Flashbacks of a Fool Stars: Daniel Craig, Emile Robert, Olivia Williams, Mark Strong, Claire Forlani
Daniel Craig stars as Joe, a hedonistic British actor whose Hollywood career is starting to nosedive. The death of his best friend from his English childhood causes him to journey back home for the funeral, and prompts flashbacks to his teenage experiences - including the tragedy that forced him to flee to the United States and a new life.
As well as playing the lead role, Daniel Craig is the executive producer of this film. It has been a pet project for a while. With the success of his new Bond fame the money came into place.
The part of the bitter and twisted film star was written with Craig in mind by his friend, Baillie Walsh, before the Bond star got famous.
"When he wrote the part for me about five or six years ago, I certainly didn't have the success I did now," says Craig, keen to stress that the tale of a successful but arrogant film star is not about him.
The film was mainly shot in Cape Town, South Africa and Malibu, California.
For the scene where Joe meets his agent and director of his potential next role. He meets the two at an upmarket restaurant overlooking the sea. Both the interior and exterior scenes were filmed at Salt Restaurant at The Ambassador Hotel in Bantry Bay, Cape Town, South Africa.
Where: 34 Victoria Road, Bantry Bay, Cape Town, South Africa, 8005
The sense of history lies heavy in the Crypt of St. Etheldreda's. Its foundations date back to the 6th Century; its rough stone walls, eight foot thick in parts, and its heavy blackened beams to the 12th Century when Ely Palace was constructed above The Crypt by the Bishops of Ely in Cambridgeshire as their London bishopric.
In 1531 Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon hosted a Grand Celebration in The Crypt which lasted for five full days and nights. They feasted on swans, stuffed with larks stuffed with sparrows.
With its History of Celebration and Celebration of History, the 600 year-old Crypt in Ely Place has been hosting celebrity parties ever since King Henry V111 held his three day wedding feast there in 1531. Adjoining Bleeding Heart Yard, the magical medieval Crypt, which can seat up to 130 for dinner, offers the same superb food, wine and service as the legendary Bleeding Heart restaurant.
In the markets of Mexico, you can eat at anytime of the day. There is no formality, with dishes arriving as they are cooked, and diners being served as soon as a space is found for them to sit.
Wahaca is the same: Don't worry about booking...We believe that you should be able to eat whenever you want.
Our menu is all about delicious, freshly prepared food, produced quickly. You can come in for a quick snack or stay for an hour or two. Simply turn up and we will get you a table as soon as we can.
If we are full one of our team will take your name and advise you on when your table will be free. You can go and grab a drink nearby and come back at the arranged time, unless, of course, the table is available earlier in which case we will call you.
Little Buddha Bar, which opened in Na’ama Bay in April 2005. The sister venue of Buddha Bar Paris, Little Buddha Sharm will not disappoint. This restaurant, sushi bar and lounge has a very diverse Fusion, Japanese, French, Asian and Pacific gourmet menu that is by far more sophisticated than anything Sharm has ever had to offer. After midnight the music heats up a bit as the mood gradually changes from chill out to party.
Naama Bay Naama Bay is the central resort area of Sharm el Sheikh and comprises a stylish strip of hotels, with an attractive pedestrian promenade along the sandy beachfront. At the south-western corner of Naama Bay are shops, restaurants, small hotels and a wide choice of dive centres. Naama Bay is 7 km from Sharm El Sheikh Airport. It comprises a number of international clubs, dinners and night attractions like Pacha, Buddha Bar, Hard Rock Café…etc
Properties in Naama Bay are famous for their high rental yields. A number of exclusive high quality compounds; stretched across the street (Peace Road: Sharm's main road) from the main shopping area and within a number of luxury hotels; offer a range of 1, 2 and 3BR apartments for short term or long term lease. Due to the surrounding facilities and location is it the most expensive area yet maintains a high demand. Available Services: Supermarkets Malls Cafés Pharmacies Hotels Banks Schools Church Mosque Public transportation
The Reef Oasis Palms Resort opened in May 07, with some great facilities, the Palms Resort looks set to compete with some of Sharm El Sheikh's best quality hotels. You'll find stunning pools and sparkling white architecture, well designed and spacious rooms, and great food and drink A comfortable 5 Star Resort.
