Canary Wharf Feb/Mar 09 by Runwild Media Group

! 3TUNNING 2IVERSIDE 3ETTING FOR #ELEBRATIONS For informal gatherings in the bar to a cocktail reception in the River Room or a gala dinner for 200 in the sweeping Ontario Room, this is an environment that makes for an unforgettable event. The Radisson Edwardian New Providence Wharf hotel, a refreshingly original choice, offers iconic design and supremely ďŹ&#x201A;exible spaces in a stunning riverside setting. Moments from Canary Wharf and connected to Bank Street, Canada Square and Cabot Square by a shuttle service, this sleek addition to the Docklands skyline is a party venue thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all about the river. From ďŹ&#x201A;oor to ceiling windows in the Azura bar, restaurant and the River Room above, the chameleon lights of the O2 across the water punctuate the night sky with dramatic effect. Make plans to pamper yourself before or after your event in the East River Spa, our blissful urban retreat offering a full line of treatments. www.eastriverspa.com The hotel has 169 generously spacious rooms and is licensed for wedding ceremonies. We also accommodate outside catering for your special day.

Enjoy a complimentary glass of bubbly for weddings & private dinners booked prior to April 30, 2009.

&OR BOOKINGS OR MORE INFORMATION CALL .ARGIS AND 6ANISA AT OR EMAIL NPWCB RADISSON COM BOSS Store LONDON Unit 5 Cabot Place West Canary Wharf 0844 847 9335

2ADISSON %DWARDIAN .EW 0ROVIDENCE 7HARF (OTEL &AIRMONT !VENUE ,ONDON % 01 #ANARY 7HARF DLR %AST )NDIA

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contents

22 COVER STORIES 22 chalet stay or chalet go A look at the very best ski resorts 90 streeps ahead Meryl Streep talks to us about Doubt 100 Jobs in jeopardy Is your job as safe as you think?

F E AT U R E S 18

Orient express In the final installment Josephine Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Donoghue shops till she drops in the city that never sleeps

28 Holy moly The perfect selection of Easter break destinations 30 luxury investment The trend of investment with pleasure 33 tale as old as time The latest Montblanc timepieces 36

right on form There is more than meets the eye to Bernie Ecclestoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daughter Petra

44 Fashion Boudoir Lingerie

52 mothers day Our ultimate gift guide for what to buy this Mothering Sunday 59 winter skin The best winter skin savers for him and her 92 artscene Monarchy in the UK 98 meeting nicole We meet the woman behind the brand, Nicole Fahri herself

RECEIVE A COMPLIMENTARY MANICURE OR FOOT ACUPRESSURE TO THE VALUE OF £50 The Six Senses Spa will help you de-stress from your hectic lifestyle and save you up to £50. Simply book a Dreamtime Facial or a Six Senses Signature Holistic Massage and receive a complimentary Manicure or Foot Acupressure.

The Pan Peninsula at Canary Wharf hosts the ﬁrst internationally acclaimed Six Senses Spa in the United Kingdom. Following the Six Senses philosophy of using natural and environmentally friendly products, the spa is conceived to rejuvenate and revitalise, making your visit a unique, memorable and an enlightening experience. Skilled therapists create personal and individual sensory journeys through many forms of holistic treatments based upon healing and well-being. From the comprehensive holistic menu you can select Six Senses signature treatments, or perhaps a speciﬁc therapy within the Express Retreat or Thermal Suite. A limited number of exclusive spa memberships are available. To take advantage of this exclusive offer mention “Canary Wharf Magazine” at the time of booking, and present this advertisement to the reception on the day of your treatment. Treatments are subject to availability. Refer to our website for terms and conditions. Offer valid from 4th to 30th March 2009. Six Senses Spa at Pan Peninsula 2 Pan Peninsula Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 9HA, UK Tel: +44 207 531 2320 reservations-panpeninsula-spa@sixsenses.com www.sixsensesspas.com

China Dominican Republic Greece Jordan Maldives Mauritius Oman Portugal Qatar Spain Sri Lanka Thailand United Arab Emirates Turkey Vietnam aboard Christina O Under Development: Brazil Egypt France India Malaysia Morocco Panama

www.sixsenses.com

The ENgineers of communication Forward-looking technology. Extraordinary materials. Timeless design. Created by Porsche Design Studio.

porsche design Mobile phones

PD_Mobile_210x297_CanaryWharf_UK.indd 1

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contents 97

77 66

REGULARS 10 EDITOR’S LETTER 66

GADGETS

MOTORING

CULTURE

FOOD & DRINK

105 MOTLEY FOOL 106 life coaching 107 Competitions 110 citylife recommends 113 WHAT’S ON 121 PROPERTY

Editor issue 44 It might not seem like Spring is on the way, but being of eternally sunny disposition we cannot wait to enjoy everything that it heralds. So join Stephanie Baxter as she takes a forward glance at Easter travel in Holy Moly! (P 28 ) and with special occasions front of mind, we bring you Mamma Mia our guide to buying gifts for Mother’s Day (P 52). Even fashion designer Nicole Farhi gets in on the action with her buying tips in Meeting Nicole (P 98). She gives us the lowdown on her new menswear range - perfect threads for the dapper chap. So there’s no excuse not to look your best as the man about town. No wrist is complete without the perfect timepiece and, just in case you can’t make up your minds, perhaps the Montblanc Story will shed some light on this historic brand (P 33). Claire Adler catches up with designer extraordinaire Marc Newson as he talks fashion, jewellery and airlines (P 63) and how to juggle multiple projects. The skiing season gets off to a proper great start as Sarah Collinson finds different ways to enjoy the snow at the world’s most exciting resorts (P 22). Talking of seasons, the Formula 1 revvs its engines in March so we thought a chat with Petra Ecclestone regarding her fashion line, FORM was apt and timely(P 36). Happy reading and goodbye for now!

Lesley Ellwood

CANARY WHARF PRINCESS TAM TAM Pale pink and leopard print body £55, Princess Tam Tam at John Lewis, 020 7629 7711 Shagreen headboard £1400, Hyde House

Different fuel. Same spirit. The new Cayenne Diesel. From the beginning, the Porsche Cayenne has redefined the limits of performance. Now the Cayenne offers a new kind of performance; a 3.0 litre V6 turbo diesel engine which, despite its 240 hp and 550 Nm of torque, delivers more than 30 mpg. So the Cayenne’s range extends to around 621 miles on a single tank.

The Cayenne Diesel. From £495 per month to the limits you set. Cash Price

£39,859.00

Deposit

£11,071.08

Amount of Credit

£28,787.92

Total charges

£6,075.37

First Monthly Payment

£570.00

35 Monthly Payments

£495.00

Guaranteed Minimum Future Value

£16,968.29

Total Amount Payable

£45,934.37

Typical 8.9% APR For further information on the Porsche model range or to arrange a demonstration call your nearest Porsche Centre.

Porsche Centre East London

City Showroom

68-70 High Street, Stratford London E15 2NE Tel: 020 8519 9999 www.porsche.co.uk/eastlondon

20 Canada Square, Canary Wharf London E14 5NN Tel: 020 7718 5242 www.porsche.co.uk/eastlondon

Model featured is the Cayenne Diesel at £43,547.00 including metallic paint, 20" Cayenne SportDesign wheels, stainless steel skid plate (front), side running boards, 12 month road fund licence and first registration fee. Fuel consumption figures for the new Cayenne Diesel in mpg: Urban 24.4; Extra Urban 35.8; Combined 30.4. CO2 emissions (g/km) 244. The Guaranteed Minimum Future Value is the value of the vehicle at the time your contract ends. Advertised finance offer available on a Cayenne Diesel model with 12 month road fund licence and first registration fee through Porsche Financial Services on a Porsche Preferences Plan, at participating Porsche Centres. Image shown for illustrative purposes only. Terms and conditions apply. Other finance offers are available but cannot be used in conjunction with this offer. All finance subject to status to over 18’s only. Subject to availability. £75 acceptance fee is included with first payment and £25 option to purchase fee is included in Guaranteed Minimum Future Value. Contract is based on annual mileage of 10,000 miles. Excess mileage will be charged at 20p per mile. Porsche Financial Services, Bath Road, Calcot, Reading, Berkshire, RG31 7SE. Registered in England number: 3708834. Porsche Financial Services Great Britain is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

CITYLIFE MAGAZINES Editor: Lesley Ellwood Editorial Director: Kate Harrison Deputy Editor: Kasha Van Sant Editorial Assistants: Stephanie Baxter, Josephine O’Donoghue Art Editor: Carol Cordrey Motoring Editor: Matthew Carter Beauty Editor: Kate Hughes Fashion Editor: Lucie Dodds Finance Executive: Kätlin Maasik Sales Director: Eren Ellwood P.A. to Sales Director: Ella Kilgarriff Graphic Designers: James Britton, Hiren Chandarana, Mandeep Kalsi PR & Marketing Manager: Rebecca Walton Managing Director: Giles Ellwood P.A. to Managing Director: Charlotte Evans

020 7987 4320 020 7005 0045 cw@runwildmedia.com www.runwildmedia.com

RUNWILD M

16 Heron Quay, Canary Wharf, London E14 4JB RunWild Media Ltd. cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and RunWild Media Ltd. take no responsibility for omissions or errors. We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters. All rights reserved. Subscription: A free subscription service is available to employees at Canary Wharf offices. E-mail cws@runwildmedia.com for further details. For all other areas, 6 & 12 month subscriptions are available at £15 & £25 respectively, to cover postage and packaging. For details of subscriptions and advertising, please contact us on 020 7987 4320.

CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE: Claire Adler is a London based freelance journalist, specialising in jewellery, watches and luxury. Her work has appeared in the Financial Times, the Daily Mail, the Sunday Times, The Guardian, The Times, Spectator Business, Wallpaper*, Intelligent Life and House & Garden. She also writes for fashion news service WGSN, hotel magazine IN London and magazines published by Bentley, Harrods and Watches of Switzerland, amongst others.

Jamie Carter is a freelance journalist based in Cardiff. Specialising in gadgets and technology, Jamie has written for the likes of T3, Home Cinema Choice and The Guardian as well as a number of websites. He writes on flatscreen TVs for What Video and What Plasma magazines and away from technology is also a regular contributor to BBC History and Real Travel magazines.

Martin Bamford is one of the youngest and most successful financial planners in the UK. He runs his own firm of financial advisers – Informed Choice – and regularly contributes to various financial publications. His personal finance book The Money Tree, published in 2006, is a best seller.

Kate Hughes has an established reputation as one of the UK's leading celebrity hair and make-up artists. A regular guest beauty presenter on television, she has worked with a wide selection of actors, presenters, musicians and models. Kate's hair and make-up consultancy, 'It's All About You', transforms women for weddings, special occasions and red carpet events.

Dr. David Kuo is one of the UK’s leading financial experts, and is head of Personal Finance at Fool.co.uk, the country’s top website for independent financial comparison. As well as providing daily comment and financial news for BBC London, he presents Money Talk– Fool’s weekly podcasts which cover all aspects of personal finance.

Jazz up 2009

Docklands Bar & Grill is an evolutionary new local brasserie offering live jazz and a sumptuous Menu. Enjoy panoramic views of historic Royal Victoria Dock, the O2 and Canary Wharf, while brunching in style to the soothing sound of live jazz every Sunday.

Throughout 2009, a delicious menu will be available with both two and three course set menu options available. Sit back, relax and enjoy London cure smoked salmon, steamed mussels, and pear & blueberry crumble with custard, all washed down with a glass of Prosecco.

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feature

School of Rocks

Diamonds are forever...aren’t they? Investigating the depletion of natural gemstone resources Josephine O’Donoghue discovers that we are experiencing a global shortage

oloured stones tend to dip in and out of vogue; Jennifer Lopez and Nicole Ritchie gave them a boost with coloured diamond engagement rings (J-Lo’s pink rock was estimated to cost over £1million), Katie Holmes reinstated sapphire studs as the epitome of elegance at her wedding to Tom Cruise, and Britney Spears popularised the precious stones Tourmaline and black Chinese agate. Whilst the classic white diamond will never go out of fashion, it seems that coloured stones are growing in popularity and will remain in style for a lot longer than the short seasons of their past. “Movie stars and celebrities want coloured diamonds because no one else has them,” explains Carol Woolton, jewellery editor of British Vogue – so is value beginning to grow from rarity and exclusivity rather than carat weight? why so rare? Since 2005, the value of coloured diamonds has rocketed by 300%, taking their place as one of the most popular investments for the super-wealthy. World renowned jewellers such as Tiffany & Co. and Cartier responded to the change in demand with coloured diamond collections including Cartier’s Inde Mysterieuse collection where the smallest piece (a pair of yellow rose-cut diamond earrings) was valued at over £169,000. So why are coloured diamonds so rare – and consequently, so valuable? Roughly 0.001% of every 80,000 carats of rough diamonds mined is coloured. Resulting from naturally occurring chemicals and processes in formation, there are a range of possible shades.Yellow diamonds reflect the presence of nitrogen; blue is born from an excess of boron; pink

and red are created by manganese; and green diamonds are caused by exposure to naturally occurring radiation from elements such as uranium. “Each coloured diamond tells its own story,” reveals Alan Hart, minerals expert at the Natural History Museum, “thus giving us insight not only into its formation but also to the deep Earth processes that took place when the gem was formed”. These diamonds are more than just jewellery – they’re a piece of the earth’s natural history. The unique shades and tones found in coloured diamonds also make them extremely personal to the wearer; according to Melvyn Kirtley, Tiffany & Co.’s head gemmologist, “Coloured diamonds are so immensely rare, so remarkable, and although people are more aware of them today, they are still a bit of a secret, something intensely personal.You have to discover them for yourself, and, when you do, they open up another world.” So, whereas white diamonds have connotations with engagement and are very traditional, coloured diamonds give wearers the chance to exhibit elements of individuality and independence in their appearance. argyle pink diamonds Buying from a reputable dealer is essential when sourcing the perfect coloured diamonds, as the stones can also be coloured artificially. Calleija is the international award winning Australian Fine Jewellers, specialising in the rarest pink diamonds, naturally and ethically sourced from the Argyle Mine in Western Australia. According to geologists, naturally-formed Argyle Pink Diamonds have a remaining supply of just 10-12 years left, and with only one in every thirty million carats being the elusive pink colour, Calleija’s signature

pink diamond jewellery has become extremely coveted. “The rarity of an Argyle pink diamond elevates its value to twenty times that of its white equivalent and has led to a worldwide pink diamond demand, with discerning collectors prizing these rare gems as sound investment pieces,” says John Calleija, Owner and Chief Designer, “It is expected that the Argyle diamond mine will be exhausted within a decade or so, resulting in these magnificent treasures becoming even more valuable and sought after over time. Pink diamonds will never be commonplace. Their rarity, desirability and value are only set to rise.” other rare stones The newest collection from Calleija also features a rare selection of the very finest pink diamonds, ranging from a delicate blush colour to a deep purple pink – and rarest of all, the red diamond which is considered priceless by many. However, coloured diamonds aren’t the only super-exclusive rocks on offer to those in search of a unique and valuable rock. Tanzanite is one of the rarest minerals on the planet and is found in just one place; the Meralani Hills of northern Tanzania, in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro. Discovered just over 40 years ago, the rich blue tanzanite is exceptionally precious, and over 1,000 times rarer than diamonds. Expert geologists estimate that there are only 15 years of supply left, meaning that tanzanite is not only a great investment for future years, but also an important addition to any jewellery collection. Limited to a 5km strip of the area where it was first uncovered, the stone is certainly rare - an early

feature

These diamonds are more than just jewellery – they’re a piece of the earth’s natural history. advertising campaign proclaimed, “There are only two places in the world you can find tanzanite: Tanzania and Tiffany”. In the last five years tanzanite has steadily increased its presence in high-end jewellery boutiques; Theo Fennell’s tanzanite pieces start at £50,000 but Fennell himself is more concerned with the “imperial richness” of the stone, rather than its monetary value. Established in 2003, The Tanzanite Foundation promotes mining the stone

with ethical business practices. Successfully repairing the reputation of the stone (after sales profits were linked with Al-Qaeda at the turn of the century), they now ensure that methods of practise and conduct are standardised and invest in sustainable projects developed in harmony with the indigenous communities in Tanzania. Theo Fennell, Tiffany & Co., Boodles and The Ritz Fine Jewellery all work in association with The Tanzanite Foundation. Fennell goes on to explain that “One of the great mistakes and irrelevances of jewellery buying today is the idea that cost is everything; so things sadly get distinguished by price rather than beauty. This can lead to a cock-eyed system where not very rare stones

become super expensive – diamonds over tanzanite for example – or standard rubies become more important than a very bright tourmaline, which is far rarer.” So it seems, with the current supply of these lesser-known precious stones dwindling, serious investors, jewellery lovers and super-wealthy celebrities alike should move away from the conventional white diamond and look for something a little more exclusive. A mark of style and elegance, a tiny personal charm or a valuable possession – however you choose to wear your jewellery, a distinctively coloured stone provides the opportunity to be unique. After all, jewellery is not about carats; it’s about emotion, and the wonderful way it makes you feel. n

DIAMONDS

GEMSTONES

Engagement Rings

B B

•

Eternity Rings

F F

FINE JEWELLERY

•

Celebration Pieces

J J

We specialise in private commissions of fineINE jewellery. Using ESPOKE EWELLER Y the services of a designer and using your own ideas we can design the piece together, and ESPOKE INE EWELLERYa qualified gemmologist will select stones to suit your budget. Established in 1995 we are based in the City of London and operate on an appointment basis. Please call us to find out more.

WWW.HOFERANDCO.COM WWW .HOFERANDCO .COM +44 (0)20 7404 7899 LONDON EC1 7899 +44 (0)20 7404

LONDON EC1

taste of the

ORIENT

The Oriental Hotel Lobby

Travelling back in time, Josephine O’Donoghue travels from Singapore, through Malaysia and Thailand, in search of colonial glamour on the Eastern and Orient Express. In this, the last in a three part series, she arrives at the world-famous Oriental Hotel and shops ‘til she drops in the city’s famous markets

BANGKOK

nown as the other city that doesn’t sleep, Bangkok seems to have existed on a continual round cycle of noise and activity for as long as anyone can remember. A metropolis of shops, bars, street-vendors, temples, palaces, massage parlours, backpackers, and markets – Bangkok is truly a traveller’s paradise. As my Mum and I left Hualamphong Station and the Eastern & Oriental Express behind, I breathed in the familiar warm air and absorbed the sounds, excitement and atmosphere of this unique Asian city. Back in one of my favourite destinations, I sat with a happy grin on my face as our chauffeur-driven Mercedes sped past recognisable sights on the way to the Oriental Hotel. The Oriental Hotel is quite simply like none other. Our stay was so far from my previous experiences of Bangkok, it wasn’t long before I felt like a newcomer discovering the wonders of the Thai capital all over again. Positioned high above the Chao Phraya River on the 15th floor, our Superior River Wing room offered a stunning view of the sprawling city below. As night fell, the illuminated buildings across this urban expanse began to glitter, and boats covered in fairly-lights twinkled at us as they crossed back and forth across the water. The Superior River Wing room offers a comfortable hideaway in the centre of this

‘TIL YOU DROP

fe b/ m a r 09

The original front and entrance of the Oriental Hotel

The Oriental Spa

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The Bamboo Bar at the Oriental Hotel

busy city; genuine teak and traditional Thai silks decorate the space, and fresh flowers and fruits are replenished daily. A personal butler is on call 24 hours a day providing everything from a turning-down service and refreshments, to restaurant bookings and local tourism tips. Spending a little time in our room turned out to be the perfect environment in which to settle into the city; I ran a deep luxurious bubble bath in the huge marble tub and listened to the relaxing Mandarin Oriental spa CD through the hidden Bose speakers in the en-suite bathroom. With the lights down low and the aromatic fragrance of lotus flower and ginger in the air, this was an ideal tonic after several cramped showers on the Orient Express. Revived, and anxious to get out into the city during the evening I jumped into a cab with my Mum and we were soon deposited at the top of the Khao San Road. Now, for those of you who didn’t spend gap-years / university holidays / backpacking adventures passing through the Khao San Road, it’s not usually the kind of place you think of re-visiting with Mum. After a strange first hour of acclimatisation (including a stop at the Silk Bar for an authentic Singha beer) she soon relaxed, posing for photos and haggling for carved elephants and beaded jewellery alongside the rest of the backpacker community. Whilst not the most elegant area of Bangkok, it’s a great place to get used to haggling and the constant arrival of new backpackers keep souvenir prices at rock-bottom. We awoke early the next morning and spent some time exploring the hotel; renowned across the globe for an incredible literary history, the Oriental has hosted some of history’s greatest authors over the last 120 years. A favourite haunt for celebrated writers such as Joseph Conrad, Somerset

Maugham, James Michener, Graham Green and Nöel Coward, today the hotel honours their unique past with the Authors’ Lounge, Authors’ Residence and Oriental Reading Room. Ten of the hotel’s thirty-four suites in the Authors’ Residence have been named and decorated after the authors who have resided at the hotel over the decades, including a pink and feminine Barbara Cartland Suite and a rich blue Joseph Conrad Suite decorated with dark wood and raw Thai silks. Each Author’s Suite houses a complete collection of the named author’s work for guests to enjoy at their leisure. Afternoon Tea in the Authors’ Lounge is something of an institution at the Oriental Hotel and guests travel from far and wide to sip the Oriental blend and sample the delicious miniature scones. Colonial glamour in its essence, the fine china and soft music created a more languorous world in which every moment and every bite can be savoured. In order to achieve complete selfindulgence (a mission very important to us on this trip) a visit to the Oriental Spa is an absolute must. We made a bee-line for the newly built Ayurvedic Penthouse for a Keraleeya Abhyangam treatment which aims to balance all three levels of physical, mental and spiritual well-being, creating deep relaxation and a sense of grounding. Including a foot bath, head and shoulder massage, a full body massage and a body scrub, this treatment gives an overall feeling of harmony that remained with us throughout the day. A rather distinctive type of massage, this treatment used deep strokes, rhythm, speed and pressure to loosen ‘ama’ (toxins in the body) and leaves one feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Of course, it’s impossible to visit Bangkok and not get drawn into the hustle, bustle and excitement of the shopping scene. Whether

travel

Sala Rim Naam Restaurant

you’re looking for ‘authentic’ souvenirs, designer handbags, CDs, cosmetics or jewellery – Bangkok has it all. The large shopping malls Siam Paragon and Siam Discovery are perfect for high-end shopping; the six-story Siam Discovery Center was built in 1997 and runs on a ‘one floor, one concept’ basis, which groups similar stores on one floor. EGV’s Grand cinema (with personal waitress service) and Gold Class Theatre are also located on the sixth floor. For those shopping for traditional Asian souvenirs, furniture, textiles and handicrafts, head to the weekend market at Chatuchack where over 15,000 stalls cater thousands of locals and tourists who pile in every Saturday and Sunday. In this crowded Aladdin’s cave, visitors can find anything from hill-tribe crafts to live animals. Make sure to stop at the Vintage section of the market for retro Vivienne Westwood and Miu Miu, or unusual garments from Hong Kong, Korea and Tokyo. Time out from the shopping scene is an absolute must, and we found the perfect place to take a breather: The Jim Thompson House. Located opposite the National Stadium on Rama I Road, this is the home of a self-made American entrepreneur who was the founder of the world renowned Jim Thompson Thai Silk Company. A serene hideaway sheltered

The Authors’ Lounge

Of course, it’s impossible to visit Bangkok and not get drawn into the hustle, bustle and excitement of the shopping scene. Whether you’re looking for ‘authentic’ souvenirs, designer handbags, CDs, cosmetics or jewellery – Bangkok has it all. from noise by the waterways and trees, this traditional Thai house and outbuildings were re-constructed from all or parts of six separate old houses that were brought from various parts of the country to the present location. We took a guided tour around the house and famous art and antique collection before taking a leisurely stroll in the gardens and popping into the on-site restaurant for a spot of lunch. Whilst not quite as tranquil as the Jim Thompson House, the Grand Palace is a popular rite of passage for most, if not all, visitors to Bangkok. A majestic, glittering estate of palatial buildings, temples and courtyards it is simply breathtaking. The Grand Palace (พระบรมมหาราชวัง – or Phra Borom Maha RatchaWang if you really want to impress your friends) is a complex of royal and sacred buildings in the heart of Bangkok and can be accessed by road or river taxi. Serving as the official residence of the Kings of Thailand from the eighteenth century onwards, the estate also houses the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand: Wat Phra Kaew (The Temple of the Emerald Buddha). Do take care when leaving the Grand Palace and temples however; even though a tuk-tuk may seem a fun idea, most drivers based in this tourist area will refuse a straightforward journey and insist on creating a vastly over-priced tour

including tailors with whom they have a hefty commission. The most efficient way to travel in Bangkok is by river-taxi or metered taxi cabs (do not accept a price with a taxi driver on departure as this will always be two or three times the normal fare). Our final night in Bangkok, and the final night of our incredible journey in Asia was celebrated with a delicious meal at the Oriental Hotel’s Sala Rim Naam restaurant. The hotel’s signature Thai restaurant, this venue is so ornate is resembles a small but beautiful Thai palace. Serving fine Thai cuisine and wines, we were presented with a mouth-watering gourmet taster menu whilst enjoying the region’s most spectacular cultural performance and dance show. Bringing traditional Thai folklore to life through dramatic dance and vibrant costumes, it really was the perfect way to spend an evening getting to know the local culture. After an incredible ten days in three beautiful countries, it was sad to say goodbye to Asia – but having just scratched the surface of what this diverse continent has to offer, I’m sure it won’t be long before we’re back on a return visit. n For more information on the Oriental Hotel, visit www.mandarinoriental.com/bangkok or call +66 (2) 659 9000

CARE Challenges The City Leading overseas development agency CARE International is laying down the gauntlet for the City, in the shape of the CARE 24 Peaks Challenge on 27-28 June 2009. This is the ultimate UK Mountain Challenge: 24 Peaks in 24 hours! An opportunity to challenge yourself - and challenge poverty.

