Live from the Royal Albert Hall

Sting - Friday 1 & Saturday 2 October 2010
Sting comes to the Hall as part of the Symphonicity Tour with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. This very special tour sees Sting's greatest hits re-interpreted with brand new orchestrations. Set-lists will include Police tracks such as 'Roxanne', 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic' and 'Every Breath You Take' plus songs from Sting's enduring solo career - 'Englishman in New York', 'If I Ever Lose My Faith in You' and 'Fields of Gold'.

Corporate Box Hospitality

• Pre-show hospitality in a Grand Tier Box (12 seater) Loggia Box (8 seater) or Second Tier Box (4 people). Includes:
• Private hire of a box – 4, 8 or 12 guests
• Selection of hot and cold food platters before the show
• Complimentary beers, wines and soft drinks before and during the show
• Personal waiter
• Exclusive Symphonicity Tour pen

Grand Tier box £3480 + VAT
Loggia Box £2280 + VAT
2nd Tier Box £1040 + VAT

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL - TOTEM
Wednesday 5 January - Friday 18 February

Discover Cirque du Soleil's brand new show! TOTEM is a fascinating journey into the evolution of the human species, from its original amphibian state to its ultimate desire to fly. Inspired by founding myths, this spectacular new production traces the journey of the human species from its original amphibian state to its ultimate desire to fly.

We have a choice of hospitality packages available to entertain your guests at this eagerly awaited event. Choose from box hospitality or our unique 'Galleria' experience which includes a pre-show dinner with a bird's eye view of the auditorium.

Champagne Box Package

• Private box for 4, 8 or 12 guests
• 1/2 bottle of champagne per person, orange juice and mineral water
• Cold finger buffet laid out in the box
• Hot bowl food served during the interval in the box
• Personal box waiter
• Souvenir programme (one per guest)
• Tapis Rouge gift

Grand Tier Box (12): £ 3,300 + VAT
Loggia Box (8): £ 2,200 + VAT
Second Tier Box (4): £ 1,100 + VAT

'Galleria' Dinner Box Package (available on certain performances only)

• Private box for 8 or 12 guests
• Welcome glass of champagne on arrival
• Enter our beautifully enchanting TOTEM themed Galleria for a pre-show two-course dinner, with quality wines
• Waiter escort to the box, with guests served a glass of champagne at the start of the show
• Personal box waiter
• Interval dessert and coffee served in the box
• Souvenir programme (one per guest)
• Tapis Rouge gift

Grand Tier Box (12): £4,080 + VAT
Loggia Box (8): £2,720 + VAT

Courtesy of the Royal Albert Hall View our profile at www.number-42.com

Love at the Royal Opera House!!

The Royal Opera Season opens with Jonathan Miller's popular production of Mozart's comedy, Cosi fan tutte – a modern-dress version of an 18th century classic. Miller's sharp-edged examination of the behaviour of two pairs of young lovers whose relationship is manipulated with consequences that are simultaneously hilarious and emotionally devasting transfers effortlessly to the era of mobile phones!
Opens 10 September at 7pm.

The Royal Ballet's Season opens with John Cranko's Onegin, a full-length work which brings the whole Company on stage in scenes of Russian imperial splendour and intimate passion. The two roles at the centre of Pushkin's famous story of unrequited love are the young Tatiana, at first reserved and naïve, and the aloof imperious Onegin.
Opens 30 September at 7.30pm.

Courtesy of The Royal Opera House View our profile at www.number-42.com

In the summertime, when the weather's fine...

The holiday season is upon us and for those who haven't booked a holiday yet, our friends at Original Travel have come up with five top destinations which inspired them. Think long al fresco lunches in Tuscany, diving in Gozo or exploring whitewashed streets on the island of Santorini.



Even by Italian standards, Tuscany and Umbria are regions of outstanding natural beauty and cultural riches - their historic towns are packed with architectural and artistic treasures, and surrounded by picture-postcard landscapes of rolling hills and cypress trees. Think Tuscan villas, Florentine frescos and beautiful Assisi, and you will experience instant rejuvenation basking in the warmth of Italy.

