Spring break weekend in Prague

Prague is a city I've wanted to visit for a long time. I finally made it happen this year and have recently returned from my weekend break. It's everything I thought it would be. I've had many friends say that it is their favourite place in the world. I have no idea where my favourite place is anymore as there are so many stunning, diverse locations on this planet and many I have yet to see. I take something special away with me from each visit and I have to agree that Prague is special. It is a beautiful, friendly city with gorgeous gothic architecture, religious iconography, sculpture and art. Known as the city of a hundred spires, you will see them everywhere you look.

The Crucifix and the Calvary

My friend and I stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel, on the banks of the Vltava river in Prague Old Town. It was the perfect location for us as it's within easy walking distance of all the sites and shopping areas. It is also only a few minutes from the famous pedestrianised Charles Bridge, constructed in the 14th century and connects the Old Town with Prague Castle. Here you will find artists, musicians and vendors selling souvenirs and the like.
King Charles IV commissioned the bridge. The foundation stone was laid in 1357. The initial idea was to build a functional construction for knight tournaments, and for many years the only decoration on the bridge was a simple crucifix. Later, the Catholic desire for ornamentation resulted in 30 statues being erected between 1600 and 1800.

Memorial to the start of the
Velvet Revolution

One of my interests is art and sculpture and there is plenty to see in Prague. Apart from the statues on the bridge, there are numerous modern works on view. Look up as you walk so you don't miss the rebel artist David Černý's 'Man Hanging Out' of Sigmund Freud at the corner of Husova Street in the Old Town. Černý's other work can be seen in various parts of the city.

Near the river there is a memorial to university student Jan Palach by John Hejduk. The two spiked installations pay tribute to both Jan and his mother. Palach tragically decided to set himself on fire in 1969 in protest of the invasion.

In front of the Four Seasons Hotel you will see the lifesize "The Secret Bench of Knowledge" by Lea Vivot. It is one of many situated around the world.

The Old Town itself leads to the main square where there is a myriad different building styles. Not to be missed is the world famous 600 year old astronomical clock which naturally attracts large crowds on the hour. We arrived a few minutes too late to see the moving apostles but at least the masses had dispersed!

It is possible to tell from the clock dial what day it is and its position in the week, month and year. The Astronomical Clock also tracks Central European, Babylonian and Sidereal time. You can also see the position of celestial bodies on it. On the calendar you can also see which sign of the zodiac currently reigns.

We walked across the Charles Bridge and all the way up to Prague Castle. Walking through the town we picked up the traditional Chimney cake which of course we had to try - yummy but way too big for me! Right in front of the castle there's an outdoor terrace to sit and drink your Starbucks whilst taking in the panoramic view of the city.

We discovered a much nicer place to rest and relax that was a peaceful and quiet haven away from the crowds. It was a café situated in the National Gallery just a few hundred metres from the castle where you could enjoy a coffee or a glass of wine and something to eat.

It was so pleasant walking around in the spring sunshine, taking in the sites and browsing shops. I'd really love to come back for a different take in the autumn or winter when it snows. Be aware though that this is a city of cobbled streets and pavements so comfortable footwear is advised.

There is obviously so much more to see and do in Prague than we had the time for, particularly if you are interested in history, music and art.

On reflection I can certainly see why people describe this as their favourite place in Europe. I think that maybe this could be one of mine now.


Places we liked for food and drink -

Poached eggs on avocado toast
topped with rocket salad

SmetanaQ café and bistro Smetanovo nábřeží 334/4 Praha 1 - cool hangout for breakfast/brunch. Right on the river and next door to the Deelive design store selling Czech designed jewellery, fashion and accessories.

Pohostinec Monarch Na Perštýně 15, Prague 1 - Very close to David Černý's Man Hanging Out. Fab menu and wine list and great service and atmosphere. My burger was absolutely delicious, and the fresh slaw which had a hint of ginger a perfect accompaniment. The duck leg confit I'm reliably informed was also good as was the locally sourced wine from Slovakia.

