A riot of flowers and fish in Gauguin’s paradise April 29, 2012 What’s in Bora Bora?” I asked a frequent visitor there. “Sharks – but in a good way”, was the answer. Did that justify twenty hours flying time to French Polynesia, I wondered. A few weeks later, swimming in a lagoon so blue it looked digitally enhanced and watching grey-tipped reef sharks, I had my answer. [...]
Where tiny tots learn to chill: All hail the Baby Spa April 29, 2012 Recently, at a friend’s engagement party, another guest was telling me the details of her son’s birth within minutes of our meeting, and then that at first he only slept in 40-minute instalments and had to be strapped to her chest 24/7. She then whipped out her iPhone and showed me a video of her [...]
Yaiza! A 52-room spa, eight restaurants, six pools… April 29, 2012 If you want to feel the hot spring sun on your back and white sand between your toes, the Princesa Yaiza Suite Hotel Resort is a good place to forget European financial turmoil and completely succumb to the gods of pleasure. The sprawling but characterful 385-room resort is on the Canary Island of Lanzarote, 75 [...]
SUNTORY WHISKY AND CIGAR TASTING COMPETITION April 27, 2012 WIN A SUNTORY WHISKY AND CIGAR TASTING EVENING AT EIGHT CLUB, IN THE HEART OF THE CITY Suntory and Eight Club are offering five pairs of tickets to an exclusive whisky and cigar sampling evening conducted by Zoran Peric and Przemek Zaneap at the club’s Moorgate premises. Address: 1 Dysart Street, London EC2 2BX Tel: [...]
A child-friendly, chic interior is a few clicks away April 26, 2012 Red rockets lampshade, £20, alllitup.co.uk This adorable rocket image wraps around the shade structure so that you can follow the action round. Sure to delight your little boy or girl. Jo Jo Maman Bebe Blue Gingham Upholstered Armchair, £120, jojomamanbebe.co.uk A 21 cm high chair with machine washable covers. Petit bateau baby case, £10, petit-bateau.co.uk [...]
Jazz up your garden so you can get the most out of it for summer April 26, 2012 Agarden should be as important as any room in your house. Gardens are the space between you and the outside world, a private haven and public display, so they should reflect both guises while also providing you with an environment that delights and inspires, every day of the year. To make the most of your [...]
NEED TO KNOW | AREA INSIGHT April 26, 2012 WHERE IT IS Ascot is a village in Berkshire, technically within the civil parish of Sunninghill and Ascot. The region is divided into Ascot itself, North and and South Ascot. SCHOOLS The schools in Ascot are good and some are rather smart – particularly the girls schools. Of these, St Mary’s Ascot, a Catholic all [...]
FOCUS ON: ASCOT April 26, 2012 EASTWAYS Price: £4.95m A spacious seven bedroom home set in landscaped gardens overlooking Sunningdale Golf Course. It features a library, drawing room, breakfast room and utility room as well as a cinema room. Also has a triple garage. Contact Knight Frank on 01344 642 732 TWO CEDARS Price: £1.38m Five bedroom house located in the [...]
Stamp duty woes: selling up and a renovations business April 26, 2012 DIRECTOR, KAY & CO Q My property is currently on the market at £2.15m. I had accepted an offer of £2.05m but unfortunately the recent stamp duty increase caused the sale to fall through and I have not had much interest since. I have found somewhere else that I want to buy and do not [...]
A rollicking outing for Marvel fans April 26, 2012 FILM AVENGERS ASSEMBLE Cert: 12A ***** A team of super heroes being brought together from three different blockbuster movie franchises. An alien invasion. A shadowy Chancellor Palpatine-style intergalactic villain. A shady government organisation with dubious plans. Various back stories and sub plots. Joss Whedon has a lot of plates to keep spinning with Avengers Assemble. [...]