Located on " Hadabet Om El Sied ", 2 Km from Sharm Old Market and 14 Km from Sharm International Airport.
Sharm el-Sheikh has also become a favourite spot for scuba divers from around the world. Being situated near to the Red Sea, it provides some of the most stunning underwater scenery and warm water making this an ideal place to dive. Visitors to Sharm el-Sheikh can experience a variety of water and activities. Beach seekers find many activities such as diving, snorkeling, wind surfing, para-sailing, boating, and canoeing.
The Reef Oasis Palms Resort is a brand new hotel opening in May 07, with some great facilities, the Palms Resort looks set to compete with some of Sharm El Sheikh's best quality hotels. You'll find stunning pools and sparkling white architecture, well designed and spacious rooms, and great food and drink A comfortable 5 Star Resort.
Located on " Hadabet Om El Sied ", 2 Km from Sharm Old Market and 14 Km from Sharm International Airport.
Sharm el Sheikh (Arabic: شرم الشيخ, Sharm al-Shaykh), often known simply as "Sharm", is a city situated on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, in Janub Sina', Egypt, on the coastal strip between the Red Sea and Mount Sinai.
Sharm el-Sheikh is the administrative hub of Egypt's Southern Sinai province which includes the smaller coastal towns of Dahab and Nuweiba as well as the mountainous interior, Saint Catherine's Monastery and Mount Sinai. Sharm el-Sheikh is known as The City of Peace referring to the large number of international peace conferences that have been held there.
The Reef Oasis Palms Resort is a brand new hotel opening in May 07, with some great facilities, the Palms Resort looks set to compete with some of Sharm El Sheikh's best quality hotels. You'll find stunning pools and sparkling white architecture, well designed and spacious rooms, and great food and drink A comfortable 5 Star Resort.
Located on " Hadabet Om El Sied ", 2 Km from Sharm Old Market and 14 Km from Sharm International Airport.
The simplicity of sun, sea and sand. The luxury of five-star hotels, water sports, shopping and entertainment. This is Sharm el-Sheikh, one of the most accessible and developed tourist resort communities on the Sinai peninsula. All around are Bedouins, colorful tents, mountains and sea. There are small, intimate hotels with modern designs, as well as larger hotel complexes belonging to International chains, plus about all the amenities one could expect of a tourist center, including casinos, discos and nightclubs, golf courses and health facilities. In fact, with diving and snorkeling, windsurfing and other water sports, horses and camel riding, desert safaris, and great nearby antiquities attractions, it is almost impossible for a visitor to ever suffer from boredom.
The Sinai Peninsula or Sinai (Coptic: sina; Egyptian Arabic: sina سينا; Arabic, sina'a سيناء; Sinin in most Semitic languages, Hebrew: סיני Sinai) is a triangular peninsula in Egypt. It lies between the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Red Sea to the south, forming a land bridge from Africa to Southwest Asia. Its area is about 60,000 km². The Egyptians call it the Land of Fayrouz.
A new restaurant/cafe has opened downstairs. The Riverside Bar & Restaurant is an oasis hidden away on the bank of the Thames. Relax on our cosy sofas, enjoy cocktails and continental beers at the bar or a delicious dinner in our restaurant.
Whether keeping out the chill of the oncoming winter months with a fine wine or brandy, or remembering the sultry summer nights with a super-chilled, thirst-quenching pint, you can still enjoy the great outdoors and outstanding vistas through floor-to-ceiling windows in the comfort of the ever-inviting Riverside
A new restaurant/cafe has opened downstairs. The Riverside Bar & Restaurant is an oasis hidden away on the bank of the Thames. Relax on our cosy sofas, enjoy cocktails and continental beers at the bar or a delicious dinner in our restaurant.
Whether keeping out the chill of the oncoming winter months with a fine wine or brandy, or remembering the sultry summer nights with a super-chilled, thirst-quenching pint, you can still enjoy the great outdoors and outstanding vistas through floor-to-ceiling windows in the comfort of the ever-inviting RiversideThe Riverside Bar & Restaurant is an oasis hidden away on the bank of the Thames. Relax on our cosy sofas, enjoy cocktails and continental beers at the bar or a delicious dinner in our restaurant.
