The Liberty Hotel - Boston, USA

This week I've been away with work; I was in Philadelphia for 3 days then up to Boston for a day.  In Phily I was in an anonymous Crown Plaza hotel, at The King of Prussia Mall - more about that another time.  The Crown Plaza was fine, made better by the brilliant barman Dan who made my drinks without asking what I wanted (after the first order) and when he was packed busy the next night just made me a G&T and passed it through the crowd so I didn't have to wait.  After the otherwise dullness by the time I got to Boston I was really looking forward to The Liberty.

I was originally booked in to The Westin in Waltham, it's fine - perfectly fine but it's big and corporate and when traveling alone is not exactly comfortable in my opinion.  I was talking to a colleague and she said that I should go to The Liberty that the company has a rate there so it's an approved hotel.  I am so very glad I took her advice.

The Liberty is in downtown Boston, a walk away from all the great places and is in an old jail.  It's a boutique style hotel, but large, as well as being a very busy night spot - the two bars were buzzing when I arrived at 8.30pm on a hot and humid Wednesday night.

On arrival you are given a glass of champagne before going to your room, and what a lovely room it is.  I was in The Tower part of the hotel, only on the 3rd and but had a great floor to ceiling window, so just about had a view if I crooked my neck a bit.  The room was classic boutique hotel:

my sort of mini bar

and a great bathroom with fab mirrors & lovely Molton Brown products

and I would muchly like one of these for my bath

After changing I went downstairs to The Clink restaurant - you see what they did there, one of many Jail style touches including a do not disturb door sign that reads 'Solitary'.  I had a vodka martini (not quite dry enough for my liking) with beef carpaccio which was melt in the mouth tasty but a few too many capers, followed by parpadalle with a lamb ragu which was tasty tasty tasty just a tad too salty.  The service was excellent and the crowd bubbling but not rowdy.  Shame that the food was a little 'over done', not over cooked just not quite there.

I then went to the main lobby bar for another Martini, much better this time served by a very handsome barman who was polite but busy chatting to his slightly drunk room mate (who as I understand it was moving out and was going to miss the beer exchange and pizza night.....).  They had every bottle behind the bar you could think of and even make their own infusion of bourbon (Markers Mark infused with a vanilla tobacco which smelt amazing when over ice).

Remembering the Martini rule, I said my goodnights and went back to my room.  Just before the lift doors closed the actor Michael Cera  (in case you are saying Who?)  jumped in - I was a little star struck to be honest having just been watching one of his films the weekend before with The Boy.  He was very polite, asked where I was from and then we wished each other a good night - if only I had been on a higher floor I am sure we would be BFFs by now.

Breakfast was served in the room and was massive, I had pancakes with a side of bacon and scrambled eggs - there was enough for two possibly three.  I managed about half of it - but then couldn't move for quite some time.....

Overall my experience at The Liberty was great - I would strongly recommend it if you're in Boston for business or on a City break.  The prices were not silly and the location and decor made it a great treat.

Check it out here http://www.libertyhotel.com/

Hotel Sleeping V Random Thoughts

It's 4am and I am wide awake with a stuffed up nose. I am at the hotel du vin in Birmingham again, and having been upgraded am in this lovely big bed

I fell asleep at 10.30ish after a not so great meal but lovely wine and then I have woken up at 3.30am and now can't get back to sleep. My mind is buzzing and here are a few things that it is buzzing with:

1. Oh must do that spreadsheet for recording queries for the HR team, wonder what needs to be in the drop down list and what data it would be good to capture.

2. Agggghhhh didn't do that email to GH confirming what his role will be must must must to that as soon as I can get the work puter on line.

3. Wouldn't it be good to do a sort of advent calendar on here with pictures of things I really like or Christmas things......wonder if photo's of Joshua Jackson count, but then again it's my advent calendar so why not.

4. Oh gad I have 3 weeks worth of ironing at home.

5. Wonder what time this workshop will finish today - hope its early so I can get back north at sensible o'clock. Actually I have to as The Boy is back tonight and he doesn't have keys.

6. Must find and book hotel for the night of the 9th.

7. Where shall I stay night of the 7th? Feel bad imposing on S&J - maybe CP will let me stay there.

8. What on earth do I want for Christmas - know The Boy will be putting me under pressure later this week to say. Need S&Js lists. Need to get something for little R to take with me on Thursday.

9. Did I do everything I needed to do for other client - remembered I didn't and must draft communication and get it approved. Ideally draft this morning so that it can be approved and sent for tomorrow.

10. really want to declutter my personal space more at home. Need to be more ruthless about packing stuff up and putting it in storage. If I insist on keeping it but don't use it no point letting it gather dust and mess up my room & office just pack and store.

11. Must sell/dispose of that large laserjet printer and those cartridges, it doesn't work with our puters and needs to be set up properly but for now is just gathering dust and being used to put things on.

12. Sarah B has moved back from Australia and wants to meet up. Really want to see her and she has suggested this weekend - no idea how to fit it in but must find time.

13. Must must must see Kath C - haven't seen her in months and she must be 6 months pregnant now, see if she wants to get together when our respective Boys go out on one of their Christmas do's.

14. Feel sorry for myself for not having many Christmas do's planned. Going to Client 1's do as got three line whip. Not going to Client 2's as at Madness. Have lunch with Ladies planned for 9th but nothing else.

15. Going to be out of work again soon - must find more work. Must do timesheets and expenses. Must chase invoices.

16. Tax return

17. Gym, training, weight loss, haircut, waxing.........

18. Is there anything we want M&D to get us in NYC, need to let them know today. Wonder if Dad did the washing up for me - or maybe Mum did some of my ironing, that would be a treat.

