Arrived here Sunday afternoon (5th July) around 4pm. Beautiful summer’s afternoon and the Wimbledon Men’s final was being played out between Roger Federer and Andy Roddick. A stunning final that Federer subsequently won after 4 1/2 hours. I think both players won on the day – Federer just got to take home the trophy!!
£80 later (taxi from Heathrow to the fabulous Crowne Plaza London – The City) and into my suite #608. The staff in all these places are great -very friendly and helpful. I joined The Club so I could access the business centre through the days/nights I’m here. All on the same floor so that’s easy. Complimentary breakfasts and canapes with beverages for 3 hours each evening (6.30 – 9.30pm). An excellent variety of canapes and huge selection of wines, spirits, juices etc.
Enjoyed a very pleasant lunch yesterday with a couple of fabulous Tourism NT colleagues, George and Fleur. They have also been very helpful with contacts here in London and suggestions as to where to distribute GALTA and TRC collateral. One of GALTA’s great NT members, the Alice Springs Desert Park, very generously supplied me with a whole host of little ‘give-aways’ for people I connect with on this journey.
Back to my hotel suite after lunch for a wonderful massage performed by a very talented young Polish man (from Krakow). My osteo-arthritis is really ‘kicking in’ and I’m finding that my mobility is becoming more limited. Oh well, the price of my lifestyle choices, I guess!!
Evening drinks and nibbles in The Club with new contact, Tom Denek who owns Tom On Tour, a very popular and successful marketing company based in Germany. Tom and I first met last week in Frankfurt at a meeting Karin Gussman (Tourism NT International manager for Germany) arranged. Have also put Tom in touch with Harry from Villa Mansland in Prague and it seems that they will be able to create some mutual business together.
Catching up with former Alice Springs identity, Bryn Williams, tonight. It will be great to catch up again after a few years and share some stories (and a few drinks)!! Quelle surprise!!
Expecting to spend tomorrow and Thursday with ‘my favourite boy on the planet’, Alexander, who celebrated his 21st birthday last Friday in Egypt with some of his mates. He really is a very special part of my world so we’re looking forward to ‘hanging out’ together for a couple of days. The Lion King is showing at the Lyceum (he and I saw it together in Sydney a few Christmases ago) so we may go and see that or perhaps Sister Act that is also playing live here. I’ll get him to come with me to Soho (main gay area in London) and we’ll also probably jump a train down to Brighton tomorrow or Thursday.
Meeting this afternoon with Darren Cooper, editor and owner of www.beigeuk.com – a very classy gay men’s on-line fashion and travel magazine. He’ll bring along a colleague of his, Doug, who is also a magazine editor.
More indulgence this morning with a manicure, pedicure and haircut followed by a yummy fresh pasta dish with king prawns in a local Italian eatery. Planning a facial for sometime this afternoon around 3pm before heading out.
This journey is proving to be extremely successful as well as fantastic. I plan to blog some reflections on my next post.