Whether keeping out the chill of the oncoming winter months with a fine wine or brandy, or remembering the sultry summer nights with a super-chilled, thirst-quenching pint, you can still enjoy the great outdoors and outstanding vistas through floor-to-ceiling windows in the comfort of the ever-inviting Riverside
OK so I didn't make it to New York for New Year with Marty. I left it to late and fell in the relax trap. Plans in discussion included watching the ball drop from a high up vantage point whilst having fine wine and food being served, hitting one of the night spots with a view of the New York skyline probably Bed (all though all the rooftop beds had already been booked :-() or possibly hook up with Larry the man at his home in West Virginia.
So I had a last minute high alert scramble of special occasion. What was it to be:
House party at Phil? Phil was a great guy and certainly knows how to throw a soiree of note, but I hardly know Phil or any of the guests and of late it has been a prerequisite of mine to spend time with close friends or not at all. This will not mean a slow down on impromptu dinner parties or crashing of events, just the special times should remain special for me.
New years at a ski resort? Combining New Year this with some extreme snowboarding could be just the ticket. The lack of snow may be a bit of a problem as well as it may be a little late notice to crash a resort town that would check all my boxes.
Hook up with Simon in Barcelona? Would be good however since the last annual bi annual brokeback grannies fishing expedition. I think the partners have had a serious rethink to exposing the grannies to the party beast that lies within. Toga Toga Toga. For real. Besides Simon & F's parents are in town. A probable logistical nightmare.
Long New Year weekend in picturesque European (Damn just realised I left my gloves on the Tube, aaaagrrrh) town like say Prague for instance. Bigger chance of this happening than Snowboarding. Again to late and do I really need the mission of airports, planes, trains,cabs, etc. At a time I should be relaxing?
OK so time to turn the lens of focus onto London itself. My proclivity towards high places drew me to a list of possible places I would like to spend New Years eve. There were the usual suspects: 30 St Mary Axe - The Gherkin - Swiss Re Vertigo 42 OXO Tower Babylon at The Roof Gardens No 1 Leicester Square
However the fireworks display may be required viewing for the night. Hence some other possibilities: La Bateaux Somerset House (with ice rink, not ring as some may think) OZU
Failing that we could ensconce ourselves indoors and make some new friends i.e. Mingle with strangers: St Martin Lane hotel Movida Embassy
So I did what I do best. Made contact with a choice few spots, dropped some verbal bombs to ensure that I had some options for the evening.
In the end it was decided that the 5 course dinner and brilliant view offered by OZU (based in The County Hall - under the Millennium Eye) would be this years spot. Ironic as last year we watched the fireworks from further down the river in the cold. Close friends were heading out for a year long round the world trip so quality time was in order. Next year hopefully we'll merge the comfort spots and be in comfortable surroundings with good friends. The food was good, all though the starter salad served on a bed of ice had been sitting for to long. The rest of the meal was delish. Part of the already attractive package was the delicious portion of black cod. OK I remember it being delicious but the evenings events are one long sweeping very comfortable blur. The team at OZU made an already special evening even better.
Between courses 3 & 4 we popped outside to the secure entrance to County Hall. Their was a maximum gathering of 200 people so there was plenty of space to watch the fireworks and enjoy our champagne.
£1,000,000 well spent. The fireworks were spectacular. After a short walk home - I was curious to compare the London fireworks to Sydney's. In previous years I had thought that the fireworks off the Sydney Bridge were brilliant. After watching the like for like aerial shots (the best way to compare) London had it going on. Maybe Sydney next year??????
The Trafalgar by definition the most central hotel in London. a unique, contemporary concept. eliminating barriers and boundaries, adding depth to design and experience. a space vibrating with diversity and culture. minimalistic with a soothing perk."
This little spot was discovered completely by surprise. Just off Trafalgar Square and part of the Trafalgar Hilton. It was recommended to me by a friend after we missed our dinner sitting, at a restaurant nearby. It may have made the list as I had not heard of it, had no expectations and was taken by surprise when I stepped out of the lift into the "roof garden". More like a penthouse bar it has 180° views over Trafalgar Square - Millennium Eye - further South East.