Croatia has one of the most outstanding stretches of coastline in the world. If you can tear yourself away from the beautiful medieval city of Dubrovnik, Croatia's coastline has a myriad islands and a warm Mediterranean climate, and other cities nearly as beautiful (and definitely less over-run with tourists) than Dubrovnik.

Comprising just 25 square miles, Gozo at first seems a staunchly traditional island, steeped in religious and clan ties but every summer weekend sees a village celebrating their patron saint's festival with street parties and huge clan flags flying, in traditions unchanged since the middle ages.

The island of Cyprus has a choice of superb beach resorts from which to explore the island or soak up the warmth. History and hedonism are a perfect combination.

Steeped in history and surrounded by sandy beaches and azure seas, these islands are no longer the preserve of the package holiday - a number of excellent new boutique hotels have made them ideal destinations for a luxurious tailor-made holiday as well.

Brought to you by Original Travel View our profile at www.number-42.com

What do all these brands have in common?

Well, once upon a time, Jif, Marathon and Oil of Ulay were household names in the UK until around the turn of the century. Since then, and to the horror of many, these products changed their name for the apparent purpose of 'unifying their brands internationally and globally'.

'Cif?' - I have read that the UK product called 'Jif' had to change to 'Cif' as most Western Europeans pronunciation of 'Jif' did not sit well in their speech. Although I believe it is still called 'Vim' in India!

Confused?

And what about Marathon? I have read that when the UK 'Marathon' bar changed its' name to the US version called 'Snickers' (which is apparently named after the Mars family's horse), the UK got to keep 'Twix' as a sort of trade off, which had been called 'Raiders' elsewhere but has now become 'Twix' worldwide.

'Oil of Olay' is actually its original name and was only renamed 'Ulay' for the UK market. In 1999 under the banner of Proctor and Gamble the beauty product returned to its origins and became 'Olay' globally. However, to this day I am sure there are many of us who still refer to it as 'Ulay'!



There is one brand I have still to mention - one which I am sure you will be as delighted about as we are; that of 'The Cheval Group', which as of the 16th June has rebranded as 'Cheval Residences', creating an enhanced global identity for our exclusive serviced apartments, and to further unify and strengthen our brand, our 6 properties in London have been renamed;

• Cheval Knightsbridge
• Cheval Calico House
• Cheval Phoenix House
• Cheval Gloucester Park
• Cheval Thorney Court
• Cheval Hyde Park Gate

More details are to be sent from No. 42 in the near future.

To view the rebranded website for Cheval Residences please visit www.number-42.com

Homage to Rene Lalique

Lalique is celebrating 150 years since the birth of its legendary founder, René Lalique, with the launch of the definitive ‘Hommage to René Lalique’ collection.

The new ‘Hommage to René Lalique’ collection re-examines and reinterprets the original iconic glass creations of René Lalique in crystal to celebrate the 150th anniversary of his birth in 1860.

A true homage to Lalique’s creator, the Perruches vase symbolises an original design that has been brought back to life. A fragment of plaster was found in one of René Lalique’s old workshops in the factory in Wingen-sur-moder, France. It was later discovered that Lalique had created it for a vase that was to be exhibited at the Museé d’Orsay in Paris. Here, given a new lease of life, the Perruches vase is restored to its former glory and made yet more special by its limited production.



A work of unparalleled beauty and displaying the young priestesses of the god Bacchus, the Bacchantes vase has become a lasting symbol of Lalique’s celebrated style and remains a top-seller throughout the world. Re-launched in 2010 in grey, its meticulous detailing, hand-carved by the master craftsmen at the Lalique factory, the Bacchantes vase remains a timeless icon in the Lalique crystal collection.

Amongst others in the collection, the Courlis vase stands out due to its striking jade green colour and captivating design. Depicting mysterious curlew birds migrating over the ocean to more moderate skies, the Courlis vase perfectly represents the values so important to René Lalique’s work.

Other items in the collection include the beautiful Cep decanter and tumbler, the Hirondelles perfume bottle with iconic swallows design and the remarkable Antoinette clock.

