Hong Kong

If there was a crown for the slackest blogger ever, it would currently be on my head.

The last few days have been a blur of interviews, amazing hotels, shopping and the chaotic-but-fascinating streets of Honkers. Hard to believe it's been five years between drinks, but this city remains one of my favourites. Oh and there was even a day in China (for shopping).

In lieu of words, here are a few images from the last few days.

Is there anything better after a 12 hour flight than to be picked up by a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow? The outstanding Peninsula Hotel made me feel like royalty my entire three night stay.

  
There was a traditional afternoon tea at the historic Peninsula with the PR woman (sadly pics are on the camera and I am running late for a dinner with another PR so haven't got time to download them. Suffice to say it was like being transported to the days of the Raj).

Random pics I do have access to include this one, which illustrates what a day's shopping in Shenzhen looks like.

And this equally random street sign which, in my over-tired and over-caffeinated state made me laugh out loud (and yes, this is how bad the photographic quality gets when I travel without the visually gifted Animator).

Today I moved over to the Gateway Hotel, another outstanding property that I never want to leave. This was waiting for me on arrival:

   I am a very lucky girl.

See you on the other side

I'm not sure my to-do list has shrunk, but time certainly has. I may be off-blog for a few days but hopefully will resurface sometime next week with no doubt badly lit and out-of-focus images (that's what happens when the Animator doesn't travel with me).

Filing a Travel Talk column yesterday, one of my interview subjects said "Travel is a privilege" and while I agree wholeheartedly with him, it's getting harder and harder to leave this wee little man. My travels may soon be restricted to places I can take him. Which may not be such a bad thing....

         

My brain is about to explode

This morning I kept company with three very nice architects as they walked me through their amazing renovation of an historic building (once a department store, now the funky HQ of an energy company).

I have spent large chunks of the afternoon trying to turn phrases such as 'linear structures that provide for greater social convergence' and 'spatial experiences' into plain English. My brain now feels like boiled marmalade.

Worse still, Wednesday night's running group embarked on a longer than usual trot and my left knee is now hurting like buggery. If I have to limp around HK next week, I will not be best pleased.

Today's visuals are, what else, but cute canines.

Have a lovely weekend y'all and while you're out having a good time, think of me strapped to the lap top trying to make sense of architectural jargon...

(Pic credit: Tumblr)

Yesterday's Travel Talk

Apols, am a day behind. My to-do list before I fly to Honkers on Monday is the size of small mammal and I am still foolishly accepting commissions, including one story for an interiors magazine I took on today that I have to file by Sunday night. I just need to woman up and get on with it.

In the meantime, here's yesterday's Travel Talk column (click here to read) with the lovely Sally Thorburn, the producer of Summer Shakespeare we went to see a couple of weeks back.

(Pic credit: Sally Thorburn)

Profile of Valentina Dias

The current issue of Urbis Magazine features my profile of Welli restaurateur Valentina Dias, and some of her favourite things from her gorgy Seatoun Home (click here to read).
  

A good day

The AM  was spent nosing around this beautiful old Island Bay villa for a story for House & Garden Magazine. I do so love me a villa.

  
While I did the journo thing, the Animator took His Highness to the beach and when they swung by to collect me, the owner invited them in to play with her two dogs, including Willow, an eight week old puppy, who we fell hopelessly in love with. I may even have tried to shove Willow into my handbag as we left.

In the PM there was a dog walk with the walking group in Waikanae - Bristol was in canine heaven.

Did I also mention there was more sunshine than we knew what to do with? Happy days...

Dublin travel piece

Ahead of St Paddy's Day next month, the latest issue of MAS Magazine  runs my piece on Dublin (click here to read).

And yes, most of the pics were supplied by the Animator.

  (Pic credit: Google)