The Challenge

The Charity

The Challenge will take teams up 24 mountain peaks around the stunning Lake District, taking in infamous mountains such as Scafell Pike, Hellvellyn and Great Dodd along the way. A far cry from the office: throughout the challenge teams will be amid some of the most breathtaking scenery in the UK.

CARE works in around 70 countries helping 65 million of the world’s poorest people find a route out of poverty. CARE’s long-term programmes tackle the deep-seated causes of poverty and they are always among the first to respond with emergency relief when disaster strikes.

Afterwards, celebrations and awards will take place at a well-earned dinner and reception where teams can exchange walking boots for dancing shoes along with other teams from the City.

In emergency situations, CARE remains with communities to help them rebuild their lives long after the cameras have gone. Challenge participants can be sure their money is going where it’s needed most, as ninety one pence in every pound raised for CARE goes directly to fund their poverty fighting programmes.

The CARE 24 Peaks Challenge is undoubtedly demanding - an opportunity to test yourself and your colleagues; an opportunity to achieve the ultimate. With 14 years’ experience of organising and running outdoor fundraising events, the CARE Challenge Team will be there to support teams every step of the way, with training advice, fundraising support and an exceptional event.

“The 24 Peaks Challenge is possibly the most demanding event in the CARE Challenge Series, and we think City workers have the necessary determination and sense of competitive fun. It’s set to be a fantastic teambuilding and networking event and a great fundraiser for CARE, so we’re urging everyone in the City to challenge poverty and challenge themselves.” Michele Evans, CARE Challenge Manager

How to take part

For more information or to register...

Teams of 4-6 walkers will be given the task of climbing 24 Peaks in the Lake District in 24 hours and raising a minimum of £6,000 to support CARE’s work.

W > www.carechallenge.org.uk/24peaks

If you and your colleagues have what it takes, visit the CARE Challenge website, where you can register your team today!

thecity-advertorial.indd 1

T > 020 7934 9470 E > challenge@careinternational.org CARE International Reg Charity No. 292506

11/02/2009 14:33:07

CHALET STAY O Eagle Eye Restaurant

Sarah Collinson travels the globe in search of the Best Winter Skiing with a twist, and found some rather unusual ways to enjoy the snow

CHALET

La Clusaz

ow is officially the time of year to go skiing. Christmas is all about escaping the realities of a dreary British winter for sunny beaches, and New Year wouldn’t be New Year without a sleepless two day trip to a chic European capital…but now the snow is at its best and we are all heading in droves for our annual trip to the mountains of Europe and North America. The routine rarely differs. Days will be spent on groomed slopes and in mountain restaurants (definitely where I will be found at the slightest hint of snowfall), and evenings will revolve around great food and even better wine. You will re-discover a childhood love of hot chocolate, someone will invariably forget their ski pass and everyone will go home with that two-tone goggle suntan that shouts “Yes, I’ve been skiing…aren’t you jealous?!” These trips are fantastic, but they are in danger of becoming a bit repetitive, especially if you go on several skiing holidays a year.You can vary the resort and time of year (minus 20 degrees in the Rockies

in January is a very different experience to sunny late-March in the Alps) but the basic holiday model stays the same. If it has reached the stage where you can’t differentiate one holiday from the next, and you’re not sure if that great day when you got down a black run unscathed was in Val d’Isere or Courcheval, it’s probably time to step out of the traditional mould and make your trip a little bit different. Thankfully there are numerous different activities that will keep you on the snow but will bring a bit of variety into the standard skiing timetable. None of them require any prior experience and work particularly well as a mid-week break (especially if your thighs are struggling with the relentless exercise by day 3). Snowshoeing is easily dismissed as a boring option, but it’s a fantastic way to travel through the winter landscape and experience the mountain tranquillity that is destroyed on crowded pistes.You can make tracks through unbroken snow on any terrain and get access to areas and wildlife rarely seen on the standard ski-paths. For

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Y OR

T GO? Massif des Aravis

You will re-discover a childhood love of hot chocolate, someone will invariablY forget their ski pass and invariablY ever one will go home with that everY two-tone goggle suntan... a gentle introduction to the sport follow a short route to an isolated lunch spot and eat in a location only accessible by snow shoe or telemark. The French area of Massif de Aravis boasts Ve La Marie a Nore – a hidden chalet restaurant that is a 30 minute snow shoe from civilisation. Enjoy a peaceful hour long trek interspersed with a fantastic Savoyard fondue, leaving enough time for a couple of runs (or time in the sauna) later in the day. A slightly more exhilarating option is ski jouring – the unusual but surprisingly fun Finnish Olympic sport where you are pulled on skis behind a horse.You control the speed and direction via reins and can get up to some impressive speeds even through deep snow. It has become popular in France over the past 20 years and is a great option for the late afternoon. The village resort of Le Grand Bornand offers a fantastic beginners’ service where riders are taught the actions and commands and are met at various points with steaming Vin Chaude or hot chocolate. One word of warning…being pulled behind a horse is surprisingly un-energetic so

remember to wear lots of clothes (or drink more vin chaude) to avoid getting cold! Along the same line is dog sledging – an iconic Canadian activity where a pack of blue-eyed huskies pull a sledge among snow-capped fir trees.You can cosy-up in the sledge with layers of furs or, for the more enthusiastic among you, stand on the back with the driver shouting traditional commands and directing the reins. Banff National Park in The Rockies offers some of the best routes and you can pass through dense forest (with a high potential of encountering elk on the way) and cross vast frozen lakes. Again the realities of the wilderness are thankfully kept at bay with the attentive dog sledge team who will provide hot apple cider and snacks, with the ride culminating by a roaring camp fire. I know there are some among you that will blanch at these options – you can’t think of anything worse than sacrificing precious skiing time to be pulled along by animals or walk on shoes resembling tennis rackets. There are, however, a few options that mean you can step out of the confines of the usual

piste-lift rigmarole while staying on your skis. The easiest option is of course simple off piste. This is unfortunately already a popular alternative for more competent skiers, so take it beyond the usual accessible routes and hire a guide to tackle infamous runs like the Vallee Blanche in the Chamonix Valley – a route only accessible via an exposed icy path with a 2,000 ft drop to the valley floor. Alternatively take a ski-skidoo tour where a team of guides and drivers will pull your party to untracked snow only accessible to a select few. However the definitive experience of the off-piste world has to be heli-skiing. An activity that should only be attempted by the most competent skiers, it is the absolute height of bespoke luxury, as a personal helicopter takes your party to various deserted mountain tops and collects you at the bottom to fly you to the next powder paradise. Kicking Horse in British Columbia is a particularly good location. The relatively undeveloped resort offers 2000km of potential heli-skiing slopes and the Swiss-

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Le Village de Lessy

Kicking Horse Mountain Resort

groomed between 5 and 9pm) and then head back up the lift to eat melted reblochon and charcuterie in Restaurant Chalet des Praz and drink vin chaude under the stars. Europe For more information on the Massif de Aravis, Le Grand Bornand, La Clusaz, Manigod and St Jean de Sixt resorts, visit www.aravis.com For more information on Vallee Blanche, visit www.chamonix.com

Sarah travelled with Swiss Airline from City Airport. The airport offers a fifteen minute check-in time, making it the ideal choice for time-pressed travellers. SWISS flies to Geneva from London City Airport 23 times per day from only £69 return. The group stayed at the newly opened Village de Lessy which comprises 139 apartments set within ten traditionallystyled chalets. The apartments face the slopes and owners have only a short descent before walking to the shops, ski hire shop, restaurants and ski lifts. To book visit www. cgh-residences.com or call +33(0)4 50 33 10 96 Full Moon Skiing takes place at La Clusaz and accommodation is available at Hotel Beauregard. To book visit www.hotelbeauregard.fr or call +33(0)4 50 32 68 00

mountain guide headed company, Purcell Heli-skiing, offers an unrivalled service (they took our party up for a second day free of charge when the weather on day one was not up to scratch). Stay in the Vagabond Lodge – a beautiful rustic lodge with roaring fires and an outdoor hot tub – and round off your day at The Eagle Eye, the highest restaurant in The Rockies that brings evening diners up the mountain via gondola (fitted with blankets and candles) for a five course gourmet meal finished off with Canadian Ice Wine. For another twist on the traditional try Full Moon Skiing at French resort La Clusaz. It only happens a few times a year (to coincide with the full moon and perfect weather conditions) but getting the timing right is worth it. When the moon is full the resort lifts all re-open from 9pm until 1am and skiers of all ages venture up the mountain to ski by moonlight. The only other lights come from the mountain bars and restaurants that open late with select menus, buzzing atmospheres and dancing on the piste.Your first moonlit run will be slightly hair-raising, but once your eyes adjust it is a truly fantastic experience and the moonlight makes the snow almost glow beneath your skis. Get there early to enjoy the pistes at their best (the slopes are

Le Village de Lessy pool

Kicking Horse Mountain Resort

North America More information on the Banff National Park can be found at www.banffnationalpark.com Visit www.kickinghorseresort.com for details on the Kicking Horse resort in British Columbia and the Eagle Eye Restaurant For more information on Purcell Heli-Skiing, visit www.purcellhelicopterskiing.com For more information on the Vagabond Lodge, visit www.vagabondlodge.ca

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Charming Chamonix In the next part of our Best Winter Skiing, Sarah Collinson discovers the ultimate skiing destination that ticks every box

Chalet Amazon Creek, Les Bossons

lanning a skiing trip is always a bit of a decision minefield, with so many choices to be made to ensure the perfect break – Europe or North America, somewhere you’ve been every year since you were five or somewhere entirely new, bigger choice of slopes or bigger choice of après-ski? It seems there is never a way that you are going to tick every box.You can only have challenging slopes or ‘family skiing’, gourmet restaurants or heady nightlife, but never both. When it comes to skiing, it would appear that you are never going to be able to have your cake and eat it. So how are you supposed to please everyone in your party or provide enough variation to keep the holiday interesting? There are, thankfully, some resorts that really do have it all. Chamonix, for example, comes in at the top of that list. Nestling at the base of the majestic Mont Blanc the resort is a mere morning’s travel from London, making it suitable for young family

members or business professionals with only a weekend to spare. There are three exceptional skiing areas (Balme, Le Grand Montets and Vallee Blanche) meaning that, in this case, ‘varied skiing’ really is what it says on the tin. The après-ski is every bit as diverse as Chamonix’s slopes, with options to suit every preference from relentless partying in lively pubs, to chilled evening drinks in relaxing wine bars. The gourmet culture, however, is something that will appeal to everyone. In Chamonix, good food is as much a part of skiing as the snow, and even the mountain restaurants, such as the precariously perched Panoramic, offer dishes worthy of a top city eaterie. The tartiflette always goes down a treat and the pierre chaude, a hot stone brought to your table to cook meats, is a fun dining option for groups. If you need a break from the Savoyard trends, however, (after four days, another meal whose main ingredient is cheese might get too much) there are

Photography: Sarel Jansen www.sareljansen.com

numerous other culinary options from oriental to Mexican fare. Fine wines abound on every menu but for the best cocktails head to the Clubhouse, an opulent private members bar set in an Art Deco mansion. The town centre also boasts live music venues, night-clubs and even a casino, meaning that your evenings will be anything but dull. When looking for a place to stay you can easily find rooms in the busy central resort. Alternatively, choose a more luxurious option with one of the beautiful Amazon Creek chalets. Amazon Creek is a luxury travel company offering bespoke holidays. Their fully-staffed flagship property, Chalet Amazon Creek, is nestled among beautiful woodlands and offers gourmet meals, a cinema room, a spa with a hammam, sauna and sunken Jacuzzi, and beautiful living space for up to ten people. Wake up to tea or coffee served in your bedroom before enjoying a delicious breakfast and breathtaking views of the

Aiguille du Midi. A driver will take your party to the slopes in one of the private Land Rovers, and after a full day’s skiing, you can settle down with a glass of wine from the superbly stocked wine cellar or revive aching ski legs with an in-chalet massage back at the chalets. Amazon Creek also offer guests airport transfers, together with a bespoke ski-programme for the ultimate hassle-free holiday. Chalet Baby Bear, just a stone’s throw from Amazon Creek, is similarly luxurious with fresh pastries and bread being delivered to your door each morning. It sleeps up to four, making it the perfect option for a romantic break or family holiday. The chalet also boasts a superbly equipped modern kitchen. Its two double bedrooms combine a traditional chalet feel with luxurious design and finish. The two chalets can be rented

together meaning that the needs of even a large group can be catered for. For self catering parties, Chalet Anchorage is the perfect option for relaxed groups of friends and family. It sleeps up to ten guests and offers fantastic views of the Aiguille du Midi (the starting point for the Vallee Blanche) and impressive roaring fires. Amazon Creek are extending their portfolio of properties this summer with two contemporary beachfront villas in Sete, the first of their two 77ft sailing yachts ready for the Mediterranean and Caribbean waters in Winter 2009 and further stunning properties in Corsica and Antigua for 2010. n For more information on Chamonix, visit www.chamonix.com and for further details on the Amazon Creek Chalets, visit www.amazoncreek.co.uk

stay WIN! Aforweekend 4 people

Amazon Creek are offering you the opportunity to win a long weekend stay for up to four people in Chalet Baby Bear in April. This package includes airport transfers, champagne reception, breakfast and chauffeur driven in-resort vehicle.

To enter, please email your name and address to:

babybear@runwildgroup.com Competition closing date 31/03/09. All runners up will be eligible for a special reader offer rate, if you do not wish to be contacted with this please indicate in your email, your details will not be used or stored for any other purpose

Holy Moly! Easter is a great time to travel, either in the form of a sneaky break over the four-day weekend or an extended holiday. Stephanie Baxter has the perfect selection of seasonallyappropriate destinations to get you in the Easter mood Brussels, Belgium Easter is, without a doubt, the opportune time for gorging on chocolate, especially if you’re one of those über self-controlled people who’ve decided to give it up for Lent. It is a well-known fact that Belgium produces some of the best chocolate in the world, so what better place to enjoy your Easter eggs than in Brussels, home to Belgium’s leading chocolatier, Neuhaus? The original shop, opened in 1857, is still there today in the Galerie de la Reine and is a perfect place to stock up on all sorts of Easter goodies. It’s even worth visiting just for a peek at their window displays. But be warned – they are likely to turn sworn chocolate haters (if there is such a thing) into raging chocoholics. If you can tear yourself away from the consumption of said chocolate, Brussels boasts some of the biggest Easter Egg

hunts known to man. At Bruparck, for example, you can join in the search for some 20,000 eggs. For a bit of culture and something a bit more “grown-up”, try one of the many Easter services at the Basilique National du Sacre-Cœur, the fifth biggest church in the world. The architecture is truly stunning, and the panoramic view (from the walking area towards the top of the cathedral) exquisite. The cathedral is also home to an exhibition on the history of the basilica and a museum of religious art, which boasts an extensive collection of marbles, bronzes and stainedglass windows, as well as 250 paintings and sculptures from the contemporary art collection of the Bruges diocese. Travelling on the Eurostar, you could be in the city in just under two hours, making Brussels the perfect destination for an Easter weekend getaway (www.eurostar.com).

Seville, Spain The Spanish are known for their vibrant displays and processions connected to religious events, and this is never more apparent than during Holy Week, the seven days leading up to Easter Sunday, and therefore signifying the last week of the life of Christ. Seville, in particular, embraces this in the form of a week of real celebration of what Easter means to its Christians. The Traveller (www.the-traveller.co.uk), the UK’s leading specialist in archaeological, historical and cultural tours, is offering a nine-day trip to Seville during Holy Week, packed full of fascinating visits and activities for the keenest of culture vultures. Being led by Dr Warwick Orr, author and lecturer in Spanish, Catalan, analysis and logic at the Anglo-American Institute in Barcelona, you will experience the very best that Seville has to offer during Holy Week, including the

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Clockwise from bottom left: Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See (Seville), Old city of David (Jerusalem), Neuhaus Galerie de la Reine(Brussels), Holy Week Procession (Seville), Grote Markt (Brussels), Royal Alcazar gardens (Seville), King David Hotel (Jerusalem), Plaza de Espana (Seville)

processions of ‘La Estrella’ (‘The Star’), ‘La Expiración’ (‘The Expiration of Jesus Christ’), ‘La Santa Cruz’ (‘The Holy Cross’), Jesús del Gran Poder’ (‘Jesus of Great Night’), ‘El Santo Entierro’ (‘The Holy Burial’) and ‘El Resucitado’ (‘The Resurrected Christ’). The tour will also give you the chance to explore some of Seville’s most architecturally impressive sights, such as the palace of the Countess of Lebrija, which boasts the most extensive collection of Roman mosaics in Europe, and the Cathedral of Seville, the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, as well as giving you a flavour of much more of the sights, sounds and tastes of Seville. Jerusalem, Israel There is one location in particular that is the most appropriate and relevant place to be at Easter time. Jerusalem provides the dramatic backdrop for the entire Easter

Story, from Jesus’ triumphant entry into the city on Palm Sunday, right the way through to his resurrection on Easter Sunday. I have never been to Jerusalem, and was therefore ignorantly unsure as to how many, if any; places within the Easter Story are known as exact locations in modern Jerusalem. Knowing my vicar to be somewhat of an expert on the subject, I emailed him to find out. The information he provided me with was astonishing. Whilst we cannot be 100% sure of the crucifixion site (although there seems to be only one credible location, on which now stands the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, containing both the place of crucifixion and the place of burial), many of the places where Jesus spent the last week of his life have been accurately located and, better still, can be visited. The Mount of Olives, particularly, is a key site, since it is unlikely to have changed

location geographically (as my vicar told me, “Mountains don’t usually move!”) and has numerous connections with Jesus’ whereabouts in the final week, including his entry into Jerusalem, the various teachings during the Passover week, and his betrayal and arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane at the foot of the Mount of Olives.You can also trace the route to his trial across the Kidron Valley to the High Priest’s house, the steps leading to which are still there and can be climbed even today. This makes Jerusalem a destination of historical interest, as well as religious fervour, best experienced at Easter. The famous King David Hotel (part of The Leading Hotels of the World at www.lhw. com), located in the heart of the city and overlooking its ancient walls, is an ideal base from which to explore the sights of Jerusalem, and is popular with tourists and VIPs alike from all over the world. n

Luxury investments The rarefied world of luxury likes to believe it’s immune from the credit crunch. And it seems that, while most of the Western world tightens their purse strings, some of the most privileged people in the world are combining investment with pleasure, says Claire Adler

any of the finest luxury brands in the world are understandably reluctant to comment about whether now is a good time to invest in baubles. When probed about whether they had noticed a trend for wealthy customers to view jewellery as an attractive form of investment – as an alternative to say, property and equities – Chanel, Cartier and Leviev all declined to comment. Christies’ head of jewellery Francois Curiel recently advised leaving investing in jewellery to professionals only. Yet dazzling sales of top end jewellery in Paris recently suggested that some people are putting their financial faith in precious jewels. The Biennale des Antiquaires is the most prestigious fine art and antiques fair in the world. Held in Paris every second year,

it features the most spectacular jewels from the haute joaillerie houses. Much of the jewellery at the recent show incorporated extremely rare and valuable gemstones, particularly at Harry Winston and Cartier. Harry Winston alone had transported approximately 60 pieces totalling over $80m to the exhibition, including a 47.41 colour change sapphire necklace from its Incredibles collection. Meanwhile, Cartier interspersed world class jewellery with Cartier Tradition – or historical – pieces. All jewellers reported strong sales at the show. But when a Harry Winston necklace and bracelet totalling £996,900 were rumoured to have been snapped up by one buyer at the show’s preview the night before the opening, there was speculation that this was part of a growing trend towards buying

feature purchase was an investment. The diamond cluster bracelet, bearing 200 diamonds set in a complex three-dimensional setting, won the Best Jewellery Design of 2007 award in Wallpaper* magazine. The highlight of the colour changing sapphire necklace, which sold for £568,100, was the Sri Lankan sapphire pendant, which changes its appearance from blue in daylight to purple in incandescent light. Elsewhere, purveyors of luxury at the highest levels do seem to be definitively focusing on the very top end of the market. Rather than making attempts to project an image of immunity to economic downturn, brands now appear to be appealing to a wider audience at the highest levels to protect themselves from it. Till recently, Cartier used to bring out high end jewellery every two years. Now it’s every year. Tiffany, Leviev, Boucheron, Chanel, Dior and Harry Winston are channelling huge resources into frequently transporting one-off jewels to bring them to a wider audience the world over. Tiffany has also been focusing on its wealthy core customers by separating stores into massaffluent and fine jewellery. Meanwhile, despite redundancies at its London headquarters and workshop, king of diamonds Laurence Graff recently delivered a $75 million necklace to New York for the opening of his enlarged Manhattan flagship store. It is the only necklace made from the Lesotho Promise, an enormous diamond the 15th largest ever found - which has been cut into 26 different gems, including this 76 carat pendant drop. “In a downturn, people continue to buy jewels: it’s a safe place to put your money,” Graff told the Financial Times recently. “You put your money in the stock market and suddenly it can be gone, but if you put it into treasure, historically, that’s the safest place to store your wealth. I always advise people when you’re up, buy jewels – women in particular, because a piece of jewellery is hers: of all the goods that you can invest in, a house is shared property, as is art, but a ring or a necklace is a different story.” Another Bond Street boss who believes now is a good time to invest in jewellery is Alisa Moussaieff. A woman whose mere window display was recently estimated by one jewellery industry insider to be worth in the region of £50 million, Moussaieff remains reserved but upbeat. “The mood in the current market is lousy,” she said, in the run-up to Christmas at an instore reception welcoming the new face of her brand, model Tamara Ecclestone. “Prices have dropped to more sensible values; people

Opposite: Padparadscha necklace, by Harry Winston Below: Blue rough stone,

Emerald, opal bead and diamond platinum bracelet and Chimera brooch, by Cartier

are down to earth and showing interest. There is a demand for unique and beautiful products as a classic, long lasting and tangible asset. In today’s uncertainty, people are looking to diversify their portfolio.” Such is Moussaieff’s confidence, that in early November the company announced it had purchased a rare 39.19 carat rough blue diamond, calling it “one of the most important to come to the market in the last 15 years”. During the last 12 months, Moussaieff also purchased a unique 6.04 carat emerald cut Vivid Blue diamond which joins another spectacular stone owned by the company - the world’s largest certified red diamond, the 5.11 carat Moussaieff Red. Thanks to the increasing scarcity of polished coloured diamonds on the open market, Moussaieff believes that rare coloured rough diamonds will continue to appreciate in value and that the market for them is liquid.