Spring in Dubai

I've just had a lovely 5 day spring break in Dubai. It's a city where you can do anything and everything - it caters for all. I was obviously hoping for a blast of warm sunshine and although it was sunny for the most part, it wasn't as warm as I would have liked. Day one was blowing a gale and whipped up the desert sands into the air making it a hazy start. Luckily it rained a little and the dust had disappeared by early afternoon.

I took an overnight flight and hadn't slept much so the first day was pretty chilled. First stop was a light lunch at La Mer, a relatively new area with an eclectic mix of restaurants, shops, cinema, a beach with a water park - a great place for families. Dinner was outdoors at Trattoria Toscana, an Italian restaurant at the Souk Madinat Jumeirah with a lovely view of the iconic Burj Al Arab. The food was great but what I really liked was their genius pasta drinking straws. No single use plastic here. A note though, if you take your time with your drink the straw will eventually go soggy! 

Day two I took a trip to the Miracle Gardens which opened in 2013. You can visit from mid November through to mid May and entrance costs UAE50 which is roughly £10 or US$13 at the current exchange rate. There are literally millions of flowers growing around arches and structures and massive topiary sculptures. A great place for families, children will love the animal and Disney displays. There are swings and hammocks and many cafes and shaded areas to sit when it's hot. The floral spectacle is very impressive. 

Alongside the Miracle Gardens is the Butterfly Gardens with a separate entrance and additional cost of UAE55. The butterflies are kept in large domes and fly freely around you and the environment created for them. It was lovely to see the different varieties and their beautiful colours so close up, but my criticism would be the slightly tacky props, fake birds and piped birdsong. The real birds they did have were housed in small cages - a pet hate of mine. I hope they will have a rethink about this and will be improved on for the future.

Sticking with the day of themes, a visit to Global Village that evening was on the agenda. Open from November to mid April, entrance is from 4pm till midnight or 1am depending on the day and costs UAE15. It houses pavillions from all over the globe showcasing music, food and produce. It has a Disneyland like atmosphere and appearance with a huge fun fair at the far end, making it a perfect destination for families and people who enjoy a theme park experience. We ate Syrian falafel, bought pashminas from Pakistan and browsed carved wooden artifacts from Africa.

The highlight of my visit this time was a visit to the Dubai Opera to see Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets on a large screen with live music by the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra. It was only on for 2 days so I was fortunate to have been able to go.
Dubai Opera’s Chief Executive, Jasper Hope, commented: “If you haven’t seen a Hollywood blockbuster accompanied by a full live symphony orchestra then you’ve truly never experienced the incredible power of music to bring films to life.”  So very true!
If you ever get the chance for an experience like this, do it.

Located in downtown Dubai, the Opera building is a beautiful contemporary structure. Designed to be multi-use, it's able to be transformed from a theatre to a concert hall to a 'flat floor' to host banquets and events. 

We had a fab late breakfast at L'Eto Caffe at Dubai City Walk on Day 4. The food choice is a mix of Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and European dishes. 
I had eggs royale (pictured left) which were absolutely delicious.

It was a beautiful breeezy, sunny day and a perfect one to visit Kite Beach to watch the kite surfers. It's my favourite beach as it's free (unless you want loungers and an umbrella). It's wide open space means it never gets crowded and although there are a few places to eat and shower and toilet facilities, it's not developed to the level of La Mer. I also had a chance to try out my bag from the new collection of Holiday Queen beach bags. I love the new colour combination.

Dinner that night was in the Al Seef area at Dubai Creek. It's appearance is that of old Dubai but it is very much a new development, combining shops and restaurants along the waterway. We decided on Al Hamidieh restaurant. Known for its authentic Arabic cuisine, we opted for a variety of Syrian dishes. It was absolutely delicious and I would highly recommend it if you like Middle Eastern food.

My last day took in some shopping and lunch at Social House at the Dubai Mall with a view of the fountains and the Burj Khalifa. It's a buzzy atmosphere with good food. One thing to note if you are an Emirates Skywards member - you can earn miles from retailers and restaurants on any purchase over UAE100 (£20 or US$27 at current rate). Download the Dubai Mall App to register and start collecting. 

My last supper was at P.F. Chang's at JBR.  A collection of Asian and Chinese cuisine, the food is exceptional and the Dynamite Shrimp and Mongolian beef my new favourites.