Brought to you by Lalique View our profile at www.number-42.com

Anyone for tennis?

The British summer has arrived and with it the summer season impeded, as always, by the weather. However, this has never stopped the Brits and the visitors to our shores from flocking in their droves to the Chelsea Flower Show, Ascot, Henley and, of course, Wimbledon.

For tennis lovers this is the pinnacle of the tennis calendar and all stars of this sport aspire to holding that trophy aloft. Wimbledon began life as the All England Croquet Club, founded in 1868. Lawn Tennis was introduced in 1875 and we have never looked back. Could we ever forget the all time greats like Bunny Austin, Rod Laver, Margaret Court, Billy Jean King, Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe. Steffi Graf and Boris Becker lit up the tennis circuit in the 1980s with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and the Williams sisters setting the grass ablaze in recent years.

Enter Robert Ettinger, an avid fan of tennis who through perfect timing and a bold approach landed his family company the much coveted licence to supply the world famous championships with leather goods and gifts. Well, despite the fact that the championships are over for this year, should you make it to the hallowed grounds of SW19 for next year’s tournament, do take a detour to the shop where you can pick up a souvenir of your day at the tennis championships.

Courtesy of Ettinger of London View our profile at www.number-42.com

Scaling the heights

How do I sum up a week's trek in one paragraph? Mount Kilimanjaro - what an amazing experience. Conquering the summit felt amazing, but, getting there was full of highs and lows. Taking that first step on day one was what I had spent five months training for, so I was rearing to go. It didn't take long before I started to question what I had got myself into as the heavens opened and it didn't look as if the rain was going to let up. It didn't for the whole time we were on the mountain.

Every day brought something new - different terrain, flora and fauna.



It had to be said that my favourite flower was Kilimanjaro Passion otherwise known as "elephant's trunk". It was amazing to be walking through rainforest one day and really sparse landscape the next. Every camp we reached was an achievement. Some days had steeper climbs than others, harsher environments to sleep in - certainly not helped by the fact that the tent leaked! Emotions were all over the place not helped by altitude, but still we kept going.

As we had agreed to disagree about the route to summit before we left, it was a relief when the guide made the decision for us on day two. We were going up the Western Breach. For those of you who have read about it you'll know that it is not a light decision to take. I was just glad that we were starting our ascent in the dark and all I had to do was worry about putting one foot in front of the other and not - or what was more to the point - not around me!



Pretty exhausted by this point the 00:30 wakeup call was not very welcome. After a quick drink and biscuit we set off. The ground was covered in snow which was getting deeper the further we walked. We arrived at the point of no return and from then on in, it was going to be a scramble on all fours. Time passed and the sun rose but we were still going - we were told that we would be at the summit for sunrise so obviously there was an issue! It took several hours to crack the rim of the crater. The snow was deep and every step was tiring and time consuming but it was well worth the effort - arriving at the rim and looking down on the route we had taken was breathtaking. Not only was it beautiful, but had I seen it in the daylight I would have bottled it! We walked across the rim, still some way off the summit, past a glacier. The colour was so pure and the snow just glistened.



It was at this point that we had to really push ourselves to continue to the summit. Seeing the final ascent ahead of us covered in deep melting snow we knew it was not going to be easy. More scrambling was definitely required but there was no way that any of us were going to give up. The truth was we couldn't as it was also our only way down! You would think that we'd reach the summit after the final ascent, but no, we got to the top and there was still a walk on a very slow uphill gradient. The mist came in and there was a total wipe-out. We headed very gingerly in the right direction. Eventually seeing the sign for Uhuru Peak I walked the quickest I had for the whole week - the only time “pole, pole” (slowly, slowly) was not shouted at me – and eventually collapsed in a heap under the sign just after midday.