Diamond and color change sapphire drop necklace

When it comes to the question of long term investment, Alisa Moussaieff, whose family has been in the business for 120 years spanning three generations, is unequivocal. “We have seen a drop recently in the diamond wholesale list and we may see further depreciation. At the moment inflation has come down but from past experience, it will raise its ugly head again. Nobody can predict when prices will reach rock bottom. But diamonds are not a short term trade; they are long term investment pieces that maintain their value.” The good news is that many believe now is the moment for some old-fashioned, gentlemanly haggling. Luxury Institute CEO Milton Pedraza advocates negotiating diligently. “For the most expensive pieces, it is good to have an objective advisor to guide you. The piece should satisfy both the consumer and investor in you,” he says. n

watches

WATCH THIS SPACE Josephine O’Donoghue finds out more about the luxury online marketplace showcasing the most sought-after and rare watches available today; GlobalWatchMarket.com

s the ultimate status symbol, particularly for men, the right wristwatch is absolutely crucial – an adventurous Rolex Submariner, a luxurious Breitling Emergency or a classic Patek Philippe – your watch speaks volumes about your character. For the discerning buyer, a selection of some of the most coveted watches in the world can be found on the Global Watch Market website; Rolex Daytonas with stainless steel straps, the Patek Philippe Nautilus, a range of watches by Richard Mille, and beautiful timepieces by Tag Heuer have been amongst the most popular in the last year. At Global Watch Market, buyers, sellers and horology enthusiasts share a passion for luxury timepieces; after years interacting with watch vendors, private sellers and watch purchasers, creators of the site understood a growing need for seamless interaction between all parties. Based on this vision, watch expert Erran David created Global Watch Market in order to enable those who are passionate about high-end watches to find timepieces they will enjoy and appreciate for many years to come. Through the creation of the online forum, the Global Watch Market allows buyers and sellers an opportunity to connect with each other, with no additional costs or ‘middle-men’. Perhaps surprisingly, the Global Watch Market does not sell watches; rather, the company’s simple mission is to bring buyers and sellers together in

one place where safe and secure transactions can take place. The site works by charging sellers a monthly fee (the size of which depends upon the amount of watches listed) and there is no charge for buyers to use the site. Private sellers may list one watch at a time for no charge. Users on the Global Watch Market can purchase securely via PayPal, contact the seller to arrange payment or visit the seller’s own website and pay through another site. Buyers and sellers will be reassured to know that the Global Watch Market does not tolerate the sale of fake watches and the website works hard to promote a safe environment for online watch sales. A huge success in the short time since its launch, the site has been online since mid-2008. From a humble beginning with just a few hundred watches on offer, today the site has almost 30,000 watches listed from sellers around the world. This is estimated to double by the end of 2009. The site is managed by a dedicated and multilingual team who are always on hand to help both buyers and sellers with a high level of expertise in the field. The website features a ‘Live Help’ tool where users can enter into a live chat conversation with one of the team. So, for those in search of a particularly rare timepiece, a special gift for a loved one, or just a bit of friendly expert advice, the Global Watch Market is the first-stop for the serious watch buyer. n For more information, visit www.globalwatchmarket.com

watches

TALE AS OLD AS TIME Stephanie Baxter takes a look at Montblanc’s newest arrivals

ith sales of luxury pens and watches reported to be plummeting, and with supposed falls in sales of 12% in the last quarter for Richemont, the luxury goods group – whose brands include Montblanc, among others – would appear to be under a certain amount of strain. Yet if Montblanc’s newest pieces are anything to go by, it seems that they’re not going to let a recession stand in the way of continuing to deliver watches that are, quite frankly, par excellence.

Montblanc Star Eternal Lady Diamonds Automatic

History The company was founded in 1906 through the meeting of minds of Hamburg stationer Claus-Johannes Voss, engineer August Eberstein and salesman Alfred Nehemias. Eberstein, Nehemias and Voss understood that the newly-invented but still primitive fountain pen could be used anywhere without the use of the inkwell – unlike the fountain pens of the day – and, as such, they created the first fountain pens with their own ink container. Having established their own factory in Hamburg for the sole purpose of the production of their new invention, the first pens were launched in 1909, just three years after the idea’s first conception, under the name ‘Rouge et Noir’. Having been inspired by Stendhal’s famous novel of the same name, the first pen was made of black ebonite with a red cap and it sold extremely well. The new-andimproved ‘Montblanc’ fountain pen that hit the market a year later was even more successful, bearing what is now the hallmark emblem of the Montblanc white star on its cap. Today, the white star can be seen in the form of a uniquely cut diamond that graces the caps of the pens in the ‘Etoile de Montblanc’ range, as well as on the watch-faces of some of Montblanc’s most stylish pieces. The success of the first pens meant that Montblanc soon began to enjoy recognition around the world, with outlets being opened in Paris, London and Barcelona after the success of the Berlin, Leipzig, Berslau, Hanover and Bremen branches, and new products were added to the range including ink, writing paper and mechanical pencils, all bearing the trademark white star symbol. It was the ‘Meisterstück’ fountain pen, however, that cemented Montblanc’s legendary status. With the number 4810 engraved to the nib, a nod towards the height of the eponymous mountain in the Savoy Alps, the pen came with a lifetime guarantee, reflecting the confidence of the company’s quality. It was this model that earned Montblanc the honour of being immortalised in the New York Museum of Modern Art, where the ‘Meisterstück’ was placed on permanent exhibition.

Montblanc Star Nicolas Rieussec Monopusher Chronograph Open Date

From the production of the very first pens, therefore, the company has grown and expanded into a tour de force of the luxury goods industry, promoting the lasting values of quality and traditional craftsmanship.The latter of these values is never so apparent than in Montblanc’s recent acquisition of Swiss watch company Villaret, producers of exclusive handmade watches that use uniquely traditional techniques to create just 250 watches a year. Here are some of our favourite pieces. Montblanc Sport Chronograph Automatic As the name might suggest, this is a watch that is ideal for sports. Driven by a mechanical movement with an integrated chronograph function, it is one of the most reliable watches to be found; after all, in sport, accurate timing is crucial. It is also able to store energy, and has a guaranteed power reserve of 48 hours when worn regularly.

Montblanc Sport Chronograph Automatic

Durability is a necessity when it comes to sports watches, and the Sport Chronograph Automatic does not disappoint in this field. It has a tough stainless steel case and black DLC (“Diamond-Like Carbon”) coating, the latter of which is often used in motorsport to give high resistance to valves, piston pins and camshafts against mechanical stresses and corrosion. There are even protusions on the side of the case to give maximum protection to the crown against any impact or knocks. Furthermore, the watch face is made from scratch-resistant, convex sapphire glass to ensure that it keeps looking its best. The Sport Chronograph Automatic is a particularly good choice for skiers, since not only is it water-resistant, the glass on the face has an antireflective coating on both sides, which makes for easy time-telling in even the brightest conditions on the slopes. As well as being a high performer, the watch looks great, with its black case, bezel, dial and alligator leather strap; it screams serious sportsman. Montblanc Star Nicholas Rieussec Monopusher Chronograph Open Date Montblanc themselves declare this new piece to be somewhat of a “genuine rarity”; the design, certainly, is unique, with its 18 carat red gold case made with traditional cold-forging methods, brown alligator leather strap with a double clasp in red gold, and crown embellished with inlaid mother-ofpearl Montblanc emblem. What’s even more unique is the stainless steel and platinum limited edition version, of which there are only 25. Both versions, however, benefit from the same internal mechanisms, which follow this theme of inimitability. The stopwatch function, for example, unlike conventional chronographs, does not involve hands revolving round the main dial, counters and subdials, but features two small calibrated discs from which the elapsed seconds and minutes can be read off with the help of fixed hands. This is sophisticated watch-making at its best.

Montblanc Star Eternal Lady Diamonds Automatic Everybody knows that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, so the new Star Eternal Lady Diamonds Automatic is the obvious choice for any sparkle-loving female. The watch has a white gold case that is set with no less than 275 Top Wesselton brilliants, and the bezel is adorned with a further 42 diamonds. The mother-of-pearl dial is also decorated with an abundance of them; it is encircled by a rim of 80 diamonds and features a wisp-like cascade consisting of 218 diamonds that gently descend in a contour in the shape of the Montblanc emblem. The Star Eternal Lady Diamonds Automatic is finished with a beautiful white satin strap and 18 carat white gold pin buckle. Whilst this watch may represent a nod towards cutting-edge fashion, it does not compromise on the traditions of the time-honoured method of Swiss watchmaking; it sports a large second hand and an automatic mechanical movement, and the regular oscillations of the balance and the finely-decorated rotor can even be viewed through the transparent sapphire glass back. n www.montblanc.com

CY CMY

Right on Form Kasha Van Sant discovers that there is more to Bernie Ecclestone’s daughter than meets the eye

nless you’ve been living under a rock for the last few years, you won’t be aware that Petra Ecclestone comes with an envious pedigree. With a Formula 1 mogul father and former model mother, she didn’t look out of place in the sumptuous surroundings of the Lanesborough Hotel where we were scheduled to meet. I wasn’t sure what or who to expect, but as

I never judge a book by its cover despite the aesthetic appeal of its jacket, I was sure Bernie’s girl would cement herself firmly as a success in her own right. She’s young and beautiful, so copious paparazzi shots on the social scene weren’t about to throw me. I was much more interested in her clothing label FORM. I had heard ramblings about a collaboration with

interview

I think that because people see me as a 20year-old and a daddy’s girl, they don’t take me seriously. So that’s hard to break through Savile Row tailor Edward Sexton. “It’s not really a collaboration, he just kind of does the pattern cutting, somebody else will do the designs and then he just turns it into a 3d creation.” I stand corrected, so how did this come about? “He has made all the suits for my dad for the past 30 or 40 years, so I’ve known him since I was born, so I thought Edward was the right guy to do the job.” Petra elaborates that being a family friend allows her to be honest with Edward and that his advice is just that, he doesn’t give direction. “We’ve got quite different tastes that we incorporate. Obviously I’m quite modern and funky, so we use the both to work together so it’s quite old-fashioned with a modern twist.” I assume that this is the crux of the male orientated FORM brand? “Exactly. Everything’s crafted to the best standard so that it’s really luxury. That’s the kind of market that we’re going for.” And the inspiration? “The heritage of Formula 1. So if you look at the detail of the silhouette, the shoulder pads and the streamline of the jackets, that’s the basic look. The sort of Ayrton Senna look, really old, retro racing drivers, and then making the pieces look

modern.” Having billed and cooed at the collection - she has it right on cue. But logistically, this must be a challenge, sourcing materials etc? “It’s hard because you’re working two years ahead and you have to think about the trends and what’s going to be in fashion. So you source as many materials and fabrics as possible and then lay them down to see that they have a different feel and look.” Having just turned 20, this is admirable stuff, nepotism aside! Childhood dreams meant following her mother’s footsteps into the modelling world, this she did for a few years.

“I also wanted something that I could see future-wise for the next ten years, like “this is what I want to do and this is what I’m passionate about”, so I kind of knew that I wanted to do something creative, and build my own brand.” Petra had her first real taste of fashion from her A level studies after studying Fashion, Art and Photography, not to mention creating things from an early age. So how does it feel to be doing what she wanted? “I’ve always wanted to be in control and I’ve always had an image of what I’ve wanted to do so when I finished school, I was

playing around with either womenswear or menswear. I chose menswear, and that’s the start of that, about 2 years ago.” So what’s a typical day? “I start brainstorming and I start picking stuff out of magazines and old archives that I go to at my dad’s office at Formula 1; I start by looking at really old pictures. When I go on holiday I take loads of pictures; anything can inspire me, like colour palettes from holidays, or what I see on the streets, or music. Anything really.” Does creative block rear its head? “It’s hard with menswear because you can’t experiment as much as with womenswear, so it’s like, “What can I do? What can I reinvent?” “ With a team of five in their twenties and thirties, I wondered about the youthful Ecclestone’s leadership style. Strict perhaps? “I can be, but I like them to come to me if they’ve got questions, to feel easy and let them tell me anything. But if they’ve done something wrong, I think I should let them know about it.” And the challenges about her role? “I think that because people see me as a 20-year-old and a daddy’s girl, they don’t take me seriously. So that’s hard to break through.” This brings me rapidly on to comparisons to a certain Ms Hilton. “I think she’s cleverer than people give her credit for. And what she’s done is incredible. She’s built a name and a brand for herself, and I give all my respect to her, and I think she’s done an amazing job, but what we’re doing is completely different.” In conclusion Petra has wisely absorbed her father’s advice about how “not to trust people and to know that you can’t really have friends in business,” so she has carved out a niche which she is more modest about than she should be. In typical style she adds, “We’re the 3rd best-selling in our department, actually,” after Armani and Dolce & Gabbana that’s impressive. Apart from retailing in Harrods, a Berlin location is on the cards. It all goes to show that Petra’s down to earth manner is the by-product of an old head on young shoulders! n www.formclothing.co.uk www.lanesborough.com

lifestyle

THE HIRSH STORY We get to know the history of Hirsh and take a look at the 2009 cufflink collection

irsh is well-renowned for its beautiful jewellery, not merely because of its quality, but also because of its individuality. As well as carefully sourcing the finest gemstones from all over the world, each piece of jewellery is uniquely created by their expert design team who are constantly creating innovative designs for over 1500 individual pieces every year. The result is that each client can possess a unique piece of jewellery that will last for generations. It has been almost 30 years since the company was established by Anthony Hirsh in 1980. The first store was opened in Hatton Garden, and it wasn’t long before it became known as “the finest jeweller in the city” – one that made the most beautiful pieces of the finest quality. As the company grew, a flagship store was opened in 2000 in the famous Burlington Arcade in the heart of the West End. Furthermore, Hirsh became somewhat of a family affair when in 2005 Jason-Paul Hirsh joined his father’s company after having been awarded a degree in Gemmology from the G.I.A and having worked for a prestigious jewellers in New York. Today Hirsh continues to make stunning pieces that ooze elegance and opulence. Their newest collection of cufflinks, for example, made in either 18 carat white, yellow or rose gold, reflect the hallmark quality of craftsmanship and innovation of design that Hirsh is so famous for. www.hirshlondon.com

Bravado: Diamonds, Sapphires or Rubies in a combination of different metals show off a real strength of character.

Basilisk: White Gold with Emerald eyes or Rose gold and Ruby eyes both smothered in diamonds.

Inverse: Bold bi-colour links with a curved shape, polished outside and brush finish on the inside.

Bullet: As smooth as a flying bullet, clean lines and a delicious brush finish.

Cartridge: Brushed gold with diamond accents – home or on the range.

Unique-Links: From the bespoke HIRSH cufflink line that promises the world’s only pair for each design. Turtle and Mustang are the two newest pieces featuring carved tourmalines in 18ct white gold.

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Red calf leather swag bag £42, Thomas Lyte, 020 7751 8844 www.thomaslyte.com

V-neck Country jumper £110, John Smedley, 24 Brook Street, W1, 01629 534571 www.johnsmedley.com

Exclusive traditional barbers hair cut £50, wet shave £35, deluxe shave £55. Spa express treatments (20mins) from £28 all at The Barber at Alfred Dunhill, Bourdon House, Mayfair, W1, 0845 4580779 www.dunhill.com

Gents

Dressing

Red Sentryman pen £305, Dunhill, 0845 4580779 www.dunhill.com

room

Leather Backgammon set £1,670, Dunhill, 0845 4580779 www.dunhill.com

Brown crocodile Blackberry case £70, Smythson www.smythson.com

Red ostrich cardholder £465, Cartier, 020 3147 4850 www.cartier.com

Argyle Gamsberg cardigan £155, John Smedley, 24 Brook Street, W1, 01629 534571 www.johnsmedley.com

Red calf leather money pouch £42, Thomas Lyte, 020 7751 8844 www.thomaslyte.com

Brass palladium and Bordeaux galuchat desk clock £850, Cartier, 020 3147 4850 www.cartier.com

fashion

10.70ct stunning pink sapphire ring POA David Morris www.davidmorris.com

Silver Conifer cardigan £260, John Smedley, 24 Brook Street, W1, 01629 534571 www.johnsmedley.com

Peppermint make-up brush roll £195, Smythson www.smythson.com

Faux pearl leather and faux black snake bespoke Berkeley dressing table £1,299 matching stool £300 and mirror £360 all Hyde House, 01284 330098, www.hydehouse.co.uk

Gold stilettos £398, Brian Atwood at Matches www.matchesfashion.com

ladies

Boudoir Luxuries

Pink crystal Ami clutch £485 and Casablanca stilettos £612, Gina www.gina.com

Pastel leather luggage tags £39, Thomas Lyte, 020 7751 8844 www.thomaslyte.com Cream clutch £445, Marc Jacobs at Matches www.matchesfashion.com

Halen bag £375, Anya Hindmarch www.anyahindmarch.com

Pink Tambour St Valentin watch £1,620, Louis Vuitton, 020 7399 4050 www.louisvuitton.com Suki heart string £35 and brief £40 both Agent Provocateur, 020 7243 1292 www.agentprovocateur.com

Evelyn suspender £79 and thong £49 and Faye lace suspender £59 and thong £49 all Myla www.myla.com

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L MYLA Purple silk and lace ‘Angelica’ teddy £179, www.myla.com

Boudoir

ingerie Photography by: Ryan Sullivan Fashion Editor: Lucie Dodds

DAMARIS Cream silk and sequin Tullet bra £109 and cream silk and sequin Tullet bow-back brief £109, Damaris, 020 7524 7505 www.damaris.co.uk High back satin chair £999, Hyde House.

JANET REGER Mint Katrina camisole £173 and matching French knicker brief £119, Janet Reger www.janetreger.com Velvet sofa £2,225, Hyde House

PRINCESS TAM TAM Pale pink and leopard print body £55, Princess Tam Tam at John Lewis, 020 7629 7711. Lace-top Seidenglatt 15 stay-ups £11, Falke, 020 7493 8442. Shagreen headboard £1,400, cushions £95 all Hyde House.

BEAU BRA Heavenly silk and lace trim bra £67 matching boyshort £46, Beau Bra, www.beaubra.com

LA PERLA Powder plunge bra £150 and powder embroidered brief £84, La Perla, 020 7291 0930, available from Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Selfridges. Lace-top Seidenglatt 15 stay-ups £11, Falke, as before. Satin button cube seat £299 Hyde House.

Model: Johanna @ Premier Model Management. With thanks to Sissy Hair and Make-up: Liberty Shaw at Frank Agency All bespoke British made furniture and full interior design service by Hyde House, 01284 330098. For more information and to view the full range of furniture please visit www.hydehouse.co.uk

< ILIANA DRESS £179, Hobbs, www.hobbs.co.uk

£18, L’Occitane, uk.loccitane.com

< BURNT ORANGE AND TARNISHED SILVER BEADED NECKLACE, £42, Toast, www.toast.co.uk

< AVA LONG SILK NIGHTDRESS £65, The White Company, www.thewhitecompany.com

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EMPIRE GLASS FLOOR LAMP £295, The White Company, www.thewhitecompany.com

Mother's Day gift ideas that will make your mum proud! < MACRAME BAG IN SLATE £95, Nougat, www.nougatlondon.co.uk

HAND-TIED BOUQUET £POA, Jamie Aston, www.jamieaston.com

SPACE NK LAUGHTER DELUXE COLLECTION £125, Space NK, www.spacenk.co.uk

£35, Ian Mankin, www.ianmankinonline.co.uk

BUNCHED ROSES CUP AND SAUCER £12, Laura Ashley, www.lauraashley.com

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Hydrotherapy circuit

SOUND SENSE George Kiley says there’s an easier way to unwind this year….

t’s that time of year when the stress of the office and the miserable weather makes us want to drop everything and escape to a distant paradise where we can put our feet up in the midst of beautiful surroundings. Let’s face it we could all do with a few days in the Caribbean sun, or bathe in the crystal clear waters along Australia’s Gold Coast – but jetting off across the world in search of serenity is expensive and booking the flights and accommodation takes time to plan. There’s no need to panic, however, because the ultimate paradise, and escape from a hectic lifestyle, has just landed on our doorstep.