19. Feel I should have a plan - or a better plan at least.

So these are most, but not all, of the random things going through my head as I lie here in a bed so wide that even when in full starfish my legs don't touch both sides. Hmmmm perhaps now I have got it all out I will sleep....just need to to that spreadsheet first.

Didn't we have a lovely day the day we went to..........

.....Birmingham - yes really. Well to the Hotel du Vin Birmingham then on to Villa Park for the Aston Villa V Manchester City match.

It all began about a week before when I got a facebook mesage from the lovely Mrs P saying that her husband and she had purchased 4 corporate tickets in the Directors box for Villa this season (they have previously had a box) and that before they took any clients she wanted to do a dummy run with some friends; and as they were playing my team (Manchester City) did I want to go? Oh my did I want to go......well first I had to break the news to The Boy that I would be going to an away game without him and that it would be in the Directors box.

So I arranged my work around it and off booked a complete bargain at the Hotel du Vin in Birmingham. I had stayed there a few years ago with Mum when we went to the BBC Good Food Show at the NEC and it was lovely so was looking forward to staying again. Last time I was there it was a rather compact room with twin beds. This time, however, on arrival the lovely lady at reception upgraded me to this (apologies for the quality of the photo's taken on my iPhone which doesn't have great picture quality - come on Apple time for at least 7 mpx surely?):

At 6pm I was collected in a chauffeur driven Audi Q7 by Mrs P and her two other guests A & P. A is a season ticket holder at Chelsea and one of Mrs P's clients who has now become a friend and P knows very little about football but a lot about wine. So off we went to Villa Park. After being dropped off we went into the main reception and were escorted by a host up to the Directors' Dining Room. On arrival we were welcomed and they took out coats and promtly handed us a glass of champagne and offered canapés (unfortunately I have no photo's from the ground as I didn't take my camera and wasn't organised enough with my phone) - here is the invite to the Directors' Dining Room:

We were then shown to our table and give a menu to chose a four course meal from. I had scallops to start, beef wellington for my main and cheese for desert (there was also a rhubard something and a chocolate covered poached pear but I wanted savoury). With each course there was a different wine and the lovely wine waiter (Alan) wasn't shy in keeping our glasses filled up. The white was a lovely clean crisp semillion, the red was very flavourful but I can't remember what it was but the best was the desert wine - it was an ice wine from Canada. P works in the industry and had visited the place where it was made so we had a great chat with Alan about the wine (more details here).

So the star spotting (well only if you're into Football really) Gary Cook and Mike Summerby were there representing City and Doug Ellis, who is the heart of the club, there for Villa. Also there were Tony Adams, Lofty from Eastenders (random I know) and England Manager Fabio Capello and his entourage.

Just before taking our seats we were given the team sheets:

A little bit tipsy we took our seats in the Directors' box:

I shan't do a match report but first half Villa came out all guns blazing and fully deserved to go in 1-0 up at the break. Shame that ex-City player Richard Dunne scored the goal but he didn't celebrate and the City fans applauded him in response - I am secretly (well not that secretly as I am not ashamed to tell anyone that will listen) in love with Richard Dunne, he played for City for 9 years and was club captain for his last few. I have had his name and number on my shirts for the last few years and was very sad to see him go, I might have mentioned this to him but more on that later. Incidentally, Richard Dunne is on my list of people that I am allowed to marry is The Boy dies - it's not a very long list to be fair but will blog about that another time.

So half time and we head back in; Alan has once again been generous with the wine and there is also coffee. I missed it but A was mistaken for being Fabio Capello's companion when she was standing very close to him. Back for the second half and Mr Ellis needed a little help getting to his seat - over the years I have seen him on television and love the way he loves his club but I didn't realise quite how old and frail he now is. I believe he is in his 80s so not bad for an old chap. In the second half City equalised with a great shot by Craig Bellamy who played his socks off.

After the match and back to the dining room and time for more cheese, coffee and Port (once again Alan did us proud). After a little warm up it was time to leave. However, whilst walking along the corridor we bumped into Richard Dunne who was on his way to the Directors to receive his Man of the Match award. When I say bumped it was a little more like a hi-jack as I turned into scary girl fan.

Me: Dunney, will you sign this for me (fumbling in my bag for a pen)

Dunney: erm...yeah (looking a bit frightened)

Dunneys minder: here use this marker pen.

Me: how could you leave us, I have all these shirts that I can't wear now

Dunney: snigger snigger (still looking a bit frightened)

Libby: Yes but now he's here and playing for us which is great.

Me: Thanks, gush gush gush, we'll miss you

Libby: Sorry she really likes you

then sense prevailed and we scurried off.......here is his autograph:

until we got outside that was when I then got Roque Santa Cruz autograph whilst on out way to the car:

Then when we got to our car turned out Craig Bellamy's car was parked next to our so I accosted him as well (he was lovely though not at all like he is on the pitch a real sweetie):

Mrs P then dropped me back at the hotel and my lovely room, I slept well until about 5am (not unusual) then lazed around until breakfast (Hotel du Vin really do a very good English Breakfast) then headed back home.

I had such a fabulous time and can't thank Mrs P enough. I sent flowers but they only touch on how grateful I am.

I have put all my memorabillia from the day into a frame to go up in the office at home, along with our signed shirt we were given when we got married, all our match tickets and gig tickets which we have in clip frames and our programs from the last game at Maine Road.

Bloomin Marvelous - as I said - didn't we have a lovely day the day we went to Birmingham.

x

The world of work

So I am back in the world of work. Back in an anomymous hotel room
with a blocked up nose and too hot feet. The people I am working with
seem really nice, the project interesting and it's great to be earning
again but I'm out of practice at this getting up and ready lark.

So jn the shower & down to breakfast for me - then off to see what the
day brings.