Which are you? Minimalist or maximalist.

Which are you? Minimalist or maximalist.

December 09, 2023

Do you lean towards the uncomplicated, or prefer to go large with all bells and whistles? Bauhaus or Baroque, Armani or Versace, Sushi or French Haute Cuisine? Maybe you swing both ways like me, but I lean more to

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Winter Sun - UAE

Winter Sun - UAE

November 24, 2023

It’s an odd place Dubai. Each of the half dozen times I’ve gone in the last 20 years it’s almost unrecognisable. Such is the rapid pace of change with a population now half the size of London and most of that since...

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What Has Meaning For You?

What Has Meaning For You?

October 29, 2023

It was a question I asked myself recently in a semi-panic. I’d just bagged four non-refundable air tickets to Arizona in the BA sale about ten months ahead. The idea was to give the boys an educational adventure in cowboy country, except I later discovered they didn’t know what cowboys were and didn’t seem too interested. 

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Winter Sun - Cambodia

Winter Sun - Cambodia

October 13, 2023

I’m sitting here watching water buffalo in the paddy field. They’re less interested in me than I am in them which suits me just fine; happy to observe and enjoy without disturbing their day. Staying at the beautiful Phum Baitang resort in Cambodia, part of...

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The French Connection

The French Connection

September 01, 2023

Are we jealous of the French? Do they envy us? This love-hate relationship of the frogs and les rosbifs has lasted a thousand years, along with forty-one wars in the meantime and two World Wars as allies. But London is the sixth largest French city (were it in France) and the English love France second only to Spain as a European second-home or retirement destination.

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Fear of Conversation

Fear of Conversation

February 08, 2023

I hate to think of any client feeling anxious about their time in the salon.

Rosie the Londoner (Professional Influencer) highlighted this issue on her last visit and set our whole team talking. Not just the issue itself which we’re sensitive to, but the stream of responses on her IG site chiming in with those feelings. 

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Winter Sun - Marrakech

Winter Sun - Marrakech

February 04, 2023

When Aman Resorts gate crashed the 5-star market in 1987 it blew the gilt off luxury and ushered in a quieter understated quality of hospitality.

Instead of overt excess, luxury could be less. Less bells, less whistles and most importantly, less other people. Here was a resort with

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Fighting Inflation Part 2

Fighting Inflation Part 2

January 14, 2023

Is it old age that gives rise to ranting and casting opinions on authority? Or just that most of the people dictating our lives are younger than me now? But then hairdressers have always had opinions along with black-taxi drivers. 

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Fighting Inflation

Fighting Inflation

January 14, 2023

Declining productivity has been the Western World’s conundrum these last few decades. Whether you blame social media, low interest rates, WFH or ‘The Age of Entitlement’, there’s no denying the zeitgeist, and as a business, we haven’t been immune.

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Do You DIY?

Do You DIY?

December 31, 2022

Are you fed up waiting around for builders? Or even getting them to commit to a time and day? I believe that for ourselves and society’s sake, we should mostly operate at our highest level of value. I’m responsible for a salon team of 50 staff looking after 5000 clients. I run a...

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Is Selfcare Selfish?

Is Selfcare Selfish?

September 17, 2022

It’s now a few weeks since schools returned. The chill of winter is breezing through intermittently. The holiday glow has faded and the hair may reveal the dry, faded consequences of zero sun-protection. Aggravated scalps may also be flakier.

This seasonal shift beckons us to assess, repair and renew, ready for the next chapter. Investing in

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Farewell Mum ❤️ 1923 – 2022

Farewell Mum ❤️ 1923 – 2022

September 09, 2022

I’ve spent 20 years worrying about Mum (mostly needlessly) and thinking of this day. But it still didn’t prepare me for the sudden loss of the enormous energy field she held and the waves of grief that follow. Grief… the price you pay for love, as Queen Elizabeth II said. RIP - mother figure of our nation. Another shock this week. We’re all carrying much sadness.

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