Six Senses, an internationally recognised spa and resort management company, are opening their first UK Spa – in the heart of Canary Wharf. With the Six Senses Spa at Pan Peninsula just a stone’s throw away you can finally relieve the pressures of everyday life without the expense and hassle of arranging an exotic getaway. Located in the lavish 50-storey Pan Peninsula residential development overlooking Canary Wharf, the Six Senses Spa offers a range of stress reducing therapies in a peaceful setting including a vast outdoor terrace, just minutes from

beauty

the office. The spa’s philosophy is centred on appealing to all the five senses and beyond, engaging with the elusive ‘sixth sense’ for the utmost in relaxation. It focuses on pampering and healing therapies, health, relaxation, beauty, stress release and recuperation to release the everyday pressures of an increasingly frantic world. In the serene settings, rich with natural light and the warmth of wood and stone architecture you can relax in a sensory shower, hydrotherapy pool, steam room or traditional sauna, before fully unwinding with the help of internationally trained therapists who offer body wraps, exfoliation and many traditional Thai therapies. What’s more the Six Senses’ holistic approach to rejuvenation means that you can benefit from personalised consultations, treatments and lifestyle guidance. Whether

you’re looking for a head massage or some lifestyle advice the Six Senses Spa will design the perfect treatment for you. Once you’ve chosen the treatment you want, you just need to choose how long you want it to last. The Spa menu also offers you the choice of half or full day sensory journeys and, alongside its eight treatment rooms (including two specially designed for couples), The Express Retreat lounge caters specifically for people who have limited time. An escape to The Express Retreat during your lunch break offers you the chance to unwind with an Indian head massage, an express manicure or pedicure, or to simply throw on a dressing gown and slippers and relax in a recliner amid the peace and quiet of the Tranquillity room. While you may only be minutes from the office, you feel a world away from the stress of your desk in this urban sanctuary

The Spa only uses naturally derived and ethically sourced products, which means you’ll have no excuse not to completely indulge yourself. Beyond the 650-square-metre Spa, the Pan Peninsula development continues to boast all the trimmings of a five-star getaway with valet parking and a cocktail bar on the top floor. A short lift ride up and you could complete a relaxing day, afternoon or lunch break with a slow drink and stunning panoramic views of the city. Ah bliss! n

www.sixsenses.com Bookings: 020 7321 2320 Reservations: panpeninsula-spa@sixsenses.com London E14 91A (Nearest tube station: Canary Wharf, Jubilee line)

Express Spa Lounge

Simply Spa-vellous Kate Hughes gets to grips with her top five places for rest and rejuvenation in the capital

ELEMIS DAY SPA 2/3 Lancashire Court, London, W1S 1EX 0870 410 4210 www.elemis.com The newly refurbished day spa offers a sensory space for men and women to escape the stress and pressure of everyday life. Your suite becomes your private sanctuary, where your therapist delivers lifestyle solutions tailored to you. Verdict: The spa menu is extensive and the day rituals are a must!

THE SPA AT chancery court 252 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7EN 020 7829 7058 www.spachancerycourt.com The spa offers an experience of spiritual wisdom and cultural philosophies designed to realign your body and rejuvenate your mind. The spaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rich Asian-influenced interior is stunning and boasts a teak and gold leaf relaxation room. Verdict: The Ayurvedic and holistic treatments help create a blissful cocoon of calm. 514060 Sugar Beach CWM 400x140

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One to watch Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to put a note in your diaries for March as the Six Senses Spa at Pan Peninsula, Canary Wharf is on its way!

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D ATE E IT E R M I L NG IVES HA ENT C EX INC

PEAK RETURNS ON

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THE SPA AT THE MANDARIN ORIENTAL 66 Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 7LA 020 7235 2000 www.mandarinoriental.com

THE BERKELEY HEALTH CLUB AND SPA Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 7RL 020 7201 1699 www.the-berkeley.co.uk

This award winning spa offers the ultimate urban escape with an exclusive selection of pampering rituals designed to de-stress and revitalise. In this calm and relaxing atmosphere guests are encouraged to book “time” rather than a specific treatment. My therapist looked at all aspects of my lifestyle and tailormade a treatment for areas where I most needed it. Verdict:This was probably one of the best and most relaxing and corrective massages I have had.

The Berkeley spa is a stylish and restful environment and has the city’s only rooftop swimming pool with panoramic views of the skyline.The roof even slides open to reveal the sky in fine weather! The boutique spa has developed a reputation for pioneering some of the most alternative beauty and health therapies developed from small exclusive brands. Verdict: The range of facial treatments is guaranteed to refresh and rejuvenate.

WITH PRICES CURRENTLY 30-40% CHEAPER THAN BARBADOS, SUGAR BEACH, SITUATED IN ST. LUCIA’S BREATHTAKING VAL DES PITONS, LOOKS EVEN MORE DESIRABLE TO INVESTORS. • Luxury, fully-furnished, freehold villas • Protected UNESCO World Heritage Site – no risk of future development • Peace of mind – managed and marketed by a world-class, luxury hotel brand • Resort facilities include 24 hour butler service, gourmet restaurants, Rainforest Spa and pristine white sand beach • Immediate 5% per annum minimum rental guarantee available for up to three years • Daily direct flights from UK and USA • Villas from US$700,000 to US$6 million

YOUR INVESTMENT

To find out more: +44 (0)20 8812 4773 info@sugarbeachvillas.com sugarbeachvillas.com

USHVANI 1 Cadogan Gardens, London, SW3 2RJ 020 7730 2888 www.ushvani.com Ushvani is a unique and luxurious day spa inspired by the healing traditions and philosophies of South East Asia. This truly fantastic spa offers blissful tranquillity, and using expert therapists creates the perfect fusion of spa indulgence, restorative therapies and supreme service. Verdict: I left the spa feeling rejuvenated and thoroughly pampered.

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W 9

beauty Age Defense Hydrator £24.47 Clinique New to the Clinique men’s range, this moisturiser is fast-absorbing and has protective spf 15. www.clinique.com

for him

Day Moisturiser £30 Dr Lewinn’s men This light but enriching moisturiser with spf 15 revitalises the skin while protecting it www.drlewinnsmen.com

WINTER skIN savERs

Kate Hughes explores the best options for the man who wants to keep fresh faced Men’s Calm Balm £22.50 Rehab Enriched with soothing natural ingredients this helps to protect and rejuvenate the complexion www.rehablondon.co.uk

About Face Skin Revitaliser £65 Aroma Therapeutics This great cream protects and firms with a rich warm spicy hint of fragrance. www.aroma.co.uk

Time Defence Wrinkle Delay £50 Elemis This rich cream will leave your skin hydrated, shine-free and will reduce the appearance of wrinkles. www.elemis.com

beauty Enlightenment Day Moisturiser £32 PsyDerma by Dr Linda Papadopoulos Based on the ‘healthy mind means healthy skin’ philosophy, this cream leaves the skin wonderfully hydrated. www.psyderma.com

Protein Skin Serum £54 Jo Malone An oil free concentrated repair serum that is infused with pure proteins and antioxidants www.jomalone.co.uk

Re-Nutriv,Ultimate Youth Crème £146.81 Estee Lauder Rich and nourishing this fabulous cream leaves the skin radiant, smooth and soft. www.esteelauder.co.uk

WINTER PROOF YOUR SKIN Kate Hughes chooses her favourite potions to weatherproof skin from the elements

Confort Extreme Day Skin Care £92 Sisley If your skin feels dry and sensitive this is the one for you! Expect smooth calm skin. Stockists-020 7591 6380

LXP Moist Softening Serum £160 Sk-II This lavish serum replenishes essential moisture leaving the skin with a healthy glow. www.sk2.com

for hEr Cell food £38.50 Elemental Herbology All natural parabens free serum to boost, protect and repair undernourished skin. www.spacenk.com

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lifestyle

Intelligent Design

Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos 561 Clock

Marc Newson is arguably the world’s most bankable designer, says Claire Adler. February sees him launch the Qantas A380 at London’s IMAX theatre. That is, of course, if he can find a spare moment between his G-Star clothing ranges, Dom Perignon champagne buckets, a speedboat, an astronomical clock for Jaeger le Coultre and his own Ikepod watches.

f you find time management a challenge, or have trouble working on multiple projects, take advice from Marc Newson. “Focus on one thing at a time,” is his top tip. He should know. “My greatest satisfaction comes from working on a variety of different projects,” he says. Newson typically juggles 15 projects at any one time. “What drives me is the desire to create things that don’t exist,” he says. As creative director of Qantas Airways, Australian born, London and Paris based Marc Newson, 45, has been responsible for creating everything from the interiors of an entire fleet of planes to the Qantas first class airport lounges in Sydney and Melbourne. But then there have also been the Nike trainers, Biomega bicycles, surfboards, jeans, a concept jet, cookware for Tefal, binoculars and telescopes for Swarovski, perfume bottles, champagne coolers for Dom Perignon and bags for Samsonite. Not to mention a sub-orbital spacecraft. In 2006 Newson was awarded the title of Royal Designer for Industry in the United Kingdom and named Designer of the Year

at Design Miami. In 2008, he was awarded the London Design Medal and nominated Designer of the Year at the London Design Festival. Newson also holds adjunct professorships at Sydney College of the Arts and at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. One of Newson’s greatest achievements is to comfortably straddle the worlds of mass manufacture, complex and highly demanding technical work and high art. When asked about the moment in his career that was the real turning point, the commission that made him jump for joy when he’d put the phone down, Newson becomes thoughtful. “It’s been a slow, consistent progression,” he muses. After studying sculpture and jewellery at Sydney College of the Arts, Newson started out designing furniture, creating products in considerable numbers for Italian companies including Cappellini and Alessi, and later moving onto more experimental projects like a concept car for Ford and a concept plane at the invitation of the Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain, which was later shown at London’s Design Museum.

Sue Stafford Power House Museum

Richard Allen and Andy Tan

G-Star ar14hr

Ikepod Watch

Quantas Airways A380 Skybed

But for all Newson’s understatement, there is little question that events in 2006 propelled him to A-lister design status. Firstly, a shiny 20 year old piece of sculptural furniture, the Lockheed Lounge designed by Newson - one of 13 in existence - was snapped up at Sotheby’s for just shy of a cool $968,000. It broke all records, becoming the highest price ever paid at auction for the work of a living designer. At that year’s Design Miami fair, Newson produced 12 Chop Top tables, all of which sold out in 20 minutes at an estimated $170,000. That same year Larry Gagosian, the most powerful art dealer in the world, made contemporary art history when he welcomed Newson’s work into his New York gallery space, elevating design into the rarefied world of art. The limited edition creations Newson showed there were monumental marble pieces that appear light and mobile. At a time when prices for art were exploding, this led culture vultures the world over to question how product design had made its way into an art gallery. Either way, one by-product of these phenomenal successes was a renewed interest in Newson’s watches. Originally

Dom Perignon Champagne Bucket

My greatest satisfaction comes from working on a variety of different projects launched in 1994 in collaboration with Swiss businessman Oliver Ike, the watches became a hit with design-conscious watch aficionados. A decade later Ike filed for bankruptcy. But when art and watch collector Adam Lindemann bought the remains of the company, the watches were relaunched at Art Basel Miami Beach 2006 and are enjoying a renewed interest. Newson also fulfilled a personal ambition when he was commissioned to create the 80th anniversary Jeager-LeCoultre Atmos clock. The Atmos clock’s uniqueness derives from the fact that it runs on one hermetically sealed capsule of gas which expands or contracts, depending on the temperature.

The Atmos has reappeared in various incarnations over the years, but the essential mechanical principles remain the same. Watches were one of the first objects Newson tried to design as a young boy and his long held admiration for the Atmos led him to contact Jaeger-LeCoultre and offer up his own design. The result is a paradigm of eco-conscious design to say the least. It would take 180 million of the Marc Newson-designed Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos clocks to burn the same energy as one 50-watt light bulb. The Marc Newson Atmos clock is now an official gift of the Swiss Confederation. Past recipients of Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos clocks include the Queen, Churchill and JFK. Unsurprisingly then, Newson counts the clock amongst the designs he is most proud of, alongside his Event Horizon table and large Voronoi shelf. He’s currently beavering away on an astronomical version, the Atmos Calibre JLC 566. But Newson’s most ambitious project to date, he says, is the interior of the Qantas Superjumbo A380. “Aviation is the holy grail of design,” he muses. “It’s the most challenging and restrictive kind of design. There is little space for creative expression. It’s a highly regulated industry. Sometimes it feels like working in the military, but the parameters help me to be more creative.” Possibly the greatest struggle he faced on this project was tackling how to shave an inch off the width of the back of the cheapest seat in the cabin. "It doesn't sound like much. But it's mindbogglingly difficult, and that extra inch makes a big difference. It could save someone from having to bend their knees throughout a long-haul flight," Newson told the International Herald Tribune recently. How comforting to know that both economy and upper class passengers will benefit from the talent and insight of this design visionary. n

Global Watch Market W E IGH T L O S S

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T R A I N I NG SU PP ORT

The Ultimate Convenience, The Pure Package does the hard work for you, each morning you wake to your day’s food freshly prepared. We do all the cooking and preparation delivering three tailored guilt-free meals and two appetising snacks to you daily. Whether you wish to lose weight, increase your energy levels, run a marathon or take the pressure off after having a baby, The Pure Package can help you achieve your goals through a perfectly balanced diet. The team of nutritionists, dietary therapists and chefs have designed a range of dietary programmes to meet your needs. Keeping healthy has never been so easy and delicious!

“So tasty… I lost one stone in 4 weeks… boy was it worth it!” Eve Magazine “Impressive… a godsend... saves you time and stress… mouth-watering.” Tatler “Perfect… created by a nutritionist to suit your needs, then you sit back and wait.” The Times

Global Watch Market brings you a collection of watches guaranteed to satisfy the most discerning tastes. Navigational features allow you to explore our new and used inventory with ease, and find the exact watch and features you want. From long forgotten vintage time pieces to fresh designer collections, Global Watch Market has it all.

“The bliss of waking up and finding an entire day’s supply of healthy food on your doorstep is hard to describe – It’s all delicious… this is the Rolls-Royce of diets” Telegraph

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GADGETS JAMIE CARTER PRESENTS THIS MONTH’S TECHNOLOGICAL HIGHLIGHTS

BEYOND BLACK

With flatscreen TVs now mere commodity items there’s little kudos to a gloss black plasma or LCD TV. That is, unless, you settle on a limited edition colour of the best plasma TV around. Pioneer’s stunning ‘Kuro’ range of super-thin (64mm) plasmas now come in both Pure White and Beige Grisé and use a one-cable connection to a separate media box – making them ideal to hang on a wall. Pioneer KRP-500AW & KRP-500ABG Pure White / Beige Grisé plasma TVs £2500 www.pioneer.co.uk

RINGING THE CHANGES

Modern handsets might be technologically advanced, but where’s the style? Destined to appeal beyond the tech-savvy sector, this new range of fashion phones pays homage to the Italian designer, Joe Colombo, but technology hasn’t been forgotten. On board these white or coral red phones is an answering machine, phonebook for up to 100 contacts, hands-free operation and a choice of polyphonic ring tones. Colombo Phone £39.99 www.magicboxproducts.com

HATCHING A PLAN Using the most rigid form known to nature, Eclipse’s egg-shaped TD510 speakers are designed especially for music perfectionists. Promising the most pure stereo and immense scale to music, Eclipse’s eggs are already the reference speakers at London’s Royal Academy of Music, and also used by the likes of John Williams, Randy Brecker and Michael Nyman. Eclipse TD510 Time Domain loudspeakers £1700 a pair www.eclipse-td.net

IPHONE AT HOME

A perfect companion to an iPhone, Logic3’a new i-Station25 is for those who want a little bit more than just a portable iPod speaker. From the i-Station25 it’s possible to watch music videos, movies and podcasts direct from an iPod or iPhone, with LED lights glowing when the speakers are best positioned. There’s even a video-out port for connecting the i-Station25 to a TV. Logic3 i-Station25 £69 www.logic3.com

FEELING BLU Renowned Japanese brand Denon has unleashed a ‘baby’ Blu-ray player that offers most of the high-end features found in its pricier DVD2500BT and DVD-3800BD decks. The DVD1800BDSP includes 1080p upscaling from DVDs alongside the very latest hi-def sound formats Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Perfect for pairing with a Full HD flatscreen TV or projector, the DVD1800BDSP also includes a SD card reader for downloading online extra features now offered by some Blu-ray discs. Denon DVD1800BDSP Blu-ray player £600 www.denon.co.uk

gadgets

SUPPORTING ROLE Internationally renowned Studio Conran and Alphason have teamed up to design a new range of luxury AV furniture for the living room. Combining real wood veneers with satin white is Contemporary Natural, a ‘media cabinet’ with huge, but discreet storage space, and doors that just need a tap to open automatically. Alphason Conran Contemporary Natural media cabinet £599-£899 www.alphasondesigns.com

THIN ON TOP

Hanging a flatscreen TV on a wall can be a messy day’s work for at least two people – and as a consequence, most of us simply don’t bother. Philips thinks it has solved that problem with this 38mm deep, 16kg LCD TV. Light enough to be hung by just one person; ‘Essence’ comes with a ‘smart’ levelling bracket as well as a separate media box for housing all the cables. Philips ‘Essence’ LCD TV £2,000 www.philips.co.uk

BEDROOM ANTICS Fully equipped for the digital age, LG’s PC12DAB is aimed squarely at bedside tables. It’s armed with an alarm clock and snooze, a digital DAB radio, an iDock for housing an iPod, a CD player and a USB port for attaching MP3 players – or even a memory stick packed with MP3 files. Despite the tech, the emphasis is on style, with a cool pulsating red glow around its rim. LG PC12DAB £150 www.lge.co.uk

LOWERING THE TEMPO

WORKSTATION

That doyen of tech-cool, Apple, has started selling the ultimate upgrade for Mac laptop users – a stunning 24-inch LED Cinema Display. With built-in iSight video camera, mic and speakers in aluminium and glass enclosure, the LED Cinema Display includes an integrated Mini DisplayPort for connecting-up – and charging – a MacBook laptop, meaning regular commuters can permanently leave their laptop’s power cable in a work bag. Apple 24-inch LED Cinema Display £649 www.apple.com/uk

Add your own soundtrack to a stunning scuba dive with this unique iPod accessory from H20 Audio. Its iDive 300 waterproof casing lets you take your own tunes 300ft down – and even allows control of the iPod’s click wheel or touchscreen. Made from durable polycarbonate and complete with a locking cam knob and seal, the iDive 300 enjoys ‘Made for Apple’ certification – and its video functionality really comes into its own during long decompression sessions. H2O Audio iDive 300 £350 www.h2oaudio.co.uk

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property

PADS FOR LADS Stephanie Baxter takes two hours out of her day to live the highlife in what’s been dubbed ‘The Ultimate Bachelor Pad’

back, to give maximum impact. As I step ’d like to think that I’m not a particularly materialistic person, and as I have chosen outside on to the terrace, which boasts an outside sofa of all things (!), the view takes my love for my job over money, my my breath away. Surely these are the best thoughts of owning my own property, views of London; they are 180° and fully let alone a swanky London apartment, are uninterrupted, and treat you to the sight of very much far away. Perhaps that’s why, when top landmarks such as Harrod’s, the Royal standing in the hallway of The Penthouse Albert Hall and the London Eye, to name in Kingston House South, Knightsbridge, I just a few. On seeing this, I don’t know how appear completely open-mouthed at my first anybody could want to live anywhere else. taste of real luxury everyday living. When chatting to Stephen With crocodile-printed From a central calf leather floors in Sellar, who forms one half control pad that of the ownership of mdesign the hall, walnut units in fits in the palm of British interior design and the kitchen, silk carpets your hand, you can property development in the bedrooms, and control everything, company (alongside his the Aquatelevision in from lights to the brother, Paul), I ask him the ensuite bathroom window blinds to whether the dreaded credit downstairs, I’m already in love with the place. the TV that moves in crunch has affected business Nothing can prepare me, and out from behind for the company. “The though, for what comes the leather panelling market of really top-end property,” he replies, “is next. Upstairs is a large of the main wall in and extremely elegantlyfairly immune to the credit the living room. dressed entertaining crunch to a certain extent. space, flanked by an enormous terrace So mdesign’s clientele isn’t really affected which spans the entirety of two whole by or involved with it, thankfully.” Indeed, sides of the apartment. The glass doors mdesign certainly seems to be going from which usually separate the inside of the strength-to-strength, completing around one property every month. apartment from the outside are folded

Furthermore, within the last few months one of their apartments in Orchard Court, Portman Square was named ‘The World’s Best Apartment’ at the International Property Awards. High praise, indeed. But if the splendour of The Penthouse here in Knightsbridge is anything to go by, then it’s hardly a surprise and is, in fact, well-deserved. This apartment, on the other hand, has been called ‘The Ultimate Bachelor Pad’; when you consider the gadgets this place has, it’s easy to see why. From a central control pad that fits in the palm of your hand, you can control everything, from lights to the window blinds to the TV that moves in and out from behind the leather panelling of the main wall in the living room. From that same control pad, you can see who is standing outside the front door via a doorspy camera, as well as view CCTV images of the whole property, all of which can be accessed securely over the internet while you’re away. For further security, entrance to the apartment comes in the form of a customised biometric fingerprint scanner. This is real James Bond stuff. In terms of interiors, most of the things that you see in an mdesign property are bespoke, individually-made pieces. The electro-polished, stainless steel balustrade that runs along the staircase, for example, was Head of Interior Design, Georgina Wood’s own creation, inspired by a simple pattern that she happened to come across in a magazine. It is somewhat of a work of art in its own right, but when you can

see its influence working its way into little features around the apartment, such as the curtains, and even the glasses; it’s a stroke of design genius. The wallpapers, especially, are to die for, all of them sumptuous silk damask that oozes pure opulence. The high quality of the design does not, however, eradicate that lived-in, homely feel that is often absent from so many newly-renovated, empty properties. This apartment has been made to look and feel like a home; kitchenware, towels, vases of flowers, artwork, toiletries, alcohol in the bar and even books and laptops have been carefully selected to ensure authenticity, as well as making it absolutely ready to move into with no hassle. “Because these kinds of properties are often second or even third or fourth, homes for our clients, and because they are very cash wealthy and extremely time poor, we make sure that they have everything they’ll need and that everything is finished to an amazing standard when they take possession of the property,” says Stephen. This means that everything you see comes with the apartment.