I had achieved my goal along with the others - summiting the highest mountain in Africa. No one could ever take away that sensational feeling of achievement away. It was just a shame the game lodge wasn't next door as we still had a day and a half's walking to do! Suzanne Cribb 2010

Chris Taylor runs the London Marathon

At 5.35 am on Sunday, 25th April, Chris Taylor stood at the ready to begin his epic marathon run to raise money for Children in Crisis. He was joined by thousands of others including Lorraine Kelly from GMTV. It was all smooth sailing until he hit Canary Wharf when he developed a blood blister on his foot but he was not giving up at this juncture and soldiered on despite the discomfort. Around the Embankment mark he felt himself flagging but with determination pushed on until the second wind kicked in. After five hours, thirty five minutes, he crossed the finishing line and promptly celebrated with a cigarette and a pint. He raised £3451.75 excluding gift aid and the 40 people who ran the marathon in aid of Children in Crisis collectively raised £90,000.

News from Children in Crisis

Suzanne Cribb bikes to Paris with Children in Crisis
On 13 June, Sue arrived in Paris, on bike, in support of Children in Crisis. She recruited four of her friends to join her and they have raised over £6,500 with more money coming in every day. A massive thanks go to Suzanne for her commitment to raising awareness and support for our charity.

Champagne, Cocktails and Canapés
Our event at Smithfield Bar and Grill in May was a huge success. Even though we were a little low on numbers, the guests who did attend had a thoroughly enjoyable evening. They were shown how to mix perfect classic and contemporary cocktails, as well as tasting some great summer champagnes. We raised £900 at this event – which was a great achievement.

Plans for the rest of the year
We are hoping to hold a quiz night late summer and also an intimate fundraising dinner at 42 Berkeley Square. Keep reviewing the website for more details.

We are looking for individuals who would like to help arrange the charity events. If you are interested, please e-mail Anna at annac@childrenincrisis.org

Find out more about Children in Crisis online at www.number-42.com

Meet a member – interview with Elizabeth Lake, Bell Pottinger Sans Frontiere

Where are you originally from?
England…. Bit embarrassed to admit I am from Essex so I will stick to England

How did you become an executive assistant?
I had worked for 5 years in property management and decided it was time for a change. Before I knew it I was working as EA to the chairman of one of the biggest PR companies in the UK, Chime Communications and now I work for Bell Pottinger Sans Frontieres as an Executive Assistant to the MD and the Marketing Services Director

What is the most important quality an executive assistant should have?
Organisational skills, patience and attention to detail, but most importantly being tolerant of your boss, each day they are under different pressures and it is crucial that you learn to understand this so that their day can run as smoothly as possible. Time management is also crucial to being a successful EA.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
If money was no object then I would travel extensively, but on a regular basis I enjoy exercising particularly British Military Fitness, but nothing beats spending time with friends and family.

Why did you join Number 42?
I joined Number 42 to meet like-minded individuals and build on my network of contacts and enjoy the wonderful events that they host.

What would you like to get out of your membership to Number 42?
I am hoping to not only meet new people, but experience more opportunities; for example, being able to join the committee for Children in Crisis which is probably not something I would have thought about before.

I am also hoping to be able to take advantage of the many wonderful offers we get at various establishments throughout London.

What are the best and worst parts of being an executive assistant?

• Best: the best of my job is probably realising that I am the lynch pin in my bosses lives and that when I am not there they miss me! (I hope)
• Worst: I think for me the worst part of my job is the constant scheduling and rescheduling of meetings and being expected to constantly find solutions to problems that are occasionally unsolvable.

What is your greatest career accomplishment?
EA to Lord Bell.

What is a typical day at work like?
I don’t think there is ever a “typical” day at work, which always makes each day interesting. There are the regular jobs of diary management and travel but each day brings a new surprise and you can never plan your day and as they say “the best laid plans”. What you think is going to be a relatively normal day turns out to be something totally different.

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
It is hard to say where I think I will be in 10 years time, but hopefully I will have my own EA.

What would your ideal job be?
Dolphin trainer.

