Back in Devon…
September 26, 2009 –
Well as usual I had a lovely time in London, very, very special. Being blessed with fantastic weather for the 5 days I was there was a real bonus. So what did I get up too? Well… (saucy wink) lots of fab things. A word about my hotel though. Totally, totally amazing; service second to none and a beautiful, elegant room. Talking of elegant, the dining room there was possibly, no definitely the best I have ever had the pleasure of dining in. Truly divine. I loved the dress code too – jacket and tie for the gents at all times – perfect. I do love a gent in a smart suit and tie, very handsome indeed.
Here’s a funny thing I noticed though. Apart from the attention to detail, which was fierce. On alighting from the cab on arrival, the doorman took my bag, he must have swiftly looked at my luggage tag, beamed at me and said ‘Welcome to the blah de blah, Miss Charles!’ Brilliant. Another one, as I was leaving to go a party one evening asked me where I would like the cab to take me. When I told him he said ‘And very lucky they are to have you too, Ma’am’ A nice tip for you then young man. Oh I am a sucker for a smooth line.
So, apart from all of that. Here’s the thing. Ive mentioned a few times about my disturbing mania about those bloody shower caps. Well, I stayed in my room sans a gentleman overnight until the 3rd night. The maid must have seen there was only a lady in the room by the lack of male luggage and testosterone etc. So when the time came to service the room for the evening, turning down the sheets and the usual fripperies and niceries were seen to. When it was noticed by said maid that a gentleman was in attendance, she put a sort of cloth across the silk headboard. I kid you not. It was done in the best possible taste of course but there it was, this little sheet strung across the bedhead with the hotel’s emblem upon it. I can only assume that they have had a bit of an incident with gentlemen’s hair gel. You can imagine cant you?, a guy propped up in bed watching tv and whoops a dirty great stain over the very expensive furnishings. I have never seen anything like it and in future shall either request a bedhead sheet for my overnight gentlemen guests or make them wear that ubiquitous shower cap – only kidding!, only kidding!
It was London Fashion Week while I was there and I was reading a little about this on the way up on the train. By pure coincidence, on one of the days I was returning to my room I headed towards the two small lifts where stood a lady, I smiled, she smiled and then I waited for the lift. Oh my God! I suddenly realised. I know who that is. I was just reading about her on the way up. It was Anna Wintour. For those readers of a decidedly anti-fashion bent (or even mild disinterest on the subject of fashion, after all you do have better things to do :); she is the Editor of Vogue. She is the Grande Dame of fashion. She is the one to whom all other fashionistas bow and scrap. She is the one ALL designers want on their front row and the one that all supermodels want to get on the right side of. You get the picture dont you? She is also alllegedly the inspiration for the film ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ and is by all accounts a bit of a mare, as in a nightmare. (Her being ‘the devil’ part). So, all in all apparently, a total so and so to work for. I also remember reading and recalling from the film that this lady does not share lifts… with ANYONE.
Hahaha, ‘what a dilemma!’ I think to myself. Oh well, I wont mind sharing if she doesnt :) Well, a lift came and I got in it. I waited (so as to be polite dont you know) a little while to see if she would get in before I pressed the button. ‘Go on girl!’ I thought to myself, prove all the detractors wrong. But alas the lady was not for sharing and I zoomed upwards and onwards to my floor alone, and she had to wait for the next one. Perhaps she was just shy.
My only problem with London is that I never seem to have enough time to get everything (and everyone :) done. I have gradually increased my time from 2 days, to 3 days and this time 5 days. But London is like some hungry child, goobling up time and demanding more. I like it there though ( a lot) and I will be back within the next couple of months.
A massive thanks to the lovely fellas I had the great fortune to see again and some I met for the first time. Truly, as usual, it was my pleasure gentlemen, thanks for looking after me, hope to see you again soon x