All of this, naturally, comes at a price. “So, exactly how much are we talking?” I ask, sheepishly. Deep down, I know the price tag will be huge, but that doesn’t stop a little gasp escaping when I’m told that The Penthouse is on the market for £6m. But, on reflecting on the cost, I realise that it’s not just an apartment that you’d be buying into; it’s a lifestyle. Everything about it – the location, the interiors, the gadgets, the terrace, etc – seems to radiate success, it’s a marker that shows you’re doing well for yourself. As I head home to my family’s lovely, albeit somewhat smaller, house in Surrey, I cannot help but wonder what it would be like if I was on my way home to The Penthouse. If I had the money, I’d certainly buy it tomorrow. But actually, I am happy with my lot. I like my family’s ‘lovely, albeit somewhat smaller, house’. That’s good news for you though; The Penthouse is still up for grabs. n www.mdesignlondon.com 020 7258 8500 info@mdesignlondon.com

YOU LOVE YOUR HOME WE LOVE TO HELP Buying new furniture can be a bit tricky. At BoConcept we love to help you make the right choices. Our sales staff are good at understanding your needs, but no one is better than our specially trained interior design experts.

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32351_UKEffect_1_1_CanaryWharf.indd 1

22/01/09 8:32:50

THE GENEVA EFFECT It may be one of the most expensive places to go in all of Europe, but Geneva does seem to have that certain “Je ne sais quoi”, says Stephanie Baxter

he world and his wife seem to be in Geneva; the UN, International Red Cross, International Labour Organisation, World Health Organisation and World Trade Organisation amongst others, all have their headquarters there. It should come as no surprise, then, that Geneva plays home to one of the five major auto shows in the world, opening its doors to hundreds of thousands of motoring enthusiasts every spring – the only motor show in Europe to do so annually. This year the 79th International Motor Show runs from 5 – 15 March at Geneva Palexpo across seven exhibition halls all

packed full with the industry’s big names. For 2009, the leaders of the organising team have developed a new display, specifically devoted to the presentation and promotion of electric and other alternatively-powered vehicles. With all eyes on Geneva during this time, it seems only right that the motor show do their bit to be “green”. swiss appeal So what is it about Geneva, then, that makes it such a favourite place for anyone and everyone to be? Much of it has to do with its location, because while it is a people-packed cosmopolitan city, it’s also

surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery that Europe has to offer, with Lake Geneva and the Swiss Alps providing a true aesthetic feast for the eyes. As only Switzerland’s third largest city (and not the nation’s capital, as is often incorrectly thought), and with its relatively small population of 186,825 (June 2008), Geneva doesn’t have the over-crowded feel that so many European cities seem to possess, despite the fact that it is an extremely popular destination for tourists. Much of its appeal also stems from the “olde worlde” charm that Geneva has retained despite being a vibrant city

travel

where progress is top of the agenda. In the Vieille Ville, or Old Town to those not so acquainted with French (which you really ought to brush up on, since Geneva is located in Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland), quaint shuttered houses and sidewalk cafés lining cobbled streets can be easily found; so too can the pièce de résistance, the Cathédral St-Pierre. A trip up the some 157 steps in the cathedral’s northern tower provides a spectacular city panorama for your viewing pleasure. When it comes to hotels Geneva has an abundance of them. Among the most notable is the Hôtel Beau-Rivage, which treats its guests to the most stunning views of Lake Geneva and the Alps. Located on the shores of the lake itself, the hotel is conveniently situated in the city centre, just 5km away from the international airport. Unsurprisingly it is a favourite with many royals from around the globe, even the very first glimpse of the lobby, with its immaculate mosaic floor, gentle fountain and towering marble columns and balustrades cannot fail to impress. The hotel even plays home to Geneva’s branch of Sotheby’s, which, in 1987, sold the Duchess of Windsor’s jewels for millions of pounds. things to do The Hôtel du Parc des Eaux-Vives, on the other hand, is set back from the hubbub of the city and draws upon the peace and tranquillity of the park. This beautiful 18th Century mansion boasts five sumptuous guest rooms and two suites, each one uniquely designed and decorated, but all carrying the hallmark quality of luxury that the Hôtel du Parc des Eaux-Vives evokes. It is also somewhat renowned for its top-notch cuisine, which is served in both its brasserie and its finedining restaurants. Top of the sightseeing agenda should definitely be the city’s famous, and the world’s tallest, fountain, the Jet D’eau. Shooting water into the air to an incredible height of 140m with a more-than-impressive force of 1360 hp and at a speed of 200km/ hour, this truly is an amazing sight. After all, where else can you see 7 tonnes of water being shot upwards into the sky at any one

Clockwise: Geneva International Motor Show, Hotel Beau-Rivage, Geneva International Motor Show

time? It is, perhaps, best viewed from the air, so when coming into land at Geneva airport, be sure to keep your eyes open for it. Whilst Geneva is not usually listed among the shopping capitals of the world alongside New York, Paris and Milan, it is actually somewhere that could give any of these more well-known destinations a run for their money. Obvious retail highlights

are Geneva’s world-class watchmakers and chocolate shops (both perfect as last-minute stop-offs where one is guaranteed to find much-anticipated presents to take home), but the boutiques and fashion outlets are more than enough to whet the fashion appetite. If all that isn’t enough, the lake offers some great water-sports including rafting, sailing and waterskiing for the daring to try their hand at. Furthermore, because Switzerland is fairly small, you could easily take an extra few days to explore the rest of the country. n

Premiere at Porsche:

Cayenne with diesel engine

motoring

From February 2009, Porsche will offer a Cayenne with a diesel engine and thus extend its range of engines for the four door, all-wheel drive car further, once again. This decision was taken in response to changed legal regulations especially in European markets, resulting in tax incentives for vehicles with diesel engines. Furthermore, the Porsche stake in Volkswagen Group, the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest manufacturer of modern diesel engines for passenger cars, has opened up new opportunities to utilise sporty compression-ignition technology. Porsche will equip the Cayenne with a 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel engine with 240 hp supplied by Audi AG, a subsidiary of the VW Group. The average consumption of the Cayenne Diesel is 30.4mpg Combined (9.3 litres/100 km) with emissions of 244 g/km CO2.

The spontaneous throttle response and high torque characteristics of this diesel engine deliver the required performance levels for an athletic all-terrain vehicle such as the Cayenne. The substantial maximum torque of 550 Newton metres complements the sports-oriented chassis dynamics and provides a high degree of control to offer driving enjoyment typical of Porsche. In response to customer demand, the new Cayenne model will initially be offered in Europe. Preparations for market introduction in other countries are underway. The Porsche Executive Board is confident that it will maintain the long term market success of the Cayenne series with the lowconsumption V6 turbo diesel. In the last financial year 2007/08, 45,478 units of this series (which currently incorporates five different models) were sold - more than ever before in a financial year.

With the introduction of the Cayenne Diesel, Porsche is consistently continuing its commitment to reduce fuel consumption. As early as Spring 2007, the sports car manufacturer had equipped the new generation of the Cayenne series with engines featuring petrol direct injection that consume up to 15 per cent less fuel in real-world driving conditions. Since the summer of 2008, Porsche has also offered the most recent generation of the 911 series with direct-injection petrol engines. The sports car manufacturer is also working on another Cayenne variant with hybrid drive that will exceed 31 mpg, and which will be launched onto the market at the end of the decade. The new Cayenne with diesel drive will be arriving at Porsche Centres from February 2009. Equipped with the proven Tiptronic-S automatic gearbox as standard, it costs from ÂŁ40,250. Customers will also be able to explore the dynamic attributes of the car, and develop their own skills behind the wheel, courtesy of a Driving Experience Programme at the new Porsche Driving Experience Centre at Silverstone. n For further details, contact the New Car Sales Team at Porsche Centre East London on 020 8519 9999 or on email info@porscheeastlondon.co.uk

motoring

SQUARE

deal

It’s been one of the coolest cars in Tokyo for years, but has never been officially sold outside Japan. Now that’s about to change as the next generation Nissan Cube is due soon and Europe can finally discover why it’s hip to be square, says Matthew Carter

motoring

he Cube was originally created for people who weren’t interested in cars, but simply needed something to get from A to B. Nissan designers clearly took design inspiration from a kindergarten art class and developed a box on wheels. But the moment the Cube was launched it became a cult car. That led to a clamouring from both Europe and America, but building the car with left-hand drive wasn’t possible. The original Cube had unique asymmetric rear styling with a wraparound rear window on the nearside to give drivers a better ‘overthe-shoulder’ view. It was a feature that couldn’t be changed for left-hand drive markets without totally re-engineering the car. And that’s now been done: the new generation Cube retains the asymmetric rear for both left- and right-hand drive markets. It’s also been given a styling makeover that introduces a few curves into the mix: the side windows, apparently, have been inspired by digital photo frames. Power will come from a 1.5-litre diesel or a 1.6-litre petrol unit with a CVT automatic gearbox while there will be a whole portfolio of exterior body graphics to personalise the car still further. The only bad news is that although it’s already on sale in Japan, we won’t get cubed until November. n

It was a feature that couldn’t be changed for left-hand drive markets without totally re-engineering the car.

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Competition Prize The winner will enjoy an exciting motoring experience in excess of £100, which will allow them to enjoy a day in a Lamborghini Gallardo.

Based in London and Essex, Bespoke Car Hire UK, is a car hire company that provides the very best in prestige and performance cars to its clientele. With all the latest and most desirable performance cars available, Bespoke will meet your needs.

08456 522 829 info@bespokehire.com • www.bespokehire.com

The full package includes – • The winner to drive on a fantastic 1.8 mile purpose built circuit • Welcome, introduction and briefing by a fully qualified and experienced ARDS racing instructors on circuit driving techniques • 3 laps (5.4 miles) demonstration with an instructor • 4 laps (7.2 miles) driving in a Lamborghini Gallardo • Individual driving certificate on completion. To enter the competition, simply send an email to competition@runwildgroup.com giving your full contact details and quoting “Bespoke Car Hire”. By entering you are agreeing for your details to be used by RunWild Media for marketing purposes. They will not be disclosed to third parties. The closing date for entries is the 1st April 2009. The minimum age to enter is 21 and you must hold a full UK driving license.

CAN A RY WHAR F n ew s

Judo chamP named SPortS PerSonality of the year Ricky Lee Turner from the Docklands Dragons Judo Club was named the Canary Wharf Group Sports Personality of the Year at a recent awards dinner at East Wintergarden in Canary Wharf. 20 year old Turner won a string of titles in 2008, including the under 100kg categories at the British, Ireland and Belgium Open Championships. Turner won the major prize at the annual awards, which were established by Canary Wharf Group to recognise the outstanding contribution to sport by young

chriStmaS charity ball

people and their leaders in Tower Hamlets and Thames Gateway. The Awards were presented by former West Ham and England Football star Tony Cottee.

Canary Wharf recently played host to the annual Mayor of Tower Hamlet’s Christmas Charity Ball, which supported two very worthy causes; the Child Care Consortium and APASENTH (Asian Parents Association for Special Educational Needs in Tower Hamlets). The Mayor of London Borough of Tower Hamlets Mohammed Abdus Salique and Canary Wharf Group Chairman Sir Martin Jacomb welcomed senior representatives based from businesses around Canary Wharf, who were joined on the night by most of the local councillors and local dignitaries.

canary Wharf School PuPilS il c ilS celebrateS chanukah c Pture ca P Sight , SightS Sound SoundS and Smell SmellS of canary c Wharf A Menorah was recently installed in Jubilee Park at

240 pupils from the Isle of Dogs’ Woolmore School recently visited Canary Wharf in a bid to capture the movement, textures, sights and sounds of the area. They were

given exercises such as drawing, writing poetry and mapping sounds, emotions and smells as they moved throughout the Estate. Woolmore School Deputy Head Annie Gargya said “We all had an absolutely brilliant day and saw Canary Wharf with eyes we have never used before.”

Canary Wharf to commemorate the Jewish festival of Chanukah, which ran from 21- 29 December. Chanukah, also known as the festival of lights, sees the kindling of eight candles on the Menorah. A candle was lit for each of the eight nights of the festival. Danny Seliger from Canary Wharf Group said: “For a decade now we have been celebrating Chanukah at Canary Wharf by lighting the Menorah. This year we have a new location amongst the beautiful fountains and trees in Jubilee Park.”

C A NARY WHA RF ev e nts

focus

Canary Wharf Comedy Club Tuesday 24 February 2009 7.15pm (Doors 6.15pm) East Wintergarden, Bank Street Tickets £10

Tickets have now sold out for the Canary Wharf Comedy Club on 24 February. The line-up includes Jon Richardson, one of the most in-demand young artists on the UK comedy circuit, the petite, charming and chatty Lucy Porter (pictured) and Canadian Mike Wilmot. The show is presented by Rufus Hound.

Canary Wharf on ICe

Visit ticketweb.co.uk or call 08700 600 100 (booking fee applies)

2001: a SpaC SpaCe odySS dy ey dySS

SquaSh maSter ClaSS WIth peter nICol

Monday 23 February 2009

27 March 2009

6.45pm (Doors 6pm)

East Wintergarden, Bank Street

155 minutes includes interval East Wintergarden, Bank Street FREE Starlight09 2001 A3:A3

16/12/08

16:58

Page 1

Canada Square Park

2009 marks the Ticket prices vary bicentenary a space odyssey of the birth of Charles The current season of the Canary Wharf Darwin and Ice Rink, sponsored by BGC Partners, 150 years and the rink side Moose Bar comes to since the an end on 22 February but they will publication be bidding farewell with a Closing of Origin of Party Week including music, drinks Species. Canary Wharf’s Starlight Cinema promotions and more. So don’t miss out is giving movie-lovers the chance to a on celebrity appearances and events and screening of what has been described catch free live ‘moosic’ at The Moose Bar as the greatest movie ever made. The every Tuesday from 6pm. special first come first served screening Visit themoosebar.com for more of Stanley Kubrick’s classic 2001: A Space information. Odyssey, which explores themes such as for ice rink tickets Visit canarywharficerink.com, call human evolution, artificial intelligence 0844 847 1546 (booking fee applies) or Visit the onsite the box office. and extraterrestrial life, is a must-see! Until 22 February 2009

Tickets are on sale for the 30 March Comedy Club. Book early to avoid disappointment. The line-up is correct at time of publication.

S TA R L I G H T C I N E M A P R E S E N T S S TA N L E Y K U B R I C K ’ S

2001 u

MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY | 6.45PM | DOORS 6PM EAST WINTERGARDEN | FREE

W W W. M Y C A N A R Y W H A R F. C O M

Induction loop available for this screening. Space is limited and unreserved and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Running time including interval 2 hours 35 minutes

Do you work at Canary Wharf and want to improve your Squash? Eventis Sports are offering the chance to learn from Peter Nicol MBE, one of the finest squash players of the modern era. Nicol, who is a former world number one with a clutch of World and British Opens and Commonwealth Games gold medals to his name, will be running the Masterclass Clinic in the East Wintergarden on 27 March. If your company is based at Canary Wharf and you wish to take part email tgarner@eventis-sports.com tickets are selling fast for the iss canary wharf squash classic at east wintergarden on 23-27 march. for more details Visit canarywharfsquash.com

CAN A RY WHAR F art

Richard Davies

SCULPTURE IN THE WORKPLACE LYNDALL PHELPS: kNit oNE PurL oNE

An exhibition of three 100m long knitted ropes, each a primary colour, and their unlikely adventure throughout One Canada Square. Lobby, one Canada Square untiL 20 MarCh

until 27 februAry

WINDOW GALLERIES Cabot Place and Canada Place Retail Malls Showcases for up-and-coming artists, designers and craftspeople

Zoe Murphy Young designer Zoe Murphy endorses the notion of 'loving what belongs to you' by printing images of her home town, Margate, onto formerly unloved recycled retro furniture and textiles. Margate, with its gaudy and unpolished potential reflects the core values of her work - that with loving attention and good design, places and objects can be restored to being something that is desired and respected. The prints are applied to a range of wood veneers, recycled Formica, and silk from old wedding dresses that have been carefully unpicked and dyed by hand. Her collection includes furniture,

lighting, wall decorations and soft furnishings. Zoe's prints and processes encourage ecological alternatives to throwaway design in an optimistic way. www.zoeMurphy.CoM iMage: zoe Murphy

Canada Place Retail Mall A window gallery devoted to exhibiting work produced by local arts projects.

uNTIL 3 mARCh GREEN CANARy DAy For Green Canary Day in October 2008, local schoolchildren and photographers were challenged by Canary Wharf Group to produce artwork and images that best illustrate ‘Green Docklands’. The winning entries draw upon the uniquely beautiful, diverse and environmentally sustainable aspects of the Docklands area.

eMMA lAcey - teA A for ‘duo’ Emma Lacey’s ceramics are classic, functional pieces with a twist, commenting on the very personal ways in which we interact with our tableware. Motivated by a concern that we are mass-producing too many standardised products, Emma’s ceramic ranges combine the uniqueness of craft objects with processes of industrial production. The elliptical shape of the ‘Duo’ cups and their different handle positions allow for a personal, tactile experience, an ideal gift for couples with individual tastes. ‘Click’ cups encourage ritualistic use as they sit at different angles according to the way you position the handle and ‘Slide’ can be used as both a cup and saucer or a set of bowls.

ThE COmmuNITy GALLERy

GliMpseonline.coM AffordAble exclusivity GlimpseOnline.com is a wonderland of unique affordable products by emerging designers. It also provides a community in which designers can market themselves to potential clients, using the website as a resource for building their own brands. Check out such services as Furniture Revitalise, where you can send your old furniture to six trained GlimpseOnline.com designers who will revamp and re-upholster it for you in your choice of luxurious, bespoke materials and styles. www.gLiMpSeonLine.CoM iMage: gLiMpSe onLine SyLvie LLvie Fu LLer

www.eMMaLaCey.CoM iMage: eMMa LaCey duo eSpreSSo CupS

this month’s

all

Beauty is a treasure hunt... Dedicated to bringing you an edited selection of 60 of the world’s best brands in skin care, makeup and fragrance, Space NK sits in the thriving space and vibrant business district of Canary Wharf. Having opened in 2006, Space NK has been the beauty destination in East London. Since Space NK first opened in 1993, Founder and Creative Director Nicky Kinnaird has searched the world for the most magical fragrances, the very latest skincare regimes and the most innovative makeup solutions. Whether it's scientific, ground breaking technology, facialist developed or naturally derived skin care, it's all here in one beauty emporium with the best beauty brands sourced from around the globe. Discover skin care brands like Eve Lom, Dr Brandt, Ren, ReVive, Caudalie, Darphin, Zelens, Elemental Herbology. Practice makeup techniques with Shu

Uemura, Laura Mercier, By Terry, Lipstick Queen and Nars. Canary Wharf Magazine and Space NK are pleased to welcome Nicky Kinnaird to the Canary Wharf store on Thursday 31st March. Nicky Kinnaird will exclusively be on hand for personal one to one’s with customers sharing her tips and top product advice. Tickets for the exclusive opportunity to meet Nicky Kinnaird, Founder of Space NK will be available in store or customers can call the store on 020 7719 1902. Tickets cost £15 each (£10 will be redeemable against any purchase at the event). Customers will also be treated to a goody bag containing Space NK’s iconic Laughter fragrance and a glass of white wine whilst discovering Nicky Kinnaird’s beauty secrets. SPACE NK CABOT PLACE WEST LONDON E14 4QT WWW.SPACENK.COm

focus

RiveR island sland

Jo Malone

spRing has spRung... Spring Summer 09 is all about sexy silhouettes, high impact bold designs.Think swagger tailored jackets, asymmetric, paper cut micro dresses and stonewashed boyfriend jeans that add to the sexy allure of the 80’s. Razor sharp clutches and tribal stacked heels create an eclectic vibrancy. This fabulous mix is sure to tempt in the challenging season ahead. Naomi Dominique, Womenswear Design Director talks about the ideas and themes behind the fabulous collection for men: “The Menswear design and buying teams have drawn inspiration from the pattern and colours from the rebellious decade of the 80s. Suiting is high shine and razor sharp. Checks and patchwork are slim to the body and give a nod to geek chic. Sportswear is taken off the field and is back onto the high street with neon twists and colour blocking. It’s hugely important for us to ensure we have all the key looks covered this Spring Summer season to keep ahead of the game.” Rive island RiveR PRoMenade level cabot abot Place west 020 7719 6476

Following the phenomenal success of Sweet Lime & Cedar Cologne, The World of Jo Malone introduces the Sweet Lime & Cedar Collection – a home candle, shower gel, body crème and dry body oil all infused with this compelling and exotic scent. Inspired by the diverse flavours of Thai cuisine, the Sweet Lime & Cedar Collection appeals to both men and women, perfectly balancing zesty citrus fruits with fragrant, aromatic leaves, delicate flowers, spices and nutty woods. If it’s limited editions that you are looking for then perhaps the Kohdo Wood Collection will take your fancy. Two captivating fragrances, one for day and the other for night, created as a modern interpretation of the ancient Japanese incense ceremony of Kohdo: the ritual appreciation of incense. For day Lotus Blossom & Water Lily: uplifting and invigorating, and for night Dark Amber & Ginger Lily: soothing and sensual. There are candles, cologne and bath soaks to choose from.

Jo Malone Jubilee Place 0870 034 2411 www.JoMalone.co.uk

focus

Statement running from sweatyBetty Statement neons and blacks energise our workout ranges this season. The Statement Running Collection is designed to be highly breathable with compression panels to support and enhance performance. The Zero Gravity Tight is the hero of performance wear with gold fibre, sweat wicking and antibacterial components. And the Ejecta Seamless Compression Vest has no seams to reduce friction during activity. All gym members will receive an exclusive 15% discount in the Cabot Place East store on presentation of your gym membership card until the 31st March. Sweaty Betty Cabot Place East 020 7513 0666

Canali at Centanni The Canali Spring / Summer 2009 Collection, a complete range of men’s clothes all in two body shapes - Classic and Slim is produced in superfine natural fabrics. And now shoes are also available exclusively in Canary Wharf at Centanni, Jubilee Place. Centanni Jubilee Place 020 7516 0311

Zero Gravity Tight, £65, Ejecta Seamless Compression Vest, £49

Jeff Rowland at Artisan Fine Art The British artist dubbed as ‘the king of cinematic romance’ because he captures the intrigue of the 40s and 50s ‘film noir’, has extended his tour due to overwhelming demand. The follow-up collection entitled ‘Love Story’, showcases five new pieces inspired by David Lean’s Brief Encounter (1946) and are seen through the eyes of the director. Jeff will be painting live in the gallery on Wednesday 25th February, 12 - 6pm Artisan Fine Art Canada Place (near to Waitrose Food & Home) 020 3229 0172

The Spa-Capsule comes to Massage Express

Coral

Massage Express have opened their first salon in the UK to feature the unique spa capsule. It’s the ultimate stress buster, and in 20-30 minutes will make you feel like a different person.

