I am ashamed to say the lock-down has been a luxury for me, I’m in one of my favourite places, practicing yoga every morning against a backdrop of the sea
These last few week have been the first time since we opened Hotel Tresanton in 1998 that I have managed to spend time in St Mawes without working. Its been bliss!
I have found it hard to concentrate through the lock down so these books are ones I can dip in and out of… Difficult Women, A History of feminism in 11 fights, Helen Lewis. Anatomy of The Spirit, Caroline Myss.
In the early days of restoring and re-opening the hotel, I worked as the sommelier, creating the wine cellar and advising guests on wines to choose. My sister Alex was always furious with me for forgetting table numbers and serving on the wrong side of a guest (Alex was fresh from working for Marco Pierre White and so had very exacting standards). I also did shifts, as did all the family on reception and in housekeeping. We really thought we were living though an episode of Fawlty Towers–in fact we started calling my stepfather, William, Basil. It was a very exciting period and taught me a lot, we all bonded tightly. I realised what hard work it is to make sure people have a good time and feel looked after. Our staff were brilliant.
After I stopped working in the hotel, I created a boutique, Onda, in St Mawes. That was great fun but nonstop work–I did it for 20 years.
I’m currently watching Ozark, an unusual drama about money laundering for a Mexican drug cartel. Call My Agent is a brilliantly funny French drama about stories from a talent agency. The Last Dance is a definitive account of Michael Jordan and The Chicago Bulls.
I have been joining Zephyr Wildman through Zoom at least once a week for a strong and philosophical yoga class. I hold an annual retreat with Zephyr at Tresanton each November–she is a wonderful teacher.
@zephyrwildman
This spring, I am ashamed to say the lock-down has been a luxury for me, I’m in one of my favourite places, practicing yoga every morning against a backdrop of the sea. Spending time with my three teenagers has been interesting–but for the most part a very good experience. I am still working a little but these days from a laptop like everyone else. Infinitely more relaxing than rushing around a hotel.