When I departed from Dubai International the next day, I was lucky to have a fabulous view (although a little hazy) of The Palm through my airplane window. Great to be heading back home and to the day job but knowing I'll be back again soon to experience the wealth of things that this city in the desert has to offer.

New post, new year flying by already!

I always make a point of posting something at least once a month but it seems January passed me by like a speeding train. It's been work, work and more work. 

Here we are in mid February already and winter has kindly stepped aside temporarily and given us a taste of spring. These beautiful crisp mornings and clear sunny days are my absolute favourite.

There is a lot of travel coming up in the next few months. I've made a point of utilising all my annual leave, spreading it out over some weekends to get away for springtime city breaks as well as the usual girls' week in June, which this year will be Crete.

Next up though is Dubai for some warm sunshine and catching up with friends and family who will be there at the same time. Prague is on the list for April, and glad also to be revisiting Palma and Milan in May. It's so exciting to have something to look forward to and I hope you'll be inspired to do the same. Life is too short not to live it up a little.

Another year over - farewell 2018

2018 has been a good year for travel, both for pleasure and work in my role as a TV make up artist. I hope it's been a good one for you too. 

I cherish my trips and I also love looking at other people's photos and being inspired to go to places I hadn't even thought of.

Although I love summer and being by the sea, I also love winter - but not too long please - and the beautiful lights on display in the darkest days leading up to Christmas. It's lovely to cosy up by the fire with my gorgeous dog Scout and watch a movie or hang out with friends.

I'd like to thank you all so much for continuing to read my blog and particularly to those of you who have supported my fledgling business and bought my HQ beach bags for your vacations.  It means a lot! I trust you will continue to enjoy using them for your next jaunt and beyond. Also big thanks to my make up colleagues who have bought the HQ make up station mats.  

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and good health and happiness for 2019. See you next year!

My last ever ATP World Tour finals for Sky Sports

Up on top of the O2

I have just finished working on Sky Sports' last ever tennis event, the ATP World Tour Finals, for the foreseeable future. Maybe one day it will come back but for now the global giant Amazon has taken it on.

I was fortunate to be asked to do my first ATP back in 2009. In those days we had a tiny studio and even tinier make up area if you can call it that. It was a set up on a chair outside the studio with limited lighting. I shared the space with the lighting director, an air conditioning unit and spare camera kit - luckily we got on.

Eventually we moved across the way to a larger studio and I was able to secure a little more space (although not much) with better lighting. I would do Annabel’s hair and makeup at the hotel in the comfort of my room and do the guys at the location.

We had two sessions per day which always seemed to run over giving us a slap dash break for dinner and then a rush to get to a news cross down on the court side, then another dash to the fan zone for the evening show opener. The Evening sessions would often overrun and we’d be lucky to see our beds before midnight. We've also had some great guests over the years including Peter Fleming, Boris Becker, Judy Murray, Pat Cash, Jamie Delgado, Lleyton Hewitt, Lindsay Davenport and Marion Bartoli, to name just a few.

Marcus, Annabel and Greg

Last year the fan zone area disappeared due to the construction of a shopping centre within the O2 dome which opened this year as the Icon Outlet. No more running to various locations with indigestion. For our last 8 days of broadcasting they cut the screen time for the presenters giving us an altogether much more relaxed experience with a proper meal break every day. This was also probably the first year we didn’t overrun on any matches – most were done in 2 sets.

On our last day, the presenting team, a producer, cameraman and I had the opportunity to walk over the top of the O2 to film the opener for the finale. We couldn't have asked for a better day. If you ever get the chance to do it, I would highly recommend it. Safety is obviously the primary concern so we had to watch a video, wear all the gear including safety harness and boots before embarking on the 15 minute climb which begins with a flight of stairs. The view from the top was amazing – albeit blowing a bit of a gale up there on the day. The descent felt a little harder as there are no stairs on the other side and quite a steep drop on the last bit to negotiate. We had a very experienced team of guides to help us along the way and never once felt nervous or insecure.

Annabel transformed

Back on the ground again, we had to prepare for the final show. Annabel's windblown hair and make up had to be redone and Marcus and Greg groomed for the camera.