Number 42 News

Number 42 celebrated its first year on 10th June and what a year it has been. We have had some exciting salons with A-list guests speaking on a variety of subjects including Carole Stone, Lynn Franks, Baroness Jo Valetine, Susan Aubrey-Cound, Julia Hobsbawm and the inimitable Albert Roux. Some of our luxury brands in partnership with us have hosted spectacular evenings. Lalique held a wonderful exhibition of their glass here at the House with a talk on satin glass making and the history of Lalique and Fortnum & Mason invited the membership over to their store for an evening. Principal dancers from the Royal Ballet were guests at our Nutcracker party and who could forget the magnificent Christmas tree courtesy of Bright Size Life Designs.

On 28th April, Susan Aubrey-Cound, Director of Multichannel for Marks and Spencer, spoke to the membership about her experience as Executive Assistant to Stuart Rose, the then CEO.

It was a fascinating account of her two years as his EA supported by a slide presentation which had us riveted to our seats. Some of us felt a bit exhausted listening to how she had managed her incredibly busy schedule and the general consensus was she encouraged many who have to deal with the demands of a heavy working day.

The 27th May saw us all assemble at Fortnum & Mason for an absolute treat of an evening. We were greeted on arrival with a glass of chilled champagne and the most amazing canapés, many of which were miniature meals in themselves. We assembled to hear the archivist recount the history of the store and many commented they could have listened to her all night. The members then had a tour of the store followed by a brilliant prize draw and more champagne!!

Miller Harris held a fragrance profile evening at 42 Berkeley Square on Wednesday, 23rd June. We were vying with a ‘smaller’ event taking place in the southern part of Africa, so attendance was not up to the usual standard but even so we all enjoyed the talk by Miller Harris’s ‘nose’, Nancy Lodder, who took us through the various notes that make up a fragrance. Everyone enjoyed the social interaction and we all left smelling like roses!

Number 42 is One!

The 1st July saw the members of Number 42 gather together to celebrate Number 42’s first birthday. Who would believe we launched a year ago – it seems like only yesterday.

Everyone enjoyed a birthday tea of cucumber and smoked salmon sandwiches, scones and cupcakes. The cupcakes were made by Chris, Milly and Francie to add a fresh baked feel to the evening. The members enjoyed the informality and the evening was rounded off with a delicious glass of fizz and a bag of goodies.

Our last salon of the season took place on Thursday, 15th July and Donald Maynard, the Deputy Cultural Attache to the American Embassy spoke to us about his observations on a variety of subjects including the eccentric British!

We indulged in some American style canapés washed down with a Cosmopolitan cocktail or two!

The evening was sponsored by the Lauren Berger Collection who gave a great presentation on their luxury apartments in New York and The Hamptons.

This was followed by an exhilarating talk from Donald Maynard detailing his career in the US State Department. He was an engaging speaker and kept us enthralled and amused throughout. Everyone had such a great time they spilled over into ‘The Punch Bowl’ and the party carried on until closing time.

Save the date!

We have some exciting events for the autumn. Mark Bolland will be guest speaker at Number 42 on Wednesday, 8th September with Lloyd Grossman on Thursday, 23rd September.

Claire Ginzler, the stylist with ‘Ten Years Younger’ will be advising us on fashion styling for real women and how to mix & match your wardrobe on 21st October.

Congratulations – to Ashley Dougan and Chantal Ayodeji who were the winners of the Lauren Berger Collection

Well, it’s a wrap! See you all in September and thank you for your participation that helped our first year really swing.

The Classics - Eaux Parfumées

Ten Year Anniversary Limited Editions

When Miller Harris was first launched in year 2000, perfumer and founder Lyn Harris created a fragrance in each of the four main fragrance families: citrus, floral, woody and oriental. Entitled The Classics, these best-selling fragrances exemplify Lyn’s signature style as a perfumer as well as allowing her to pay homage to some of her favourite and finest raw materials.

To celebrate the ten year anniversary of the brand, Lyn has revisited her original formulas for these masterpieces and added a new twist to each fragrance. Working with her most precious original materials as well as expanding her palette to include new notes and harmonies, Lyn has adapted each formula to present four exquisite limited edition colognes.

The Classics Eaux Parfumées are designed to be used in abundance. Presented in 200ml bottles and formulated with only a very small amount of alcohol, they should be used as refreshing colognes.



