentlement of my acquaintance who have probably got it about right. They are the regulars who sit outside the front door of an drinking establishment known as the Camp Inn, Grimley. These hardy souls are content in each others company and the joys of the liquid refreshment served by the bar staff, one of whom happens to be my son. The liquid refreshment concerned is probably a significant contributor to their contented state in that most of them drink Scrumpy. Which given the heat, the bloody heat I think is an extremely good idea....so bye for now.

Not travelling

There is an addictive aspect to travelling, having finally returning home on Sunday I find myself looking towards my next trips, the most significant of which is a two night trip to Chicago next month with a one night raid on Dublin in couple of weeks.

Reflections on my boat trip around the Med. It was ok, peering into almost obscene wealth for a little while is quite entertaining as long as you manage perspective - which normally means taking the rip out them (rich people), with a bit of luck to their face without them noticing. It is really at times like this when my more socialist tendencies come to the fore, not because people are rich, but because some people are complete prats about it. Heard a great sketch on radio last night.(abridged)...Pixie Geldof soundalike to Bob soundalike 'Dad will you do a charity record for me'...'Sure baby what is the charity?' 'Me, everyone is going to Bali and i have maxed out my credit cards and i simply must go, it's life and death, i must , i must.....

Ok it was better on the radio.

I am lucky enough to meet some really great people in the travel and hospitality industry who work really hard over many hours to deliver, you have to respect what they do and how they do it. A couple of years ago i was stood in the reception of the Madinat in Dubai with some people and overheard someone laying into a hotel person way beyond the people I and the people I was with considered to be accepetable - it just seemed that all this guy wanted to do was make the hotel lady break down in tears, a complete jerk. One of the people I was with was a 'security consultant' for a client and he was ready to explain in a fairly forthright manner where this guy had erred - which would have been both just and entertaining but ultimately a distraction.

I have this notion that it would be possible to create a community for people in our industry, and particularly the niche that is C&I and if you can create a discernable community there will be a value to someone somewhere to talk to them.......apart from not really knowing how to slice and dice such a community and who would want to spend talking to them it is a great idea - perhaps i need to spend more time waiting at airports to think about it.

P

Sensational St Tropez

Sun, Sensational Seascapes and Sexy people, welcome to St Tropez.
I am sat on the rear deck of Club Med 2, microwaving my ghostly white
body - should I have a browning dish?

Nevermind, went into the port earlier, it was as I remembered it
from my last visit 20+ years ago, beautiful people posing in front
of expensive shops inter mingled what is let's say people who
are somewhat challenged in the beauty stakes - ok dammed ugly.

St Tropez is probably as french as you can get - ladies of 'senior' years
turned out in casual high fashion carrying dogs panting for air ine
the sun. Street artists selling their wares with total distain
for the people who are buying.

Is it real? As a bloke from Devon, probably not, but for a bunch
of people - espcially those are the criminally large yachts I guess
it is their reality.

It is now 3pm, very hot and a long (and late) night awaits, time
for a nap in an air conditioned room I think.......

Portofino Perfection

So here I am, having 'jumped ship' from Club Med 2 to come into the small but beautiful town of Portofino.

And taken the opportunity to come and see the elegant Hotel Splendido which is owned by
Orient Express. OE used to a have a splendid (excuse the pun) Relationship Manager
called Patrick Flemming who always said this was his favourite hotel in their portfolio
, looking at it I can see why. Fantastic location above the town , elegant buildings and how come any
Italian under the age of 30 look like they have just stepped off of a catwalk?

The town is very stylish, but not entirly untouched by the monster
that is the mass tourist market with one or two shops selling tourist tat.
Rooney got married here and you can see why it appeals to both 'old money' and the
new rich.

There is a waiter here singing little snippets of songs - to the ladies - this is
Italy after all.


I am here in Portofino courtsey of Club Med, whose 5 mast, 180+ cabin yacht is sitting outside of the harbour.
At a press conference this morning they explained how they were moving
a portion of their business what they describe as 'up scale'. The product I have seen has yet
to reach the same levels as One & Only, Fairmont or Four Seasons - although
they are trying.

Anyway in about 5 minutes I am going to be shown around the hotel
by a very attractive young lady....so I had better spend a few minutes to
compose myself.

Ciao

Sitting at the kitchen table

So here I am sitting at the kitchen table waiting for Lilly,
who far from being a wayward daughter - they are tucked up in
bed unlike their brother who is 'out and about' clubbing.
Anyway Lilly is one of our cats and the reason why I am sat
here waiting for her is that her 2 week old kittens are in need
of some motherly love. The only mildly interesting thing is that I
am writing this on my BlackBerry connected wirelessly to my home hub.

Ah......mum returns.....and so it's goodnight from her and it's from me.
Good night

Making a start

This is a start of my blog but not a start of my travels. This year I have some great trips including New York, Cairo, Sharm and Fes. I am looking forward to sailing around the Med next week on a 5 mast boat (or is that a ship) and a possible trip to the Windy city in July.

The funny thing about travelling - whilst it is a great adventure - new food, new people - places to see - things to do - boxes to tick etc, it may be very old hat - but coming home is always better than leaving.............