Spring Preview from

Karen Millen Bold colour and an exuberant mix of separates define the mood of Karen Millen’s spring 09 collections. Safari styling is given a seductive spin with sleek pieces and vibrant accessories while an hourglass silhouette is echoed throughout with curvy jackets, fitted dresses and decorative belts. Play it up for spring with a wristful of animal print and jewelled cuffs and vertiginous platform sandals in snakeskin and animal print. Glossy totes come in primary coloured patent leathers or tropical prints while shoulder bags are studded and fringed or trimmed with colourful python straps and decorative tassels. Strappy sandals are printed with tribal patterns or kept sleek and simple with punched suede courts. Karen Millen Jubilee Place 020 7519 6153

Relax when using the latest in water jet technology, a dry water and full body massage to relax the entire body. When you get into a Massage Express pod there is no need to undress or get oily. Just lie back and enjoy some ‘me’ time. The Pods are multi-sensory and feature aromatherapy and audio visual systems to rejuvenate the body and the senses. Massage Express offer corporate rates for companies and the Massage Express gift card is a wonderful way to reward staff and you will benefit from their renewed energy. Call us now or pop in to arrange your first relaxing session.You can even rent you your own Spa-Capsule for all your staff to use.

The Cheltenham Festival is one of the highlights of the sporting year, with four days of top-class jump racing taking place in the wonderful setting of Prestbury Park. At Coral, you can experience the very best coverage of the action, with all 26 races shown live, along with the all the build-up from our team of big name pundits. One Canada Square Canary Wharf 020 7516 0041

Dune launches jewellery range! February sees Dune launch a fantastic SS09 jewellery range. It will consist of beautifully designed pieces priced from £25-£45, and will be stocked in the Canary Wharf store. The individually designed collection includes statement chunky necklaces with coloured stones and beads, as well as gold charm bracelets adorned with gems and jewels. The perfect accessory to a summer outfit.

Competition : 50 minute Spa Capsule Session for one lucky winner, to be chosen at random. To be in with a chance to win email CANARY WHARF ‘MASSAGE’ to cw@massage-express.co.uk Massage Express (next to Waitrose Food & Home) Canada Place 020 7719 0818

Dune Promenade Level Cabot Place West 020 7715 4755 Saville £35

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culture

Screen

Kasha Van Sant and Cat Hughes preview the latest releases

Gran Torino Clint Eastwood hasn’t been in the directorial saddle since Oscar®-winning Million Dollar Baby. So all eyes (including mine) were peeled to see what he would bring to the table with his latest offering, Gran Torino. Eastwood portrays recent widower, Walt Kowalski - a gnarled and inflexible Korean War veteran living in a changing world, where his principles and prejudices are threatened by his immigrant neighbours. A retired car worker, his only pride and joy is the Gran Torino which evokes the envy of his neighbours, including that of the young hoods next door. Events take an unprecedented turn after Kawalski takes matters into his own hands, with disastrous gun-toting consequences. Kawalski’s political incorrectness is possibly a barometer of the age, but does little aside from invoking the odd gasp and snigger in the auditorium. Sadly, Gran Torino holds no surprises and could very easily be a paler shade of Unforgiven with its undertones of hero worship and correction of lawless behaviour. Close your eyes and Walt Kawalski transposes quite easily onto Pale Rider’s Preacher or Dirty Harry’s Inspector Callaghan. But before the die-hards spit out their tobacco in fury, stop and ponder awhile – despite his age, Eastwood, ever the formulaic rule breaker, can still hold the attention, unlike his supporting cast. 3/5 Director: clint eastwooD running time: 117 minutes

Also on this month The popular Shopaholic novels have been given the Hollywood treatment, Confessions of a Shopaholic sees Isla Fisher play Rebecca Bloomwood – a NYC girl who likes shopping a little too much – snag a job working for a financial magazine. But her finances take a turn for the worse and she tries ever more hilarious ways to get out of her predicament. (February 20). The world of banking is in the dock again in

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The International. Starring Clive Owen and Naomi Watts, this thriller sees an Interpol agent spearhead an investigation into one of the world’s most high-profile banking institutions – in an attempt to expose them for arms broking, corruption and murder. (February 27). Starring Emily Blunt and Paul Bettany, TheYoung Victoria will focus on the first turbulent years of Queen Victoria’s rule and her legendary romance

and marriage to Prince Albert. (March 6). Marley and Me, starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston, is the story of a family who knew nothing of the good things in life until they meet a neurotic dog. (March 13). The Boat That Rocked charts the story of a pirate radio station broadcasting rock and roll in 1966. This ensemble comedy focuses on the music, the people who are spinning it and a romance on the ship. (April 1).

streep’s ahead Meryl Streep has had a long and illustrious career; her latest success Doubt sees her star alongside Philip Seymour Hoffman as an accusatory nun. She talks to us about Oscars, dragon ladies and discipline

eryl Streep’s thirty year career has seen her achieve a record 14 Oscar nominations, the record previously held by Katharine Hepburn with 12. The 59 year old chooses her roles carefully, from lonely housewife Francesca Johnson in The Bridges of Madison County, to her portrayal of the author Karen Blixen in Out of Africa, as well as troubled Sophie Zawistowski, the survivor of the Nazi war camps in Sophie’s Choice or now as John Patrick Shanley’s finger-pointing nun, Sister Aloysius who puts Father Flynn’s (Philip Seymour Hoffman) fate in the balance in Doubt. Did you enjoy playing a nun? I loved the nun’s outfit. No bad hair days!

Your character sees the world in a very black-and-white way don’t you think? She deals with the world in a very black-andwhite way. I’m not sure that she sees it that way. But she has found that it’s most effective to keep the strictures of the church, to keep to the dictates of her faith, to keep children in line, to keep the school running to tow a very hard line, and to make it right, clear, exactly what is expected. Did you like her? I liked her, yes! I think she wouldn’t mind being characterised as a dragon, but she sees herself as protecting these flowers, these children. She’s at the gate. She sees herself as either… you open the door this much. I think she’s seen this evil before.

interview

Have you ever been characterised as a dragon? Huh? In The Devil Wears Prada, yeah! Did you ever get taught at school by such a strict disciplinarian? Yes, I did. I did have one very harsh teacher. I’m sure everybody did. It was algebra. A man. Very strict. Italian. Hard-nosed. And people were scared in that class, but people paid attention, and people learned algebra. People really learned in that class. I had other favourite teachers that everybody loved. I remember nothing. So I mean there is something to focusing the mind, there is something to having discipline in a class. How did you prepare for role of Sister Aloysius? I just met some of the retired nuns, the remaining Sisters of Charity. There aren’t very many. They’re in their seventies, eighties, nineties. I went to two different retirement homes, had a couple of meals there, spoke with the nuns. Then I spoke with Sister Peggy. She was the model for Sister James. She was John Patrick Shanley’s teacher, in the first grade, when he was six years old. She was around. She’s in her seventies. She’s an inspiring character. Does religion play a role in your life? I follow no doctrine. I don’t belong to a church or a temple or a synagogue or an ashram. You said before age is humbling.What did you mean by that? Well, aren’t we all grateful to be alive? I’ve lost a lot of people in my life and I’m very grateful to be here. That’s what I mean. Do you feel that actors can retire? Sure. People talk about it. People always think about retiring. I don’t really. In our business, you’re not kicked out necessarily.

There’s been a lot of Oscar talk around Doubt. Do you still get excited at getting nominated? Yes. I get excited. I get intimidated. Hollywood to me is what it is to you. It’s something other than what I am. I sit outside it. Where do you keep your Oscars? Up on a high shelf. One of them is a really terrifying colour now! How do you stay so grounded? I don’t have a production company, I don’t have a staff. I have one assistant and she doesn’t read any scripts. I read the few things that I think will interest me, and I pick from them. My agent sends me the things he thinks are

well written, because I get mad when he sends me crap! But he also sends me some funny, offbeat things. What do you think about roles that are offered to you now? I think the parts for women my age are wilder, more extreme. The protagonists of a romantic comedy – something very conventional – are written for younger women. I’ve always thought of myself as a character actor, anyway, a theatre or repertory actor – someone who does a lot of different things, and I’ve always liked to. Even when I was younger, I took on some things that were odd – like Lindy Chamberlain [from 1988’s A Cry in the Dark]. One review said ‘The wilful destruction of her beauty.’ I’m interested in people’s lives and I like to investigate the truculent ones, the difficult ones. Do you always find it easy to get into a role? It’s more difficult to start because I doubt myself. I always go through a period, after

I’ve taken a job…I think about it for a while, then get ready and prepare. And then I stop thinking about it and then the time comes to start. I then just fall apart –I think ‘I don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t have a character. I don’t know why I’m here. Why did they hire me? Why did they want me to do this? I don’t know how to do this?’ It’s really weird. I’ve done it for enough years that my husband has pointed out the pattern and said to me: ‘You always do this.’ I say ‘No, I have never felt like this! It’s this project!’ He just goes on the golf course to get away! What keeps you sane? I’ve saved my money and I’m alright. When I was younger, it was more terrifying but not really. I don’t think I ever had a good sense of how on the edge of the abyss I was.You have optimism when you’re younger and I wasn’t afraid. Also, I live simply. I don’t buy a lot of fashion! How do you manage your career and your personal life? That’s a day-to-day question! Everything is a balancing act in life, and everybody has to have a sense of humour about what it takes. Really, being an actress in film, if you have a certain amount of success – even if it’s moderate success – you have a life that’s friendlier to your family because for large parts of it you’re unemployed. So you’re home. I’m home more than most working mothers. It’s the equivalent of flexi-time…except I’m employed and I think I’ll never work again. And then I get another job and I work for four months, and then I stop. n

ArtScene by CAROL CORDREY - carol@artalone.com

Monarchy in the

UK London’s Portland Gallery is synonymous with the highest artistic standards but its reputation reaches royal heights this month with a dual exhibition of work by Philip Jackson and Alexander Creswell, both recipients of royal commissions.

hilip Jackson is one of Britain’s most distinguished sculptors and his commissioned memorial to Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother will be unveiled in The Mall later this month. His representational sculpture can be seen in public works all over London and in locations as widespread as Geneva, Manchester, Argentina and York but he also creates distinctive, stylised figures which were inspired by a visit to Venice over twenty years ago. The trip had a profound effect, stimulating study of Venetian culture and how its people could carry out unconventional behaviour and betrayal behind Carnival disguise, especially masks. Nonetheless, their clothing and body language were vital clues to their identities so, back in his studio, Jackson experimented with creating, “impressionistic sculpture that looked back with 21st century eyes to that tradition”.

The Grandees (detail)

The masks and theatrical clothing imbued his new, faceless figures with an “other worldliness” and they were an immediate success. They also developed into one of Philip Jackson’s hallmarks. It is his new range of such figures that will be introduced at the Portland, but this will not be a genteel meeting; prepare yourself for an exhilarating confrontation with sculpture that you will never forget! Sculptures will range in scale from 8” to 8ft, one of the biggest being, The Grandees; how fittingly formal, powerful and aloof they appear with those golden faces staring dismissively above and beyond our heads. Also seated on a base will be Dangerous Liaison where tension and drama are implied by the patina of the bronze, the recoiling figure and the clenched fists. But does the title hint at a sexual liaison or a

Chanting Cimarosa

culture

political one? Are they “eye-balling” each other or smiling beguilingly behind those masks? Upright but equally striking is Chanting Cimarosa, her swan-like neck and delicate fingers suggesting youth which is reflected in Jackson’s choice of light patina for this piece. He created her for outdoors, ideally placed where sunlight could penetrate overhead branches and flicker on her vast skirt to suggest her progression to the rhythm of her singing. It’s a tour de force of femininity whereas The Don’s dominant scale, confident pose and black patina suggest to any man that he’s met his match. All the figures are fascinating, but as Philip Jackson puts it, “Long explanations spoil the mystery for people to unravel”. So I shall leave you to carry on where I’ve left off. Like Philip Jackson, a holiday experience was the catalyst for Alexander Creswell’s foray into a new type of art, in his case, marine painting, and his recent, great success with this genre will be on show at the Portland. Creswell had gained international acclaim for his breathtakingly beautiful watercolours of old buildings and this led to a royal commission to record both the devastated and subsequently restored rooms in Windsor Castle resulting from the 1992 fire. In 1998, he accompanied H.R.H. The Prince of Wales as Official Artist. But in the summer of 2008 his renowned ability at depicting the beautiful lines, detail, character and atmosphere of buildings was applied to the parallel features of magnificent Classic Superyachts which were racing in Cornwall and St.Tropez. Being a keen sailor himself, seeing those elegant old ladies in their fully restored glory, slicing through the waves at great speed, enticed Creswell to hitch a boat ride to take him up close and personal for preparatory sketches and photographs for future paintings. The boat became his very wet, floating studio yet he recalls it as a thrilling experience,

Clockwise from left: “’Some of them had masts as tall as Mariquita Quarter-wave churches so they felt like huge buildings Mariquita in a Squall off Falmouth Tuiga & Moonbeam IV off St. Tropez crashing by!” In contrast to Creswell’s architectural subjects, his marine paintings had to be injected with movement and drama but his personal experience of sailing was invaluable in recreating that, for example, in Mariquita Quarter-wave. Similarly, in Mariquita in a Squall off Falmouth the testing weather conditions are palpable through the grouped crew and soaked, steeply angled deck. Representing the less demanding moments of sailing is Tuiga & Moonbeam IV off St Tropez, the keynote here being elegance portrayed in those spectacularly lit, geometric sails, ultra-slender hulls and immaculately attired crews. Now that’s the life on the ocean wave that appeals to me! n

Philip Jackson, The Mysteries of Venice Alexander Creswell, Chasing the Breeze 19 March-9 April Portland Gallery 8 Bennet St. (off Arlington St) St.James’s London SW1A 1RP Tel: 020 7493 1888 www.portlandgallery.com

S P O T C O L O U R PA N T O N E 2 6 2 3

CMYK VERSION 2623

THE FINEST INDIAN CUISINE Enjoy a new fine dining experience in Canary Wharf: Dockmaster’s House, located in a stunning listed three-storey Georgian building, provides a vitality and charm to london’s financial district.

020 7345 0345 | reservations@dockmastershouse.com 1 hertsmere road | london e14 8jj | www.dockmastershouse.com THE IDEAL VENUE FOR

PRIVATE DINING, RECEPTIONS AND CORPORATE EVENTS Dockmaster’s House offers flexible accommodation for entertaining in an exclusive environment.

• THE STrovEr room is ideal for product launches, meetings and private entertainment (60 capacity) • THE CubE combines the elegance of natural stone and a generous glass frontage (30 capacity) • THE LounGE offers innovative cocktails, premium spirits and divine snacks in a sophisticated setting (35 capacity)

CELLAR BAR

OPENS ON THE 19TH FEBRUARY 2009 the latest addition to the vibrant bar scene in London Private areas are available for hire unwind with DJs playing great music until 2am award-winning mixologists will create drinks to match your mood

food&drink

Turning Japanese? Kasha Van Sant discovers whether the Nobu Berkeley, renowned for its contemporary Japanese fusion eating, celebrity and decadence, lives up to its reputation

he initial signs were good. Polite door staff, polite coat attendants and even more polite hosts. All smooth, smiling and polished on the right side of Stepford. My guest and I were shown to a table where we could survey the buzz of the busy restaurant. Box number one - ticked. Our utterly dedicated table waiter Yoram was extremely attentive and upon noting my pescatarian status did not hesitate to construct a menu accordingly. Armed with drinks: a glass of Sancerre ‘La Vigne Blanche’ 2007 (£7.50) and a small cold Hokusetsu Onikorashi Sake (£9.80), we were ready to sample. Appetisers came in the form of Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeno (£17.50) in its tangy citrus sauce and New Style Salmon Sashimi (£12.50). As an old school sashimi lover I loved the former, and the latter - seared salmon with olive oil and sesame seeds brought out the purist in me. Both were delicate and succulent, however. Tick number two. Next was the dramatic Tuna Sashimi Salad (£15). The tuna was creamy and mouth-melting, salad leaves and white radish, crisp and light, and the onion and soy Matsuhiri dressing tied in the whole dish perfectly. The Rock Shrimp Tempura (£14.50) came with three sauces, Ponzu, Jalapeno and Spicy, perfect for dipping the hot bite-size shrimp into. If I am to sing the praises of anything on Yoram’s menu selection then the Black Cod Den Miso (£32) was pulling no punches. And neither would you after a 2-3 day marinade of Miso, Japanese lime and ginger. The resultant sweet, black, caramelised crust revealed milky flesh; in a word

– ethereal! Tick number three! With the fish and seafood taking centre stage, the Crispy Pork Belly with Spicy Miso (£12.50) was in danger of being overshadowed. Not so, moist to the point of disintegration and topped with chilli and chives, it hit the spot! Next was the wood oven’s star dish, Cabbage Steak with Truffles (£15). Cooked in sake, smelling distinctly woody (funny that), layers descended from crisp to tender in one mouthful. Finally a selection of sushi: Soft Shell Crab (£9 / piece);Yellowtail and Salmon (both at £3.50 / piece); and Spicy Tuna (£6.50 / piece). All in all the Soft Shell Crab was the hero of this ensemble – stunning! I was ready to end my journey, but Nobu Berkeley had other ideas, in the shape of dessert! Namely the sublime After Hatchi Mint Brulee with Shiso Ice cream and Frozen Chocolate (£9.50). Palate cleansing and delicate this was ‘wow’ on a spoon and certainly more adult than it’s English after dinner counterpart! Tick, tick, tick! Speaking of which the Nobu Chocolate Tart with Sake Kasu Ice cream and Hot Chocolate Sauce (£9.50) was a showy chocolate bomb which melted upon hot sauce impact. Kapow! Sweet, sticky and rich, a definite crowd pleaser! So my meal was over and as an ardent Japanophile I could safely say this was an experience well worth repeating.  15 Berkeley Street London W1J 8DY 020 7290 9222 www.noburestaurants.com

Restaurant listings

RECOMMENDATION: Wagamama Founded in London in 1992, Wagamama still serves delicious and freshly ‘cooked to order’ noodle and rice dishes, along with fresh juices, Japanese beers and sake, all served by friendly staff in a sleek, well-designed, canteen-style restaurant.

Jubilee Place, 45 Bank Street, London, E14 5NY +44 (0) 207 516 9009

Signature Dish Yaki Udon Set Menu Children’s and Take Away menus available Recommended Wine Sake Opening Times mon - sat: 11.30am-10pm sun: 12-9pm Average price per head £20

Argentinian GAUCHO CANARY 29 Westferry Circus Canary Wharf, E14 020 7987 9494 GAUCHO O2 The O2 Peninsula Square, SE10 020 8858 7711

European INSIDE RESTAURANT 19 Greenwich South Street Greenwich, SE10 020 8265 5060

French PLATEAU Canada Place, E14 020 7715 7100

Gastro Pub THE GUN 27 Coldharbour Lane, E14 020 7515 5222 THE NARROW 44 Narrow Street, E14 020 7592 7950

Indian Dockmasters 1 Hertsmere Road London E14 8JJ 020 7345 0345 The Clifton 1 Whitechapel Road, E1 020 7377 5533

MEMSAHEB 65-67 Amsterdam Road Docklands, E14 020 7538 3008 The Rogue Trader 25 Westferry Road, E14 020 7517 9233

Italian/Pizza AMERIGO VESPUCCI 25 Cabot Square MacKenzie Walk, E14 020 7513 0288 CARLUCCIO’S 2 Reuters Plaza, E14 020 7719 1749 LA FIGA 45 Narrow Street, E14 020 7790 0077 QUADRATO The Four Seasons Hotel 46 Westferry Circus, E14 020 7510 1857 ZERO SETTE 2 Western Gateway Royal Victoria Dock, E16 020 7476 6564

Japanese ITSU Level 2, Cabot Place East Canary Wharf, E14 020 7512 5790 UBON BY NOBU 34 Westferry Circus Canary Wharf, E14 020 7719 7800

Mexican CHILI’S GRILL & BAR 2nd Floor, Cabot Place Canary Wharf, E14 020 7363 5678

Middle Eastern MEZ RESTAURANT 571 Manchester Road, E14 020 7005 0421 NiNA’S TAZA EXPRESS 322 Burdett Road, E14 020 7093 3552

Seafood BELUGA CAFÉ West India Quay Canary Wharf, E14 020 7537 4665 CURVE Marriott Hotel, West India Quay 22 Hertsmere Road, E14 020 7517 2808 FIRST EDITION 25 Cabot Square Canary Wharf, E14 020 7513 0300 caviar house & Prunier Canada Place Canary Wharf, E14 020 7516 0171

Spanish EL FARO Turnberry Quay, E14 020 7987 5511

food&drink

Chocolate Heaven Nothings says indulgence quite as well as a sumptuous chocolate pudding DARK CHOCOLATE MARQUISE, RASPBERRY AND MINT BUTTER SAUCE A frequently requested delicious and decadent chocolate pudding, this is a hit for all occasions when you need to impress!

METHOD DARK CHOCOLATE MARQUISE 1

Grease the loaf tin, then line with cling film leaving enough cling film to overhang the tin by half on either side. 2 Melt the chocolate and glucose together gently over a bain marie (saucepan with hot water in). 3

Once the chocolate has melted, stir in the soaked and squeezed out gelatine.

4 Now beat the egg yolks into the chocolate mixture as well. 5 Finally fold the soft whipped cream to the mixture. 6 Pour into the tin and tap down a few times so the mixture has got into all corners and has no air bubbles. 7

METHOD RASPBERRY AND MINT BUTTER SAUCE 1

Put the raspberries, water and icing sugar in a small pan and bring to the boil slowly, simmering for 10 minutes only

Remove from the heat and liquidise. Now pass it through a fine sieve

Add the lemon juice and whisk in the butter a knob at a time

4 Stir in the mint and allow to cool.

IENTS

INGRED 1 100ml 50g 25g

x x x

spberries Punnet ra Water ar Icing sug Â˝ lemon of e ld and ic Ju ust be co butter (M Unsalted bes) t to 1cm cu ed and cu cut up in lk remov ta (s es v Mint lea s) thin strip into very

Run a palette knife across the top of the tin so the chocolate has a smooth edge and fold in the cling film to cover the marquise.

