Well it looks like I will not have time to nip around the net looking for Christmas sauciness to post here after all!  Id just like to say a massive thank you to all my lovely gents for making 2008 so special – both in Plymouth and whilst I was touring in London, Dublin, New York and Edinburgh.  I really (really!) had a great time and I hope you did too ;)  Also I have been overwhelmed by the wonderful Christmas wishes I have been getting via email – thanks guys, that means a lot and I really appreciate it.  Thanks to the ladies too for your help during the past year with various things especially Crista and Dollymopp. Oh and a big thank you to Richard at 69 Design, my webmaster for keeping the site going.  I hope I havent forgotten anyone!  So, that just leaves me to wish each and every one of you (especially YOU for popping by to take a look at my blog) a superb, fantastic Christmas. You will, wont you? I hope you find everything you want under the tree.  I will write another post after Christmas, before the New Year – have fun!! Lots of love xxx

PS Next available 2nd January 2009 x

PPS You really need to check out this blog – Hannah – she is so funny – have a look.

I have just heard that Bettie page has died.  Lots of people have never heard of Bettie Page because although she was a pin up in the 50′s she became mainly famous for more fetish-themed photography.  I came across Bettie Page when I read Dita Von Teese’s book, Burlesque and The Art of the Teese. Dita was hugely influenced by Bettie.

From the BBC…

Bettie Page, one of the most famous US pin-up models of the 1950s, has died in Los Angeles, aged 85.

Her provocative poses – often in bikinis – made her a cult figure and she was one of the first models to appear in Playboy magazine.

Bettie Page was credited with helping to pave the way for the sexual revolution of the 1960s.

Some pictures of her showing bondage and spanking generated controversy and attracted a congressional subpoena.

The secretary-turned-model was admitted to hospital last month, suffering from pneumonia. She had a heart attack last week and never regained consciousness.

‘Iconic figure’

“With deep personal sadness I must announce that my dear friend and client Bettie Page passed away at 1841 this evening (0241 GMT Friday) in a Los Angeles hospital,” her agent Mark Roesler said.

“She captured the imagination of a generation with her free spirit and unabashed sensuality”, he said. “She is the embodiment of beauty”.

I never thought it was shameful. I felt it was normal. Bettie Page

Playboy founder Hugh Hefner called her a “very dear person”, AP reported.

“I think that she was a remarkable lady, an iconic figure in pop culture who influenced sexuality, taste in fashion, someone who had a tremendous impact on our society,” Hefner was quoted as saying.

Bettie Mae Page was born in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1923. Her career took off after an amateur photographer in New York asked her to pose for pictures in 1950.

She featured in posters and photographs, including one of the early centrefolds of Playboy magazine.

However not everyone was happy with the pictures. Some US lawmakers were concerned they amounted to pornography and subpoenaed Page to testify at a congressional hearing, although in the end she never had to appear.

Looking back on her career, she told Playboy in 1998: “I never thought it was shameful. I felt normal. It’s just that it was much better than pounding a typewriter eight hours a day, which gets monotonous.”

She was married three times but had no children.

She disappeared from public view in the late 1950s, turning to religion and battling mental illness. However, decades later, she became the subject of renewed interest.

Are you getting as bored as I am over these darned thieves?  Here’s another one who has stolen my website content.  For god’s sake the girl is asking £500 for an hour, you’d think she could string a few words together wouldnt you? Grrrr.  Anyone know a good copyright lawyer?

I have just been told not to put a link on here as it helps their position on Google, so to find it I am afraid you will have to look for ‘london elite indian escort’ and then a .co.uk (Thanks L)

Perhaps I should have a name and shame blog roll for these miscreants?

Removed :)

I have a page on my website listing all the major hotels in Plymouth.  I always feel a bit embarassed when people ask me, is there a 5 star in Plymouth?  Er no, not yet, but I am sure with all the development going on, it will only be a matter of time, and anyway, you could always stay with me! hehe

Now, this got me thinking as to how these stars are awarded.  ( I have been in some pretty shabby 4 star hotels I can tell you!).  So, I popped on over to the AA website and all was revealed…

Common standard for accommodation

Establishments offering accommodation assessed by the AA are rated under a set of common quality standards agreed by the AA and the UK tourist authorities (VisitBritain, VisitScotland and VisitWales).

The common standards make types of accommodation easy to understand and give you confidence that establishments can meet the standards you require.

Accommodation is assessed under three broad categories: Hotel, Guest Accommodation and Budget Hotel.

Hotel and guest accommodation are divided into sub-categories or designators that provide more information about the type of establishment.

Hotel categories

Hotel
A formal accommodation offering full hotel services.

Country House Hotel
A hotel with ample grounds or gardens set in a rural or semi-rural situation; the property has an emphasis on peace and quiet.

Small Hotel
Smaller establishments having a maximum of 20 bedrooms, and personally run by the proprietor.

Town House Hotel
A high-quality property of distinctive style with a maximum of 50 bedrooms, set in a town or city centre; possibly no dinner but room service is available instead.

Metro Hotel
A town or city property providing full hotel services except dinner, close to a range of places to eat.

Accommodation standards Star ratings

Star ratings, from one to five, show the standard of quality for hotels and guest accommodation. The following brief summary gives the main standards within their ratings.

I was a little perplexed about the 4 star requirements – only half of the rooms should have en suite or private bathroom?  Does that mean in the other half you have to share?? Isn’t that a hostel?  For the rest of my tour I am staying in 5 star hotels (I don’t want to share my bathroom :) and will definitely do the same next year.  If it helps you save a few pennies, I have put a link to Late Rooms on my hotels page which offer up to 70% off rooms anywhere in the UK (my link just shows Devon and Cornwall but you can easily put in where you want to go).  Now, my favourite hotel so far?  Has to be Raffles in Singapore – I just adore the colonial style buildings and a visit to Singapore really is not complete without a Singapore Sling at the place it was invented.