‘The Citron Citron Eau Parfumée is enhanced with sparkling green notes and elemi, a hot, peppery oil, to complement Sicilian lemon, Spanish orange and Jamaican lime.

With Coeur de Fleur, I enhanced the original floral bouquet with a white flower accord centered around orange flower blossoms.

I elevated the green galbanum note of Terre de Bois with an exotic fruity accord to give it an extra twist.

For Fleur Oriental, I heightened the top accord with a vibrant citrus cologne accord to make it more like an oriental veil on your skin.’
Lyn Harris

The Classics Eaux Parfumées – 200ml £90
Launch – June/ July 2010

Courtesy of Miller Harris View our profile at www.number-42.com

Picnic at Hanging Rock

The British summer has arrived in all its glory; the air is redolent with birdsong and gardens and parks are in full bloom. What better way to while away our sultry summer days than to indulge in a picnic and Fortnum & Mason are featuring two of their bestsellers to tempt you into their Piccadilly store. So don your wellies, get out your mackintosh squares and enjoy a day out with one of these fabulous hampers.



There are some occasions when a mere picnic is not enough – you need a fully fledged feast and Fortnum and Mason’s outdoor feast represents the best of their Food Halls. Inside each of their brand new cool bags nestles a splendid repast of mixed olives and hand-carved Wiltshire Ham, followed by pork rillettes with crusty bread, poached salmon portions and a large chunk of Moroccan chicken pie, accompanied by crunchy crudités. Bring the feast to a glorious finale with strawberries and mint, and boxful of freshly baked mini cup cakes. The menu includes a bottle of Viognier, Hildon still water, and they’ve included all the cutlery and crockery necessary for a proper picnic, all packed into their new Fortnum’s cool bag.

Fortnum’s Wicker Picnic is a feast worth dressing up for so if you are off to Glyndebourne or anther event of a similar nature then this is the hamper for you. This moveable feast begins your al fresco dinner with Kir Royale, made with Fortnum’s sparkling English wine and English cassis – the perfect drink for a summer’s day. A first course of fine beef carpaccio is followed by half a dressed Scottish lobster with a salad of peas, broad beans and asparagus and bagatini bread rolls, served with a bottle of Sancerre. To finish we have two red fruit tarts, a cheeseboard of Cropwell Bishop Organic Stilton and Walnut Wafers, and a little box of Fortnum’s Champagne Chocolate Truffles. The picnic includes a new Fortnum’s accessories pack, which contains all the necessary crockery, cutlery and glasses, as well as a cheeseboard, a sharp knife and two napkins. All you need to complete the feast is a sunny summer evening in the gardens of Glyndebourne.

Courtesy of Fortnum & Mason View our profile at www.number-42.com

Hitting the high notes

For most people, thoughts of New York City do not illicit horticultural images. Broadway lights, shopping, eating, and 5th Avenue, are undoubtedly the most common ways to describe the infamous tiny island of Manhattan. The closest term which might coincide is perhaps the “iron jungle”, however surely never images of wild flowers and tall green grass. Yet, even the most ardent of New York City visitors will be surprised to hear that a new garden is growing in the most unlikely of places. Away from maddening crowds and sitting high in the sky there lies a long oasis of wild flowers and budding trees. To explain just exactly what I mean requires a short lesson in NYC history. In 1847 the City of NY authorized the use of street level rail cars to transport products up and down the west side of Manhattan. Within years the number of accidents between rail cars and street traffic became monumental, so a new solution was needed. By 1930, the current equivalent of US 2 billion dollars was authorized to build an elevated railway that would run from Spring Street, up to 34 Street. However, unlike typical elevated railways stretching up and down the length of avenues, the High Line was constructed to cut through city blocks. For 50 years trains transported goods back and forth through this High Line. In 1980 the last train transported a truckload of frozen turkeys, marking the end of an era. For 20 years the structure lay dormant to the naked eye, but underneath wild flowers and trees were taking root. Within a short time, the tracks vanished beneath a forestry of plants. After a 3-year refurbishment in June 2009, the High Line Park was born, a new horticultural sanctuary running through the iron jungle.