8 Refrigerate overnight or for at least eight hours until firmly set. 9 When needed take out from the fridge and slice into portions using a long knife that has been dipped into hot water as this will give you a nice clean slice. Pour over the raspberry and mint butter sauce.

IENTS

INGRED 600g 50g 4 6 1 litre 1

x x x

chocolate ality dark Good qu lucose water Liquid g k in cold leaves (soa e n ti t) a el ou G ueeze ft then sq first till so ) n te ea s (B Egg yolk eam Double cr af tin lo g Bakin asing tin ghtly gre li r fo il O to line tin Clingfilm

Alternatively, if you would prefer to book some delicious food, catered for by delightful people, then give deWintons a call on: 020 7627 5550 or e-mail: info@dewintons.co.uk www.dewintons.co.uk

MEETING NICOLE We catch up with designer Nicole Farhi to talk about everything from Motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day to restaurants

interview

nyone who’s vaguely interested in clothes will have heard of Nicole Farhi. She has, after all, been wowing the fashion world with her stunning designs for almost 30 years. The Niçoise-born wife of British playwright David Hare has been dubbed as ‘beautiful, nonchalant and ageless’ (Cecilia Walden, The Telegraph). Nicole started her career in Paris as a freelancer before moving to London to work with Stephen Marks at French Connection. In 1982 her own label was launched, and since then Nicole has been producing world-class designs that have sashayed down many a catwalk and which are world-renowned for their layering, relaxed tailoring and knitwear. This year sees the 20th anniversary of Nicole Farhi menswear, with this season’s look moving towards ethnic prints and colours, and natural materials such as cotton and linen, giving a nod towards the vibrancy of India. Nicole Farhi has never been a one trick pony, and is also making a name for herself in the sphere of homewares. She certainly has many strings to her bow. We find out more.

our 20th anniversary of menswear this year. I am not sure I am a pioneer but we produce clothes that people love and trust and we have a very loyal customer base. The collections are always different but the attitude remains the same season after season; the woman has a mixture of softness with a masculine edge, she is a confident woman who wears her clothes rather than letting them wear her, she knows herself and does not follow trends.

There appears to be a trend of fashion designers pursuing other areas of design. How easy has it been to make the transition from clothing to homewares? Well, 2009 is the 10th anniversary of homeware for Nicole Farhi. So we’ve been doing it for 10 years now, obviously. We have our own dedicated store on Clifford Street, just around the corner from Bond Street with one-off antiques that I have collected and sourced from around the world. I am a sculptor and have fashioned all my homeware in the same unsymmetrical dimpled coloured glass and tableware. Great fans of the brand include the editor of Vogue to the Gallagher brothers.

What advice would you give to an up and coming fashion designer? Simply be true to yourself as a designer and

You often do these things ahead of trend; do you consider yourself a pioneer? We have recently celebrated the 25th year of womenswear and are now celebrating

How did the decision to branch into the restaurant and dining world come about? Nicole Farhi is a Fashion Lifestyle brand and the restaurants are a natural extension to our profile. We have 3 restaurants – Nicole’s, under the Bond Street store, is a smart and sophisticated space with an award-winning Mediterranean menu and excellent service. 202 in Notting Hill and the fashionable meatpacking district in New York are concept stores, some of the first of their kind, combining clothes, antiques, homeware and food.

a person, and always remember to be true to your customer. Where do you take inspiration from? I am not inspired by ‘the outrageous’ My designs are wearable and luxurious. I create a sophisticated and elegant collection – I do not design to shock. I’m also inspired by the intelligent man and woman, those who know how to look stylish and chic. They are the kind of people I like to design for. But most of all I am inspired by my love for what I do. I enjoy designing a collection that makes people happy. It still excites me to see my customers wear my designs. With Mother’s Day just around the corner, can you tell us how you usually celebrate this special day? My advice for Mother’s Day from my own experience is to go shopping with your mother to buy her something; my mother never liked any item of clothing I bought her! As she lives in Nice I send her flowers, but when I am there with her we always go out to lunch in the Old Town of Nice for perfect French cooking. www.nicolefarhi.com

Nicole Farhi Award winner • Eight time nominee for the British Fashion Awards British Classics Award 1989 • Contemporary collections 1995, 1996, 1997 • Menswear Designer of the Year at the 2000 FHM Awards • British Designer of the Year at the 2001 Maxim Awards • ‘Fifi’ award for the Nicole Farhi Homme fragrance • Lifetime Achievement prize at the First Women Awards • Entrepreneur of the Year at London’s Francais of the Year Awards • Honorary CBE (Commander of the British Empire) for services to the fashion industry

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Jobs in Jeopardy

In worrying times of economic uncertainty, Josephine O’Donoghue considers the measures needed to ensure continued job security and professional reputation whilst riding out the recession Is your job safe? Even if you think it is, are you being given the opportunity to move up the career ladder – or are you one of the many thousands of professionals in danger of being stuck fast in the same old position? Dramatic statistics illustrate that UK unemployment is rising at its fastest rate in 17 years. In mid-January, reports came in that unemployment in the UK hit 1.92 million in November (up 131,000 in three months), not including all the job cuts since then (27,000 lost with the closure of Woolworths for example).With 2 million now unemployed in February, the prospect of unemployment is fast becoming a reality, even for the most skilled professionals. “This is very worrying news at a time when highly skilled workers are losing their jobs in their thousands across the UK,” says Peter Skyte, the Unite Trade Union’s

national officer for the IT sector, “Any cuts in the UK would mean the loss of highly skilled workers, precisely those which the UK and the economy can ill afford to lose.” Official figures have also revealed that there were 530,000 job vacancies in the last three months of 2008, a sharp drop of over 69,000 from the previous quarter and the lowest figure since records began in 2001. So with increasing redundancies in the City, and the job market narrowing (with a large number of the unemployed population now overqualified), how might you hang onto your job successfully? Derek Pilcher, Managing Director of TheLadders.co.uk (the UK’s leading senior executive careers website) has collated an essential checklist to help high-level workers feeling threatened by the uncertainties of the current market. “It is easy in these turbulent

times to panic about the stability of your job and perhaps act in haste,” David explains, “Employees need to keep their options open but at the same time they mustn’t lose focus on the job they are already doing. Be prepared at work to put that bit extra in and voluntarily take on a little more responsibility so that you are indispensable. Keep networking in your businesses’ industry and don’t be tempted to run away and hide from the current climate – embrace it and you will come out fighting on the other side.” add some value Perhaps the most straightforward way to keep your current position is to contribute towards and improve company projects – what does your company lack, now that it has downsized, and how can you use your specialised skills to help fill this particular gap? As your

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Hay Group, an HR consultancy advises that “China, the Middle East and India are growing fast [although] we expect that to slow in a few years”, so work overseas for a short time and move back when growth picks up. If working overseas is out of the question, continue to search out training or promotion opportunities with your current employer, or enrol in an evening or weekend course so that you have a continuously evolving C.V. to impress your boss. For those only just out of university or for new graduates it is essential to stay openminded. If your dream job just isn’t available then why not take a more general role in the industry and move across when the economy brightens again. Working abroad or volunteering could help widen your range of skills and experiences, particularly helpful for competency tests during future recruitment. Alternatively, this lull in the job market could be the perfect opportunity to enrol on a Masters course – this will help avoid a period of unemployment on your C.V. and offer a more advanced skill-set to future employers.

The realiTy Ty is ThaT T haT jobs haT are less secure Than ever and shorTT Term conTracT Trac s racT are much more common. extra effort begins to create positive results, remember to be more proactive and ask to be involved in bigger projects. In order to avoid any nasty shocks, remember to assess your sector regularly. In a recession, banking and finance will typically make up around a third of all job losses, with the retail and construction industries close behind. The public sector is also at risk – local government jobs are no longer the safe bets they were once considered to be. Engineers however are in an excellent position, “Demand is up 19% this year and is set to outstrip supply by 23%

by 2010,” says Chris Cole, the managing director of Darwin Park Recruitment Consultancy. Meanwhile sales, marketing and customer-facing roles are deemed a far safer choice than the HR, finance, and IT roles which are set to feel the crunch. don’t stagnate If you are in the early years of your career, be sure to keep on moving; staying in your present role for too long is not always a good idea, even in the current climate. Recruiters often categorise slow movement as lack of drive or ambition. “It’s very important to keep up momentum,” maintains Max Williamson, a director of CareersInAudit.com, “In an economic slowdown, a promotion might not come. If you cannot see the next step in the UK, you can look overseas and leapfrog it.” Russell Hobby, an associate director at

don’t panic Redundancy rumours are rife in the workplace, particularly now as the UK slips into a full economic recession. Advice from Professor Cary Cooper (Professor of Organisational Psychology and Health at Lancaster University) is not to panic, and think logically: “Don’t bury your head in the sand, but do something positive,” he directs, “One of the greatest sources of stress in this scenario is the lack of control, so start taking control by looking at what jobs are around, both internally and externally. The reality is that jobs are less secure than ever and shortterm contracts are much more common. If managers are made redundant, then their PA or secretary’s job is also vulnerable.” For those who do decide to look for another job, subtlety is the key. Belinda Lighton of Knightsbridge Secretaries advises job-seekers to “Work out what you like about the job, what you’re good at, update your C.V. and start looking around”, but she warns against asking around at the office. “If you are really concerned about the rumours, then you can perhaps ask your boss directly, but make sure you have prepared the questions in advance and, more importantly, are prepared for the response.” Allison Leach (manager of the secretarial division of Joslin Rowe recruitment agency) says that “It is important to get as much advice as possible, perhaps register with two or three employment agencies and take a good look around the job market to see what is out there”. n

Regeneration Games Chris Baraniuk looks at small initiatives with big ideas to beat the 2009 economic crisis

veryone tends to agree that the quickest way out of the economic downturn will be to somehow kick-start business regeneration. Though a task much easier said than done, especially when no-one’s sure if we’ve seen the worst of the crisis or not, there are a number of small but inspiring initiatives that have been bubbling away over the past few months to help businesses, large and small, get back on track. Back in the middle of December, the banks agreed as an industry to pro-actively help small businesses experiencing the

bite of recession by promising changes such as meeting with managers in person, switching accounts within 5 working days and even helping to revise business plans and economic projections if such measures were necessary. Over the Christmas period, however, much of the reality of the slump in the retail sector hit small business-owners hard, and now it looks like innovation could be the key to rebooting the economy. attracting talent At the Skills London 08 event at the close

of last year, a company called Gateway media unveiled a novel way of attracting teens to careers in the City: an interactive game modelled on popular ITV quiz show, Who Wants to be a Millionaire. The game aimed to redress the perception that only investment bankers work at Canary Wharf by getting the players to guess the jobs of real employees (from a diverse range of backgrounds) who are working in the Canary Wharf Tower. “The exhibition gave us an opportunity to highlight the huge range of jobs available and the diverse backgrounds of people working there,”

business&finance

says Howard Dawber, Strategic Advisor for Canary Wharf Group Plc of Canary Wharf Group. “And this computer game made just the right impact”. Alongside ideas such as this, there have been a couple of small, tentative initiatives around the country which could provide a good example for bigger, city firms. For instance, ScrapShop (www.scrapshop. co.uk) is the name of a website set up to allow firms to exchange or sell excess stock with other businesses, in an effort to squeeze the most out of resources even during times of economic despair. The site has a strong eco-friendly slant to its project too, so businesses can, maybe for the first time, regain profits while simultaneously reducing their waste output. The ScrapShop model has plenty of potential for expansion, and is one of those great but simple ideas that could make a real difference for ailing firms. government schemes There are rays of hope, even coming from big businesses. German airline giant Lufthansa has just announced plans to run a series of workshops to encourage and aid businesses in making the most of flights between Inverness and Dusseldorf. The workshops are to be held in the north of Scotland, but like ScrapShop, this is a case of one business diversifying and stimulating others in an effort to achieve joint commercial success. In contrast, an instant remedy will be the government’s new business loan schemes. At the time of writing, the government looks poised to introduce further measures to re-inflate business confidence by offering more loans to firms teetering on collapse. According to reports, ideas currently being floated include: potentially releasing some £200bn of toxic assets from banks’ balance sheets; offering to help top companies buy commercial paper on the markets; and extending the lifetime of the special liquidity scheme, which was due to expire in January. There are also reportedly ideas at work to try and redraw and improve the bail-out for RBS and the newly-formed conglomerate, Lloyds Banking Group. This comes, of course, as an additional band-aid to the pre-announced plan to

guarantee up to £20bn of lending to smaller and medium-sized businesses. As the plan was announced there were voices who said it would not be enough, but the implication is that the government is continuing to think of new ways to stimulate regeneration. The three subschemes in the £20bn loan plan target both existing and new loans. Companies with a turnover of up to £500m can apply for funds under the central scheme, but there are other schemes for smaller businesses (with a turnover of up to £25m), who will be able to borrow up to £1m with 75% guaranteed by the government itself. Gordon Brown has also told the Financial

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Times that he wants banks to “come clean” concerning the level of bad assets in an effort to introduce as much transparency into the crisis as possible. The sum of all this seems to be that a combination of small-scale, but effective innovation and a rapid acceptance of what needs to change in order to survive the economic downturn is what businesses are emphasising right now. The message seems to be that ‘the sooner we get on top of things and start coming up with clever new ideas, the sooner we’ll be out of the woods’. And, as ever, the onus is on both government and firms to mend and make do until things pick up again. n

Zero Bonus

Dear Clare I work for an Investment Bank and have just received my bonus for 2008; it is zero. In previous years, I have always received a high amount. What can I do?

Yours, Andrew

Dear Andrew,

Given the economic crisis, banks are increasingly making cutbacks and bonuses will inevitably be affected. You should first look at your contract to determine whether or not you are entitled to a guaranteed bonus or whether the bonus is in the bank’s discretion. If you are entitled to a set amount and have received zero, depending on the conditions of the bonus, you may have a breach of contract claim against the bank. It is more normal however for bonuses to be awarded on a discretionary basis. A typical clause in a contract in the financial services sector includes discretionary bonus wording which allows a bank to award a nil amount. However, case law has limited the bank’s discretion somewhat. A bank

Martin’$ Money Matter$

The pension route to Business survival Martin Bamford, Chartered Financial Planner, Informed Choice

espite repeated promises to the contrary, there is widespread anecdotal evidence that banks are still not lending to small businesses. The proposed Government intervention is likely to start working in due course, but that will be little consolation to the small businesses who are strapped for cash today. Cashflow is what keeps a business alive. It is the cash you have physically available in the bank to pay for stocks, wages and rent. When traditional lines of credit from banks run dry there is an alternative option that only relatively few business owners seem to consider. Utilising your pension fund to provide cash can

keep you in business until economic conditions improve. Since the introduction of new ‘pension simplification’ rules in April 2006, there have been three main pension options to consider. The first is to access benefits from your pension plans. Assuming you are at least 50 years old, you are able to take up to 25% of the value of your pension funds as tax-free cash. This is more properly known as the ‘pension commencement lump sum.’ Once you take the cash the remainder of your pension fund can stay invested with the prospect of growth in the future.Taking your tax-free cash now does change the tax treatment of the pension fund on your death but for some small business owners

cannot be capricious or irrational in the manner in which it awards a bonus. For example, if you have significantly exceeded your targets for the year and other employees in your group (with poorer figures) have received a bonus, you may have an argument that the bank is behaving irrationally and therefore in breach of contract. However, a word of warning, the courts are increasingly favouring the employer and allowing them a wide range of discretion in the allocation of bonuses; this is likely to continue, given the unprecedented economic crisis. Banks are also more inclined to litigate in the current economic climate so as to set a precedent. You may be better to approach your line manager directly first and ask for an explanation of the level of bonus. The bank may have a particular rationale for not awarding you a bonus (for example, some banks are only rewarding bonuses to

this is a small price to pay. It is worth noting that the minimum age for taking pension benefits is being increased to 55 from 6th April 2010, so if you are in your early 50’s there is a relatively short window of opportunity for taking benefits. Pension option number two can be effective if your business already owns assets in which your pension fund is able to invest. A good example here is commercial property. It is possible for a pension fund to buy the commercial property from the business, in return for the cash within the pension fund. It is also possible for the pension fund to borrow some money in order to fund the property purchase. Whilst this still requires raising bank finance during a credit crunch, you may find it easier to borrow money against the security of a commercial property than based on your business plan alone. Again, it was the rule changes in 2006 which made this option possible. Before then, it would not have

certain categories or levels of employees). If you are not satisfied with his explanation, you could raise a formal grievance – look in the staff handbook for the relevant procedure. If you decide to pursue a claim, you need to have a good set of facts, clear supporting documents and unfortunately (unless you can secure a no win, no fee arrangement and legal costs insurance) deep pockets to cover likely High Court or County Court proceedings. Make sure you do a careful risk/reward assessment before committing yourself too far to pursuing this year’s bonus. n

Best wishes, Clare Clare Murray is Managing Partner at specialist employment law firm CM Murray LLP, based in CanaryWharf. To submit a query: e-mail clare.murray@cm-murray.com The contents of this column are for general purposes only. Specialist legal advice should be taken regarding specific circumstances

been possible for such a ‘connected parties’ transaction to take place. Thirdly, there is a type of pension scheme which is able to loan money to a sponsoring employer or associated company. Known as a Small Self Administered Scheme, or SSAS, this type of pension was gradually falling out of favour until the prospect of loaning money came back into fashion. A SSAS can loan up to 50% of net assets and must be secured with a first-charge on non depreciating assets of the borrower which are of at least equal value to the loan plus interest. The loan itself must have an interest rate of at least 1% above the Bank Rate. So, three often overlooked pension-related business funding options which may or may not be suitable for a given business. In any situation where cashflow is becoming an issue and business survival is at stake, it is essential to have a thorough discussion with your professional advisers, including your accountant and independent financial adviser. n

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SPRING CLEAN YOUR FINANCES The first day of spring this year falls on 20 March. It is also the Vernal Equinox, which is when the Sun is directly above the equator. On this day, night and day are equally long

by DR. DAVID KUO Head of Personal Finance at money website Fool.co.uk

egend has it that on this day you can balance an egg on its end. I neither have the time nor the patience to test the legend to destruction, but you are more than welcome to try. Personally, the only time I ever want to see an egg standing on its end is when it’s hard boiled, in my egg cup and next to a plate of wellbuttered toast. For some people, though, spring doesn’t properly start until the clocks go forward, which happens on the last Sunday in March. And spring is that time of year when the grass always appears to be greener and the sun seems brighter. Traditionally, spring was the time of year when people stopped eating their winter stores and farmers began planting new crops. Sitting on a combine harvester is fine if you are a farmer. But for most of us spring is better suited to reviewing finances because the new tax year is just around the corner. So, it is an ideal opportunity to brush cobwebs off those oft-neglected areas of personal finance. And where better to start than by getting rid of those nonmortgage debts. If you have debts, whether they are bank overdrafts, personal loans or unpaid credit card bills, begin by itemising every outstanding loan. Review the interest rates on each loan and list them in order, with the one bearing the highest rates first. Next, throw as much as you can afford at this debt until it is cleared, while making minimum payments on the rest. Then tackle the next one and the one after that until you are debt free.

The name for this technique is snowballing. That’s because just as snowballs get bigger and bigger as they roll down the hill, so debts gets trampled and obliterated at a faster rate the more you apply the technique. It makes sense to review your mortgage at this time too. Interest rates are at their lowest for decades, and if you believe that this is unlikely to persist for long then now could be a good time to get a fixed-rate

If you don’t already have a portfolio of shares, then now could be a great time to dip your toes in the stock-market waters. With interest rates wallowing at levels not seen for centuries, buying shares makes sense if you think of investing as being a part-owner in a business. Remember that while there may be an air of despondency around us, not all businesses are suffering. Some aren’t

Sitting on a combine harvester is fine if you are a farmer. But for most of us spring is better suited to review finances because the new tax year is just around the corner. mortgage. You may have to pay a little more for fixing your rate, but at least you will know where you stand for the next few years - it makes household budgeting so much easier. Review your savings, and find out if you are squeezing the most out of your cash reserves. If you haven’t used your ISA allowance this tax year, then do so without delay. You still have time to get your application form in for the current tax year. Bear in mind that your ISA is there for both planned and unplanned expenses. And by putting your savings into an ISA wrapper you get the interest free of tax. If you own shares, then scrutinise each company in your portfolio. Decide whether it still makes sense to hold the shares or whether it is better to invest your money in a different company.

suffering at all, and these champion shares should emerge from the downturn as stronger businesses. It is often said that there are just two rules to investing we need to know. The first rule is never to lose money. The second is never to forget the rule number one. Over the last decade many of us have, perhaps unintentionally, lost money because we have thought that the rising value of our homes is a one-way bet to greater wealth. So make this spring a time to restore wealth by cleaning up finances. The Motley Fool can show you how to pick shares, but don’t expect us to show you how to balance an egg on its end. n

Fool.co.uk Seriously good with money

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lifestyle

Playing the Blame Game It seems that the natural human response when we discover we are landed in a crisis is to find someone to blame by Raj Persaud, Consultant Psychiatrist

ankers have recently found themselves a natural target for the stocks – not the usual ones they trade in; but more the medieval ones in which the pilloried could be trapped and pelted. How soon before the Square Mile does something similar as a craven banker’s way of apologising to angry customers? As a psychiatrist I am used to patients coming to see me and announcing in their opening line that there is nothing wrong with them. Instead it’s their spouse, their kids, the boss at work and a whole host of other people on whose shoulders the burden of responsibility rests for their distress. The stark reality is that, much as I would like to, I can’t go about treating the world in order to ensure the patient feels better.The only person we can change is ourselves.The good news is that in response to personal change, others tend to transform too. No matter how much opprobrium we throw at the bankers, part of the mess arises from the fact that we, the general population, borrowed too much based on a mistaken idea that our homes would continue rising evermore in value. The housing bubble may appear at first glance to have been stoked by banks’ over-willingness to lend to those who couldn’t really afford to borrow. But to be strictly fair, the bankers reasoned that even if the mortgage was defaulted upon, the house or the asset on which the money was lent would still have gone up in value and it seemed that the risk was minimal. But there are also psychological roots to this crisis. Why for example do bubbles burst over and over again with the same inevitable ‘shock’ consequences? If you are in a room with balloons bursting every few seconds you would get used to it. Indeed you should come to expect every balloon that you encounter to burst. House prices have risen fast before and then plummeted. Why do we fail to learn the lessons of history – repeatedly? According to the latest statistics the US Housing market rose an average of 1.4%

annually for the three decades before the beginning of the new millennium. But with the start of the new century they behaved like a greyhound that discovers the trap door is up and the hare has got an unfair head start. They raced away to a stunning hike of an average 7.6% annually from 2000 to the middle of 2006 when they began to stall. From mid 2005 to the middle of 2006 when the market was its most feverish prices rose an average of an eye-watering 11%. It also seems that history repeats itself, in that the bubble bursts just after a period of the fastest inflation.Indeed we only have to go back just a few years to witness the last financial bubble that burst with explosive consequences. This bubble was the Dot Com boom and bust. From the start of 1998 to the start of 2000, the AMEX Internet stock index increased nearly 600%. However, by January 2002 it had basically returned to its 1998 valuation. One would have thought with that bubble so fresh in recent financial memory that we would not make the same mistake in the same decade? Are there psychological factors which might explain these puzzling phenomena? Roger Altman, who was US Deputy Treasury Secretary in the early 1990’s, writing in the current issue of the erudite journal

There are several psychological phenomena which might assist us in understanding the current financial crisis and help us in our own personal recovery. One example is something that is referred to in psychology as the ‘law of small numbers’ – which basically means that we tend to focus on recent experiences rather than take into account the whole of the past. So, in the housing market, the fact that the price was going up in recent years meant we paid more attention to that than what happened to house prices historically over the last three decades.They often surged up but they also plummeted afterwards. Another interesting psychological phenomenon is ‘overconfidence bias’, the tendency we have to be overconfident in our investments and therefore not to diversify appropriately.There is a lot of psychology going on here, but it is in part linked to herd mentality.We assume that others know what they are doing when we face uncertainty and if they are all piling into the housing market we make the big assumption that they know something we don’t.We use their behaviour as a cue to our own.Therefore this produces massive surges in market movements that don’t reflect underlying fundamentals. The bottom line really is that in order to make wise investments in the future

In a classic pattern of overshooting, markets are swinging from euphoria to despair. Now, the psychology of financial institutions has swung to a conservative extreme. They are overhauling their credit-approval and risk-management systems, as well as their leverage and liquidity ratios. Foreign Affairs acknowledges that psychology is a key issue and points out that while countries like China will also be adversely affected by the current worldwide crisis, because customers in the west are less inclined to buy Chinese products as indeed they are to buy anything at all, China is likely to be much less adversely affected compared to us. This is partly because the average Chinese household saves an incredible 40% of its income. How much of your income do you save?

and learn from the mistakes of the past you need to be aware of your own psychological vulnerabilities. These include a tendency to not spread risk enough, to assume others must know what they are doing, and to not pay enough attention to the overall history of the market as opposed to the recent past. n Raj Persaud consultant psychiatrist www.drrajpersaud.com

citylife

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Take a bow

Canary Wharf Cup

Get rid of your winter blues by looking towards the warmth of spring and summer with the Ted Baker Spring / Summer 09 collection. Bows feature heavily in the womenswear collection, adding a touch of playfulness to its garments, bags and jewellery.

