I had been invited to play two rounds with a friend, as part of a wider stay at The Manor House Hotel with the Lotus Emira. The hotel and car had already done their bit: one providing Cotswold charm and deeply civilised hospitality, the other providing mid-engined theatre and a colour scheme that could be seen from Chippenham. Now it was the turn of the golf course.

A large SUV appears entirely at home pulling up to a grand historic building, as though it has merely returned from a light bout of pheasant disturbance. A discreet German saloon also looks suitable, particularly if it is muted in colour, electric-silent and wafting across the pea shingle.

But a bright purple Lotus? This is not discreet. It does not sidle quietly into an open forecourt and hope not to be noticed. It arrives with the visual and audible subtlety of a quality-street wrapper at a funeral.

Regular readers will know that I have a particular affinity for House of Hazelwood and tend to anticipate each annual release with genuine interest. The 2026 Charles Gordon Collection continues a philosophy shaped by Charles Gordon, one that places patience at the centre of whisky making and recognises that time, when handled with restraint, remains the most valuable asset at a producer’s disposal.

I had some unfinished business in Obergurgl-Hochgurgl; the last time I had skied at this very resort was in November 2024 during the Audi FIS Alpine World Cup Race, where the likes of Mikaela Shiffrin and Dave Ryding were competing on the Kirchenkar race slope. At that time, seated upon a chair lift, Dominik my ski-instructor had pointed his ski-stick towards ‘Top Mountain Star’ and said your goal is to ski down from there.

Stepping-out from London Bridge, I crossed the River Thames, admiring London’s defining landmarks ‘Tower Bridge’ and ‘The Tower of London’, alongside several medal waving participants who had - 48-hours earlier – completed the London Marathon and, obviously, decided to stay on in the capital. Just five minutes later, I was stood in front of ‘Onefifty Fenchurch Street', a brand new luxury aparthotel.

British travellers often overlook the Belgian coastline in favour of the medieval centres of Bruges or Ghent nearby. This is a habitual oversight. While the inland cities offer history and canals, the westernmost point of the country provides an environment defined by expansive natural spaces and a specific history. De Panne sits directly on the border with France. It is the location where King Leopold I first entered the country in 1831 to claim the Belgian throne.

One expects many things from a night on the King’s Road. Discreet wealth, theatrical entrances, perhaps the occasional supercar idling with all the subtlety of a champagne cork. What one does not expect is a diesel Mazda causing passers-by to pause, squint, and wonder if they have momentarily mistaken it for something wearing a prancing horse.

Chelsea, Confidence, and a Case of Mistaken Identity

I was recently among a small group invited to the hallowed rooms of Bonhams in London to taste the new Eagle Rare 30 Year Old. This represents the oldest age stated bourbon ever released by the Buffalo Trace Distillery. More significantly, it is a release that challenges the long held perception of exactly how long a Kentucky bourbon can remain in barrel before it loses its soul.

If you’ve ever tried to squint at a vibrating smartphone clamped to your handlebars while doing 70 mph on the M1, you’ll know what a struggle it is. Between the overheating warnings in summer, the fear of rain wrecking your expensive phone, and the constant fear of it taking a dive into the tarmac, phone mounts are a bit of a faff. 

​LiveWire is a premium all-electric motorcycle brand. It originally began as "Project LiveWire," an initiative by Harley-Davidson to explore the electric vehicle space. In 2019, Harley-Davidson released its first production electric motorcycle under the LiveWire name.

​Recognising the distinct market for electric motorcycles, Harley-Davidson spun LiveWire out into its own standalone company in 2021, to give it the freedom to act more like a tech startup. Harley-Davidson remains the majority shareholder.