Come take a stroll down the High Line and experience the beautiful gardens, the breathtaking views of the Hudson River and feel the excitement that is New York.

Brought to you by the Lauren Berger Collection View our profile at www.number-42.com

Highland Retreats

Inverlochy Castle Management International (ICMI), the Scottish company that manages some of Scotland’s most famous and stylish hotels, including their flagship, Inverlochy Castle, voted the “Best Hotel in Europe” by the American Travel & Leisure magazine in 2006, has opened two more hotels this spring: Inver Lodge in Lochinver, Sutherland, and Greywalls, on Muirfield, in East Lothian.



Inver Lodge Hotel, for many years the Vestey family’s shooting, fishing and hill walking lodge in Assynt, remote Sutherland in the north west of Scotland, reopened in April, with a Chez Roux restaurant specializing in seafood. Greywalls, the iconic Sir Edwin Lutyens designed country house hotel, the first in the UK, also reopened with a Chez Roux restaurant in May. This brings to three the number of restaurants in Scotland operated by legendary chef, Albert Roux.

Stalking, fishing and walking are the main activities at Inver lodge. The dramatic scenery is also popular with painters and in particular water colourists. At Greywalls, golf is the main attraction with some 15 top golf courses in the neighbourhood, the most famous being Muirfield, home of the Open. Greywalls is only a 25 minute drive into Edinburgh, with its cultural attractions (the Edinburgh Festival and Tattoo in August is the biggest arts festival in the world) and shopping. Greywalls can cater for small conferences, but distraction could be a problem as the Muirfield 10th tee is just outside the window.

Courtesy of Inverlochy Castle Management View our profile at www.number-42.com

Air-sea rescue...

Wettest autumn, the coldest winter, a volcanic spring – we’re ready for the all important summer season at Oxygen-4! An influx of requests and bookings for the short-haul European destinations have manifested themselves... the ever popular Cote d’Azur, Sardinia and Tuscany will always remain strong choices, but this year we have seen a noticeable increase to the Balearics.

The number of clients returning to yacht charter has also increased. Oxygen-4 has been involved in booking a number of charters for the summer already. Few luxury holidays top flying to your destination by private jet to Naples, followed by a private chauffeur-driven transfer to your awaiting yacht to sail around the many interesting and beautiful ports of the Amalfi and west coast of Italy, before returning you to Palermo for ‘home James’ by private jet. This is just one recent example of an air-sea rescue we have been involved in providing for our VIP clientele.

These regular shorter hop destinations also give rise to the number of ‘empty-leg’ opportunities that offer a huge saving for clients. Worth mentioning is that we are able to match these jet charters with the requirements of our clients.

Summer loving, happy at last... Courtesy of Oxygen-4 View our profile at www.number-42.com

An Apple a day...

Why do some companies become market leaders, whilst others lag behind?

How do great leaders make others want to follow them to the ends of the earth?

You might think the answer is obvious: Because they are doing something different to everyone else.

But this is the wrong kind of thinking. Plenty of activists were saying the same things as Martin Luther King during the civil rights movement, but they couldn’t attract people to turn out for their speeches in their thousands as Dr. King could.

The secret? It’s perhaps the simplest idea in the world: People don’t buy your product, they buy in your purpose.

How does this make sense? Surely we do things for the same reasons; Right: Money, fame, praise.

WRONG!

These things are OUTCOMES. They are a result, they are not the driving purpose behind what we do. If you make these material things your driving purpose, you won’t inspire anybody. Great leaders and innovators throughout history have attracted people to their cause not because of the things they are doing, but because people share what they believe.

When people buy products they buy into your beliefs

I once watched an Anthony Robbins speech where he pointed out that Microsoft creates customers, whereas Apple create fans. Fans buy and buy and buy. Customers complain.

