Luxury

The Royal Albert Hall ('RAH'), probably the world’s most famous stage that opened in 1871 under the vision of Prince Albert, earlier this year launched another act as part of its ‘off-stage’ line up - the Secret History Tour. The tour, which takes visitors behind the scenes, unearths details on the many eccentricities and oddities of this iconic London venue. One can even take afternoon tea after the tour with a champagne option!

If the south of France is known for one thing, then it must be opulence. OK, maybe we can add to that a couple of other words- ‘serene’, ‘natural’ and ‘beauty’. But, nevertheless, when people think of this Gallic region the idea of luxury immediately springs to mind.

I generally like to keep one day a week free from any form of transportation, to ground and connect myself back to….. me. Me time! We all need more “ME time” so that we can give better “WE time”.If like me, you have often wished that the spa could come to you rather than having to “rush to relax”? The recent technological trend of home services has created a solution that brings beauty and wellness delivered to your door with ease and expertise.

Just back from a whirlwind trip to Turin, the business and cultural centre in northern Italy and the capital of the Piedmont region, which was inspiring. For sure I would recommend it for a short city break or as a base for exploring the wider region. There’s so much to see and do.
Often referred to as the Capital of the Alps, as it sits a short distance from the foothills of the Italian Alps, but other popular epithets are the Automobile Capital of Italy and the Detroit of Italy.

‘Masterpiece’ is a very apt title for arguably the most impressive exhibition from the 25th of June to the 1st July in the Royal Hospital Gardens.  The event now has its place firmly established in the ‘English Summer Season’ as it has assumed the status of the former Grosvenor Fair.  

Never wanting to miss out on a chance to dabble in a spot of SW3 people-watching, I decided to brave the tennis-match style booking procedure and eventually convinced the third reservationist in as many weeks to hand me a weekend dinner slot in London’s trendiest new garden.
As most of you will already know, the Ivy has spread its wings and most recently opened up a casual-dining extension of the world famous Covent Garden institution, and where better to position the arm of this star-laden haunt than Chelsea’s fashionable Kings Road.

All major jewellery collectors are defined by one piece they own, a piece that becomes inextricably linked in the public’s imagination with its owner: with the Duchess of Windsor, it was her multi-coloured flamingo brooch; it is hard to picture Elizabeth Taylor without her famous emerald necklace- Marjorie Merriweather Post was defined by her Cartier emerald brooch.

The last few years have continued to see an astonishing increase in the prices achieved by large and important gemstones.  There are various contributing factors in this phenomenon: firstly, there is more money than ever before.  In spite of the financial crash of 2008, we are in a golden age discerning buyers who not only know what they want, but also buy in a highly discerning and educated manner.  In the case of precious stones, the best is becoming rarer- the Argyle mine in Australia produces 90% of the world’s pink diamonds and is due to close down in 2019.  There is currently no other

The Royal Mint has announced that it is one of the sponsors of a ‘ewe-nique’ art trail taking place across London to raise money for UK children’s hospitals.
For the next eight weeks only a flock of 50 five-foot tall sculptures of Shaun the Sheep will be trotting the streets of London for the ‘Shaun in the City’ art trail – including one very special ‘Shaun’ which has been created by The Royal Mint.