Sunday 7 November 2010

Tim Emmett

A fellow trainee here is Tim Emmett, climber extraordinaire, the sort of guy who throws himself off buildings and precipices, uses wing suits, does stunts with tiny parachutes of high-rise structures... he was doing press-ups and pull-ups this morning by the pool, makes my little regime of steps and sit-ups look pretty miniscule. Tant pis. You should definitely check out his website www.timemmett.com I think it is. Or google him. Another Juice Plus+ devotee of course... he has been eating it for 12 years.
The whole thing is very exciting... whether or not you are involved in this business, you could just take note. It´s all about to kick off... expanding into new territories, an avalanche of new research coming out, sales soaring and the new team structures growing by the thousand. Staying at a multi-millionaire villa tends to consolidate the feeling of excitement and confidence.
The flight home this afternoon is a bit difficult to pin down. Easyjet says it´s distrupted but the details look the same online. We may be staying longer than planned, but if so, good!

Saturday 6 November 2010

Majorca

Flight smooth, once again sushi as the onboard meal is brilliant, bought from Boots again though people recommend M&S. How peculiar it is to be whizzing along at 37,000 feet. Everyone acts so normal, reading books, drinking wine, dozing, etc. but it´s so abnormal.
The new Palma airport is gorgeous, last time I was here we were in the old airport and this is a gleaming marble pavillion. We were picked up in Birgit´s Lexus, and so far we have been whisked from one wondrous experience to another. Last night we sat on the terrace and watched the dusk fall as specks of fire cruised across the sky, transforming into aircraft heading into the island. We walked around the rich rich port of Portals, with dozens and dozens of vast white plastic yachts bobbing on their moorings... Three million euros per mooring and the contract lasts only 18 years. It´s all about conspicuous display, but it made me think of small penises, and of course the smart money went into building the jetty and renting out the space.
Supper in a dockside cafe, warmed with a flame inside an awning-clad terrace lined with dead twigs. Ah well, that´s interior design for you.
Today we have been touring round a bit, up to Valdemosso to see George Sands´ and Chopin´s lodgings in the old Charterhouse... stunning place though of course they had a miserable time there. You can still buy or rent an apartment there, with a terrace and garden looking out over an exquisite antique scene - tiny valley with the sound of sheep bells, and birds in the woods, and the fields and terraces with olives.
Then past Deia to Soller, and back through the tunnel to the house and some training.... tea is waiting for me on the terrace and I cannot stay at the desk any longer. More later if I can.
It is warm and sunny and quiet and calm.

Friday 5 November 2010

Off to Majorca

Lucky me, I'm booked in for some training with one of the top people in my company, so we're flying to her villa in Majorca for the weekend. This time I am trying to take a real minimum of kit to wear...I always end up taking too much.

We had such a warm day yesterday I was very grateful... I find it almost impossible to summon up ideas about warm weather clothing when it's cold outside, but the summery conditions put me in the right mood.

Andrew is dropping me off at Ashford in a few moments and I will meet up with some of the others who are going. The radio has had such interesting programmes this morning: Hislop on Lord Kitchener's Image, then How to live frugally. It's not clear to me whether all my gadding about this year is frugal or not. We have done it on the cheap, I suppose, but it feels very flighty and luxy. I love it!