People aren’t just buying a product, they are buying a belief. And they buy products to express that they share that belief. When Apple sells a product, they don’t list all the hardware statistics and tell us why the product is so attractive and shiny. They show us what the product represents: A care for detail, sleek design, beautiful packaging. It is these abstract qualities that people latch onto when they purchase products, not the raw nitty-gritty detail of how fast it runs or the amount of storage space.

Now I don’t say this to sell Apple products to you. I say it to explain to you why Apple sells its products so successfully. There are plenty of other computer companies out there that are physically doing exactly the same things, but they fail to successfully communicate the same message Apple does to its customers.

The secret here is starting from a new place. Instead of starting with the question: What am I doing? Start with a new one: What is my core purpose in doing it? This is exactly how great leaders convince people to buy into their ideas. The people are buying into what they believe.

Inject purpose into everything you do. When you sell yourself at a meeting, a job interview, a date. People aren’t buying you for your physical assets. Think about it: what do companies hope to find out about people when they interview? The raw data they have on a piece of paper, but whether the person really gets it, they can’t tell until they meet them.

The person who gets the job is the person who is able to sell what he is all about. When we really connect with someone, we don’t remember the exact words they say in conversation, we just have the sense that they share something with us on a fundamental level.

People are always buying into the things you represent, the things you communicate, the qualities you embody.

It is not doing different things, its having a better purpose.

Courtesy of Matthew Hussey View Matthew Hussey’s profile page at www.number-42.com

Ready Steri Cook

For all food lovers, Marco Steri has conjured up some great summertime recipes for a bit of al fresco dining.

English Asparagus Risotto (Serves 4)

Ingredients
Knob of butter
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 shallots, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, chopped
325g/4½oz Arborio rice
2 glasses of white wine (such as Pinot Grigio)
1 litre asparagus stock, lightly simmering
60g/1½oz unsalted butter
2 Bunches of English asparagus puree. Keep the tips for garnish
100g/1¾oz Parmigiano Reggiano, grated
drizzle white truffle oil

Method
Heat the butter and extra virgin olive oil in a frying pan and add the shallots and garlic. Cook until softened, but not coloured. Add the rice and cook until glossy, stirring all the time with a wooden spoon.
Add the wine and cook until the rice has absorbed the liquid.
Add a ladle at a time of asparagus stock. Stir the rice from time to time.
Cook until the rice is not chalky to the bite, but still holds its shape (about 14 minutes) - use as much of the stock as necessary to cook the risotto.
Add the asparagus puree into the risotto along with the butter and the grated Parmigiano Reggiano,a drizzle of truffle oil to taste and place the asparagus tips on the top. Serve it immediately

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Caponata Salad

Ingredients
2 medium onions, chopped
2 stalks of celery diced
1 large carrot diced
1 medium green pepper, chopped
1 medium sweet red pepper, chopped
1 aubergine diced
2 courgettes diced
100 gr Kalamata olives
50 gr of pine kernels
4 garlic cloves, minced
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
Chilli to taste (optional)
2 cans (28 oz. each) Italian plum tomato sauce
100 Ml white wine vinegar
few sprigs of fresh basil
1 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt

Method:
In a large pan, sauté onions, garlic, celery and carrot in oil, when soft add the peppers, aubergine and courgettes. Stir in the tomatoes, and then add the vinegar, seasonings, olives and pine kernels and tomato juice. Bring to the boil over medium heat. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and add the basil. Leave to cool down over night and serve cold with toasted ciabatta bread

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Crème Brulee.
(Makes 6 using normal size ramekins)

Ingredients
350ml double cream
150 ml milk
6 egg yolks
120gr castor sugar
1 split vanilla pod.

Method:
Gently boil the cream, milk and the vanilla pod.
Take off from the stove and leave to cool down.
In a bowl mix the eggs and sugar, then add the cream. Mix it well – transfer to the ramekins and cook it au bain marie covering with aluminium foil until cooked.
Remove from the water and allow to cool to room temperature.When ready to serve, sprinkle one level teaspoon of caster sugar evenly over the surface of each créme, then caramelise with a mini blowtorch.Leave to cool for a couple of minutes, then serve.

Courtesy of Marco Steri, Chef at Pasley-Tyler & Co