The David Beckham Academy has organised a football tournament on May 13th 2009: For £1,000 entry fee you can test yourselves against footballing legends. Compete in a team of 7 with your colleagues, invite 7 spectators, receive a professional photograph, and a chance to win the trophy.

www.tedbaker.com

Don’t worry, be happy If you’re feeling a bit glum, Clinique’s ‘Happy’ Gift Set is bound to cheer you up no end. The citrusy fragrance of the included perfume, body cream and lip gloss will leave you feeling bright and perked up for the rest of the day. £32

Good hair day Conveniently located near Canary Wharf, just two minutes from Bermondsey station, the Lounge Hair Salon offers a great range of very reasonably priced cutting, styling and colouring services for both men and women, ensuring that you will leave looking and feeling your best. 020 7237 2624 www.theloungehairsalon.co.uk

www.clinique.co.uk

Shall we dance?

Glam up

For those of you who’d like to try something different, get fit and have a great time why not give some Ballroom or Latin dance lessons a try? Simply Dancing Partners offers group classes, where you can request a dance partner in advance. The private lessons really are a must and the team of highly experienced instructors will have you dancing the Argentine Tango like a pro.

Make a fresh start with Hobbs’ spring collection. Easy-towear separates, beautiful summer dresses, sharply tailored jackets and attentiongrabbing accessories all add instant style. With the emphasis on quality, cut and finish, every carefully crafted piece is guaranteed to blend seamlessly into any wardrobe.

020 7736 4493 www.simplydancingpartners.co.uk

www.hobbs.co.uk

For further details, please contact Anthony White on 020 8269 4620 or 07738 503 467 awhite@aegworldwide.co.uk www.thedavidbeckhamacademy.co.uk

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Food, glorious food

Go Boldly with Tumi, Canary Wharf

Rocket (City) Adams Court, Old Broad Street London, EC2N 1DX 020 7628 0808 citybookings@rocketrestaurants.co.uk www.rocketrestaurants.co.uk

Tumi Cabot Place East Canary Wharf London E14 4QT 020 7513 2456

Rocket in Adams Court has two lively wine & cocktail bars and a fabulous restaurant. The restaurant is excellent value for money serving 13” pizzas and a tasty selection of fresh salads and grills (two courses and a bottle of wine costs on average £50 for two).

Take a break If you have trouble deciding what to do with your annual leave, then 20 Days is the tool for you. This members-only club made up of like-minded 20 and 30 somethings, helps you make the most of your annual, weekends and bank holidays by organising a variety of breaks both abroad and in the UK, from skiing in Europe to surfing in Cornwall, as well as trips to all the big events such as the Henley Regatta and Cartier Polo. www.20days.co.uk

Pink indulgence Whoever said that chocolates have to be for a special occasion or be bought for you by a loved one? It’s always good to indulge yourself and what better way to do that than with some of Hotel Chocolat’s gorgeous Pink Champagne Truffles? These tantalising little treats are dusted with strawberry powder to give them a subtle hint of fruitiness. Perfect for a night in under the duvet. £6-£15 www.hotelchocolat.co.uk

If you travel on shorter overnight trips or within Europe frequently, this limited colouring Alpha Continental 20” CarryOn is a must-have. Meeting BAA Size regulations it offers a slightly wider front than Tumi’s other 20” wheeled carry-on. Made from Tumi’s signature ballistic nylon, its main compartment expands 2.5” and features a removable garment sleeve. £484

Antioxidant-Rich Cherries! A recent study discovered that just 30ml of CherryActive Concentrate has greater antioxidant power than 20 average portions of fruit and veg*! CherryActive can be mixed with water to make a delicious cherry juice or added to your favourite fruit juice, smoothie or natural yoghurt. Great for Adults and Kids alike! Available from health stores, Waitrose Canary Wharf or www.cherryactive.co.uk (£13.65 for 473ml) *8260 ORAC units for 30ml CherryActive Concentrate v 1750 ORAC units for 5 average portions fruit and veg (source: Brunswick Labs, USA)

Bubbly on the go Transporting Champagne can risk a broken bottle or lukewarm bubbles! Such woes can now be a thing of the past, thanks to Swaine Adeney’s new classic Champagne Traveller, which is created with solid brass fittings, boasts a stainless steel cooler and is housed in a case of the finest quality hide. It ensures the bottle is kept secure, at the right temperature and beautifully presented. £1950 www.swaineadeney.co.uk

111

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what'son 3 Feb - 14 March

6 - 28 February

EVENT

THEATRE

TRACES

THE WATER’S EDGE

Les 7 Doigts de la Main (The 7 Fingers) a young French-Canadian company, have pioneered a whole new brand of circus. Their show Traces was a hit at the Edinburgh Festival in 2007, and now it comes to London for the very first time.

Set deep in the Massachusetts woods a lakeside mansion slides into disrepair. Echoing Aeschylus’ Agamemnon The Water’s Edge moves between American naturalism to Greek tragedy, where revenge and murder lurk unseen.

Peacock Theatre Portugal St WC2 0870 737 0337 www.sadlerswells.com

Arcola Theatre 27 Arcola St E8 2DJ 020 7503 1646 www.arcolatheatre.com

12 February – 17 May

Portrait of Mary Hill, Lady Killigrew 1638

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18 February – 17 May

ART & EXHIBITIONS

RODCHENKO AND POPOVA: DEFINING CONSTRUCTIVISM

VAN DYCK CK AND BRITAIN This sumptuous exhibition brings together some of the finest and most magnificent paintings that van Dyck produced during his years in Britain. It also reveals his continuing visual legacy through portraits by artists from the eighteenth to twentieth centuries, including Sir Joshua Reynolds.

The Tate Modern takes a look at the lives of Liubov Popova (18891924) and Aleksandr Rodchenko (1891-1956), pivotal figures in the debates and discussions that defined Constructivism. Tate Modern Bankside London SE1 9TG 020 7887 8888 www.tate.org.uk/modern

©Tate

Liubov Popova Painterly Architectonic 1918

events

Our guide to this month’s top events

Tate Britain Millbank SW1P 4RG 020 7887 8888 www.tate.org.uk/britain

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what'son

Our guide to this month’s top events

27 February - 1 March

28 February

EVENT

THE BABY SHOW

THE STARS

The Baby Show is back at ExCel offering hassle free shopping and great value on a variety of products from retailers such as Mothercare and Baby Planet. Special guests include, sleep specialist Jo Tantum and baby nutritionist Annabel Karmel.

Ever wanted to find the Plough and ended up just seeing stars? After this practical workshop you’ll never be confused again. Come and learn about the key stars in our skies and how to use the Royal Observatory’s new Prime Skies mobile-phone project.

ExCel Royal Victoria Dock E16 1XL 0871 231 0844 www.thebabyshow.co.uk www.excel-london.co.uk

Royal Observatory Blackheath Avenue Greenwich, SE10 8XJ 020 8312 8575 www.nmm.ac.uk

Until 1 March

ART & EXHIBITIONS

TAKING LIBERTIES

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY: IAN FLEMING AND JAMES BOND

In this free exhibition, the British Library presents an insightful perspective on the 900-year struggle for Britain’s freedoms and rights. The British Library St Pancras 96 Euston Road NW1 2DB 020 7412 7676 www.bl.uk

To celebrate the centenary of Ian Fleming’s birth, Imperial War Museum London has produced the first major exhibition devoted to the life and work of the creator of secret agent, James Bond. A last chance to see the show. Imperial War Museum London Lambeth Rd SE1 6HZ 020 7416 5000 www.iwm.org.uk

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what'son

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Until 7 March

3 - 7 March

THEATRE

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW

HIPPOLYTUS

The Royal Shakespeare Company and production director Conall Morrison present one of Shakespeare’s most comical plays. The flamboyant Petruchio wins the unruly Kate’s hand in marriage. Will his unconventional methods succeed in curing her temper and scolding tongue?

Goddess Aphrodite is furious at Prince Hippolytus’ refusal to worship her, so she takes her revenge on the Prince by employing the secret lust of his stepmother Phaedra. This presents a fresh interpretation of Euripedes’ horrifying tale of a family torn apart. Greenwich Theatre Crooms Hill SE10 8ES 020 8858 7755 www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk

Novello Theatre Aldwych WC2B 4LD 0844 4825170 www.rsc.org.uk

7 March

EVENT

PUCCINI’S MADAMA BUTTERFLY

UPFRONT PRESENTS COMEDY MIX

On screen at the IMAX, Cristina Gallardo-Domâs, the original Butterfly of the production when it opened the 2006-07 season, returns to the title role of the late Anthony Minghella’s stunning production, a new classic of the Met repertory.

Rich Mix presents a cutting edge line up of some of the comedy circuit’s sharpest comedians. Including Choice FM’s Wayne Rollins and loud mouthed Midlander, Annette Fagon. Rich Mix 35 - 47 Bethnal Green Rd E1 6LA 020 7613 7498 www.richmix.org.uk

BFI IMAX 1 Charlie Chaplin Walk South Bank Waterloo SE1 8XR 0870 787 2525 www.bfi.org.uk

11 - 21 March EVENT ISADORA / DANCES AT A GATHERING Two exciting Royal Ballet performances choreographed by the masters of the 21st century, both works brings out the passion and drama of Kenneth Macmillan and Jerome Robbins.

events

Our guide to this month’s top events

020 7240 1200 www.roh.org.uk

12 March - April 4 ART & EXHIBITIONS JEREMY BARLOW Popular artist Jeremy Barlow returns for a solo exhibition featuring 20 new oil paintings inspired by his recent tours of Italy and France. See the show at Llewellyn Alexander Fine Paintings. 124 - 126 The Cut Waterloo SE1 8LN 020 7620 1322 www.llewellynalexander.com

TIME OFF ARTS AND EVENTS Until 22 February Canary Wharf Ice Rink Canada Square Park www.canarywharficerink.com 23 February, 6.45pm (Doors 6pm) Starlight Cinema - 2001: A Space Odyssey (U) East Wintergarden, Bank Street FREE Monday 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 March 12.30-1pm & 1.30-2pm Urban Sounds Throughout Canary Wharf FREE 23-27 March ISS Canary Wharf Squash Classic East Wintergarden, Bank Street www.canarywharfsquash.com 30 March, 7.15pm (Doors 6.15pm) Canary Wharf Comedy Club East Wintergarden, Bank Street For tickets visit www.ticketweb.co.uk or call 08700 600 100 VISUAL ARTS Until 27 February ‘The Isle is full of noises’…an installation

Canary Wharf Arts & Events in February and March with light and sound by David Ward Jubilee Park FREE Until 27 February The Window Galleries Designs by Zoe Murphy, Emma Lacey’s Tea for ‘Duo’, and Glimpseonline.com Affordable Exclusivity Cabot Place and Canada Place Retail Malls FREE 2-28 March The Window Galleries Joanna Basford, Sunday and Rex and Clare Willard Cabot Place and Canada Place Retail Malls FREE Until 3 March The Community Gallery Green Canary Day Children’s Art and Photography Canada Place Retail Mall FREE Until 20 March Knit One, Purl One – A new installation by Lyndall Phelps Lobby, One Canada Square FREE

THE NEW ‘EXPRESS LUNCH MENU’ AT CURVE

Dishes starting from £6.50 Great menu, great service, great value!

Reservations: 020 7517 2808 London Marriott West India Quay 22 Hertsmere Road, Canary Wharf, London E14 4ED. loncw.curve.ot@marriotthotels.com

Composite

what'son

events

Our guide to this month’s top events

15 March

Until March 15

MUSIC IN THE MIX – SUNDAY FREE JAZZ

ART & EXHIBITIONS

Soweto Kinch brings new flavour each week to the Rich Mix Bar with a selection of guests including Femi Temowo and Zed U. In the Mix 35 - 47 Bethnal Green Road E1 6LA 020 7613 7498 www.richmix.org.uk

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BABYLON For two thousand years the myth of Babylon has haunted the European imagination, the Hanging Gardens and the Tower of Babel have inspired artists, writers and film makers. Now archaeologists have pieced together the ‘real’ Babylon. British Museum Great Russell Street WC1B 3DG www.britishmuseum.org

15 – 29 March

17 March - 4 April

THEATRE

EVENT

SOOTY IN SPACE

INDIAN AND OTHER BIRDS

Sooty is back with for another adventure with Richard Cadell, Sweep and Soo. Join the group as they explore Mars, the moon and a space station on their magic rocket.

Indar Pasricha Fine Arts is holding a solo exhibition, Indian and Other Bird’s by leading ornithological artist Hermann Heinzel. Highlights include a portrait of a Lammergeier (Bearded Vulture), caught in its eyrie on a mountain ledge; one of Heinzel’s rare oil paintings.

Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon 020 8688 9291 Alban Arena, St Albans 01727 844488 Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage 08700 131 030

22 Connaught St W2 2AF 020 7724 9541 www.ipcontemporary.com

19 - 22 March

Until 29 March

THEATRE

ART & EXHIBITIONS

ANTONIO GADES’ CARMEN

MAGNIFICENCE OF THE TSARS

The acclaimed Antonio Gades Company presents a powerful re-staging of Gades’ all-time classic Carmen. Featuring a cast of 26 singers, musicians and dancers, Gades perfectly captures the essence of Bizet’s love story, while adding his own modern twist.

The grandeur of Imperial Russia will be captured in this display of dress and uniforms worn by the Tsars, their courtiers and officials for over two centuries.

Sadler’s Wells Rosebery Avenue EC1R 4TN 020 7863 8198 www.sadlerswells.com

Victoria & Albert Museum Cromwell Road SW7 2RL 020 7942 2000 www.vam.ac.uk

13 April

Until 30 April

ART & EXHIBITIONS

EVENT

ANDREA PALLADIO : HIS LIFE AND LEGACY

BESIDE THE SEASIDE

Supported by Castello di Reschio, this is the first exhibition dedicated to the architect in London for more than 30 years. Palladio was one of the greatest Italian architects and his work has continued to resonate over five centuries. Royal Academy of Art Burlington House Piccadilly W1J 0BD 020 7300 8000 www.royalacademy.org.uk

The exhibition brings together photographs, posters and seaside memorabilia from both working life and early tourism along the United Kingdom’s coast. National Maritime Museum Greenwich SE10 020 8858 4422 www.nmm.ac.uk

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The Taming of the Shrew

Following the Royal Shakespeare Company’s much acclaimed Hamlet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Novello Theatre, the RSC’s London Season concludes with The Taming of the Shrew. **** ‘THOROUGHLY ENJOYABLE’ Sunday Times ‘Francis O’Connor’s gorgeous design propels us into a 16th century Italy of colonnades, arcades, clock-towers and churches’ Evening Standard ‘Brimming with comic invention‘ **** Daily Mail

The flamboyant Petruchio wins the unruly Kate’s hand in marriage. Will his unconventional methods succeed in curing her temper and scolding tongue? Stephen Boxer returns to the company to play Petruchio. He is joined by Green Wing’s Michelle Gomez as Kate. To win a pair of tickets, please send an email with your name, address and telephone number, with RSC in the subject field, to competition@runwildgroup.com

The RSC’s The Taming of the Shrew is on 12 February – 7 March at the Novello Theatre 0844 482 5135 www.rsc.org.uk/london

Special Reader Offer Top price seats just £25 (usually £40) Valid: Monday – Friday performances, 18 – 27 February. Call the box office on 0844 482 5135 and quote “ £25 offer” Winning tickets are valid: Monday – Thursday eve performances, 18 Feb – 5 March , subject to availability. Canary Wharf_Feb/Mar 09:Layout 1 10/2/09 10:05 Page 1

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CANARY CANA RY WHARF CITYLIFE CITY LIFE

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2009 • ISSUE 44

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JANUARY 2009 ISSUE 16

WHARF CITYLIFE

THE CITY MAGAZINE

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the city NOVEMBER 2008 ISSUE 14

NOVEMBER 2008 • ISSUE 41

JANUARY 2009 • ISSUE 43

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Holiday Apartment, Princess Islands, Istanbul, Turkey £230,000

Holiday Home, Gallipoli, Turkey £95,000

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This compact 3 floor, 4 bedroom seaside terraced house with amazing views of the Dardanelles Straight, would make a perfect holiday home for anyone trying to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Situated a mere 20 minute drive from central Gallipoli and a 25 minute drive from Dardanellia, you can enjoy the region’s diverse culture and its historic sites. Gallipoli is known for its proximity to the ancient city of Troy with its legendary wooden horse.

Property Fact Sheet: • 3 bedrooms • 2 bathrooms • Large living/dining room • Terrace • Kitchen • Residence pool • Gym • Residence garden • Private concierge and security

Property Fact Sheet: • 3 floor house • 4 bedrooms • Living room with fireplace • Kitchen • 2 bathrooms • Balcony with barbecue facilities • Garden • Residence pool • Parking

For more information call Joanne on 07595952670

Stake your Place in Europe’s Most Exciting Investment Market Buying off-plan property in a market where values are appreciating is a guaranteed way to ensure an immediate return on your investment. No market in Europe is enjoying the same level of growth as that of North Cyprus. With revived reuniﬁcation talks now taking place in Cyprus, property prices in the North are poised for a

boom. Whiterocks offers investors the chance to purchase superior property in order that each of our clients may capitalise on the push toward reuniﬁcation. Thanks to a world ﬁrst partnership with market leaders Group RCI, investors in Whiterocks can expect maximum occupancy rates for their properties. A two bed, two balcony luxury

apartment at Whiterocks can be bought from £85,000. Investors should anticipate annual rental returns of up to £13,000 - a yield of 15 % thanks to Group RCI’s global marketing network.

Predicted 15% Annual Yields

“At the moment property prices in the North are half of property prices in the South of the island, and a third of that in Spain. Should reuniﬁcation happen, property prices, along with tourism are likely to rise rapidly, so would-be early birds should start thinking about investing now.”

lovethefestivalhall.org.uk

Daily Telegraph Online, June 12 2008

An investment in the right place at the right time. Today is the Day to Make Your Best Investment Yet Though property in North Cyprus has been enjoying fantastic appreciation in recent years some investors have been reluctant to invest because of the political climate. But the election of Demetris Christoﬁas to the Republic of Cyprus presidency in February 2008 has turned sceptics into optimists. He joins his TurkishCypriot counterpart Mehmet Ali Talat as the second piece of a

pairing determined to solidify a solution to the political situation in Cyprus. They have already met more times this year than their long standing predecessors met in their entire political careers. Since September 3rd 2008, the date on which negotiations officially began, Christofias and Talat have been holding regular meetings in order to work out the specifics of a blueprint for reunification.

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The Whiterocks resort has been designed by Blue C’s major shareholder, IDL (EU) Limited, a team of highly respected, award-winning architects who have worked with some of the most distinguished names both on the high-street and in property development, in the UK and overseas. Their experience and expertise, combined with Blue C’s incontestable initiative in developing

unrivalled property the world over, are the foundations on which the Whiterocks resort is based. Blue C believes that their Whiterocks resort raises the standard for property in North Cyprus, and the company is adamant that they are uniquely positioned to provide uncompromising quality and speciﬁcation, making Whiterocks a far more lucrative investment opportunity than any other

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Thanks to a world ﬁrst partnership, Blue C Developments are delighted to be able to offer all of our clients the advantage of using an industry leading rental corporation, Group RCI, to manage the bookings on each apartment and, crucially, to maximize the monthly yield that each of our investors receives on these fantastic properties. Group RCI manages a network that includes over

3 million members and accesses a massive number of international databases, extending the advertising reach of these fantastic properties and ensuring that each property will be bringing in rental returns for the vast majority of the year. Group RCI offers our clients a hands off investment opportunity, with all aspects of the property’s maintenance and management taken care

of. Each investor is guaranteed 70% of the monthly rental returns on their property. But that’s not all. With reuniﬁcation now in sight, your £85,000 initial investment could grow to £190,000 in less than two years, as the disparity between property prices in Northern Cyprus and the Republic of Cyprus closes.

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AS KI N G AN D A N SWERI N G A LL THE KEY I N VEST MENT Q UES T I ON S Published November 2008