After a decade of epic finals, it was a fantastic way to end our last show watching a relative newcomer, 21 year old Alexander Zverev beat the number 1 Novak Djokovic in 2 straight sets.

The end of an era, I will always treasure my memories from the US Open and the ATP World Tour and will miss working with such a fab team of people.

* * * * * * *

We stayed at Novotel Canary Wharf, just one stop away on the Jubilee line.




 

Three days on the Suffolk coast with the Holiday Hound

Scout enjoying a swim

Generally when I think of the beach, I think of hot summer days lazing on a sun lounger and going for cooling dips in the ocean. I also think of walking along a beach on darker days, rugged up against the cold wind. Both of these scenarios are equally appealing to me for very different reasons.

I love to get away at any time of year, but particularly in the autumn before a long stint of work and the lead up to Christmas. Now that I have a dog, I like to use this break so I can take him too. I decided that the beach would be just perfect given that the crowds would be gone and he could run freely and have a swim if he fancied it. He absolutely loves the water.

The coastline of the UK has many options but I wanted something within about a 2 hour drive away from London. I chose Aldeburgh, a town which has inspired artists and writers and most notably composer Benjamin Britten. 

Virginia Woolf once dismissed it as a “miserable dull little sea village”, and that’s what locals want you to think – for they know it’s anything but.

I had been a few times before and loved it. Dogs are allowed on most beaches in Suffolk with restrictions from May through September on the most popular ones so it seemed the right fit.

Sunset - Hazlewood Marsh

I found a delightful place to rent through the Rural Retreats website. They have a lot of dog friendly self catering properties on offer and as I had used them before I knew I'd find something reliable and suitable. We were based in a one bedroom ground floor apartment overlooking the Hazlewood Marsh and only a few minutes away from Aldeburgh town and beach. It was the perfect retreat - peaceful and serenely quiet - a home from home. The sunsets over the marsh were simply beautiful.

We were extremely lucky with the weather. It could have gone either way at this time of year and I didn't particularly mind which way - it is what it is - but it was gloriously sunny and clear which made the cold temperatures that much easier to bear.

Scout loved the beach which was devoid of people until later in the day - he even went in for a swim until a wave broke over him and he body-surfed to the shore. I'm not sure he knew what hit him and although it didn't stop him, he was a bit cautious after that!

Our exploring took us north a few miles to the beautiful Suffolk town of Southwold. We walked from the pier along the beach towards the centre of town. Here there were families, children and dogs playing in the autumn sunshine. There are a number of iconic British beach huts along the sea front, all brightly painted and decorated. These are available to rent in the summer and as expected booked up well in advance. During a day at the seaside, a beach hut is the perfect place to shelter away from the midday sun or to change out of your wet bathers before enjoying a well-earned refreshment! 
 
We had lunch at the Sole Bay Inn, right next to the Southwold Lighthouse, which is open to visitors on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays between 2-4pm. I didn't think it was quite Scout's thing so we walked into town and back along the beach again.

The sun went down by 4.30pm each day so we always got back to the apartment before it got dark. We had a large garden to access which was great for Scout and he had more than his usual share of exercise. In the evenings we catered for ourselves and relaxed in front of the fire watching movies on Netflix. 

The next day we went north again and just a few minutes away to Thorpness. It was quite windy and the beach was deserted. Scout was in his element once more, in and out of the water and didn't seem to mind being wet and windblown. 

It was our last full day and we knew of dog friendly pub, the Plough and Sail, in the town of Snape Maltings and made our way there, although we didn't end up staying as the outside area was not to our liking on the day. That's not to say I wouldn't go back. Right next door was a cafe with outdoor seating in full sun so we opted to have lunch there instead. The town is located in an 'area of outstanding natural beauty' on the River Alde, and I would really like to go back there again. 

After checking out of our accommodation on Sunday morning, we went back in to Aldeburgh to give Scout his last run on the beach. I think he knew we were leaving as he didn't want to come back when called.
We also wanted to go back to our favourite find, a little cafe (sadly the name escapes me) just off the seafront down a little lane towards the High Street and opposite the Garage Gallery. They served delicious Mozzo coffee which I had never heard of before and looked forward to it everyday.

A long weekend break can be as good as a week off. It's great to get out of the city and your regular life to experience something completely different, yet still keep a little normality of that life in a home away from home. I think a few more of these may be on the cards.


 
 

Work and Play in Paris - from La Golf National to the Eiffel Tower

Paris - aka the City of Lights. It's been a few years since I have been to this city so I was happy to be going back, albeit for work. My first trip was many years ago in my 'gap year' then back and forth in subsequent years for long weekends and day trips on the Eurostar.

I had already done a lot of the sightseeing in these previous visits - climbing to the top of the Eiffel Tower, The Louvre (although it's so vast you can never see it all), Musée Rodin, Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur - the list goes on. It's an easy city to walk around and of course there's the shopping. My favourite is the Galleries Lafayette and Sephora. What self respecting make up artist could resist going there!

This year Paris was host to The Ryder Cup, a biennial men's golf competition between Europe and the United States. My job in this major sports production was to look after all the on-air talent for the UK broadcaster along with my colleague who shared the workload. The majority of my 8 days was spent on site at Le Golf National, but I was fortunate enough to have a full day and two afternoons off so I took full advantage.

The Palace of Versailles was relatively close to where we were staying so it seemed the obvious place to start. It was a beautiful autumn day and being a Monday the Palace itself was closed but there are acres of gardens, walks, sculptures and fountains to see, all free of charge.

The Orangery is most impressive .. To stock the Orangery, Louis XIV gathered all the orange trees from the royal houses and acquired a large number of new trees from Italy, Spain and Portugal. It was considered good manners at the time for courtiers to gratify the King by offering him their own orange trees. They were transported with such haste (even in the middle of winter) that many expired on the way there, but the Versailles orangery was soon able to boast the largest collection in Europe.

Most of the fountains which were built in the 17th century have been or are in the process of being restored and are spectacular. Unfortunately they weren't on when we were there but it gave us an opportunity to see just how magnificent they are.

On the first of my two afternoons off, my colleagues and I decided to go on a cruise on the River Seine. We had been up since 3am but sleep could wait! We hopped on the Metro at the end of the line at Pont de Sevre M9, which was an adventure in itself, working out where to change from the Metro to the RER C at La Muette/Boulainvilliers which would then take us to Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel. This was where we could pick up a boat trip for a one hour cruise costing €14 with a glass of champagne for an extra €7. We were lucky we were on a relatively small boat which wasn't crowded so it was a very relaxing, pleasant trip, taking in twenty three landmarks including the Eiffel Tower, The Louvre, and the Grand Palais to name but a few. We finished off with a light dinner before returning for some much needed sleep before our next and thankfully last 3am start.

Our second afternoon off was spent local to our hotel at Pont de Sevre. There is a large and beautiful park nearby which we wanted to explore. The Domaine National de Saint-Cloud was just a few minutes walk away and just at the entrance we noticed the Musée National de Ceramique so we decided to take a look inside. We did not know what to expect and paid the €8 entrance fee which included an exhibition called Forces de la Nature. The three Norwegian artists featured Kari Dyrdal, Torbjørn Kvasbø and Marit Tingleff produced interesting large format works of contemporary tapestry and ceramic pieces. I was particularly impressed with the tapestries - the scale and the vibrant colours - I'm so glad we went inside.

Once outdoors again, we continued our walk through the park, ascending the winding road to the top where we had amazing views of Paris, with the Eiffel Tower in the distance. It was a beautiful autumn day and as we wandered through the woods, we discovered a bridle path that led us towards a view of the fountains and gardens below.

Meandering down the hill we
stopped at a little café at the bottom where we had tea. Fortunately for us there were no more hills to negotiate. After another brutally early start that morning, we were pretty much ready to head back to the hotel and our beds on the now flat area of the park, along the beautiful tree lined pathway.

The week almost over, we went into the last day of work and the final day of the Ryder Cup. The atmosphere was fantastic, with fans from all over the world cheering their respective teams on. Europe came out the victors this time, winning the cup back from the USA.

All that was left to do was pack up and prepare for our respective journeys home the following day. Thank you for your hospitality Paris!

Merci et au revoir Paris ... Jusqu'à la prochaine fois.