Hip & happening restaurant downstairs called " Rockwell". The "roof garden" Has its bar, menu & waiting staff. On chilly nights its heated.
"Discreet and unique, the Trafalgar is London's first unbranded Hilton property. located on the south side of Trafalgar square, the hotel is situated to the left of Canada house. as an unbranded Hilton you will not find the blue Hilton sign; instead look for the striking building with black flags and a clock."
After a couple of false starts and long term bookings I finally got to go to go to what is deemed by many as the finest curry house in all of Britain. Veeraswamy est. 1926
Hi all, You are invited to dinner at (Booming Indian accented voice) VEERASWAMY the legendary Indian restaurant. It's an eat and meet affair. Sat 11 Nov 8pm - 11pm (3 hrs) (London)Mezzanine Floor, Victory House 99 Regent Street, London W1B 4RS (entrance on Swallow Street)
Veeraswamy is the oldest surviving Indian restaurant in the U.K. It was established in 1926 at the same site by the great grandson of an English General, and an Indian princess. The restaurant has been the rendezvous of rich, famous, and fashionable lovers of Indian food. Customers included Edward - Prince of Wales, King Gustav of Sweden, Pandit Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Charlie Chaplin, King Hussein of Jordan and Marlon Brando.
As with all of these get togethers its about great company, good food & a comfortable atmosphere. This occasion did not disappoint. We had a great table under a giant chandelier decorated with rose petals. It was good to see old friends as well as meet new friends. One has to respect an establishment that has a no photos inside policy.
The crab kebab starter was subtly delicious. The Biryani Classic (Hyderabad lamb biryani) which has been on the menu since 1926. Was fragrant and delicate. It really made me regret all the overpowering quick fix-no time-dazzle me taste explosions I have been forcing onto my senses. It was from a more genteel time - when taste was not synonymous with "entertain me".
The Rose Lychee Martinis are great, although a little sweet as was the Espresso Martini.
A time to meet new friends, catch up with old friends and wish Nikki happy birthday.
The Oratory is is one of the Brinkleys owned & operated restaurants. In summer with the large double doors open this place must be quite amazing. Our waiter guy was a tall drink of American and was beyond reproach. He was just the right balance of formal service and casual personality. His pesonality added to the evening makin sure it was memorable.
The ladies looked fine and the gentlemen were well groomed for the evening particulary Mark who was kilted out. A jolly laugh was had by all. The champagne flowed freely (thanks Mark), the grilled bruschetta with goats cheese and a red pepper and red onion compote was divine, my main roast chicken breast stuffed with goats cheese, sun-dried tomatoes & mash was a little dry but delicios nevertherless.
The décor was a bit eclectic but interesting. The ceiling ornaments reminded me of Renaissance's Sebastians café Cape Town. Kind of gilded baroque.
For my 111Th birthday I decided to paint the town red, pink & blue. 2 Of my closest friends from The City are off on an around the world trip soon and I thought it fitting that a night out was called for.
I made tentative reservations at Vertigo 42, (not open on the weekends so Friday night is their busiest night) and I was put on the standby list (yes, standby list) in position No. 23. I called a guy a know, and got swooshed up the list to lucky No. 7. And immediately made a booking at the National Portrait Gallery (a word of advice if you intent to make a phone call to the restaurant, it may be worth while to learn some French). I also made a reservation at Below Zero (just in case).
As the night drew closer it became apparent that Vertigo 42 was a non happener , although they did offer an alternative to my original request. We were all running a bit late so the abrupt inflexible call I got from the NPG to tell me that the kitchen was closing very soon,. They had warned me about this when I made the booking so it was no surprise and I'm guessing the abruptness of the French ladies manner had more to do with her inability to deal with my reaction to possibly losing my table than her general demeanour. Thinking about it I may pop down there this evening. Last drinks order at 10pm.
So after a quick chat we made our way to The Trafalgar roof garden for Aperitifs (and contributed to Paris's next allowance. Then into the heart of Mayfair for dinner at Zinc. I should mention that it was all good but don't order the seafood, Paul's Mussels and my Crab tasted if they had been frozen for about 3 weeks prior to our arrival at Heddon Street.
Afterwards I surprised everyone by ushering them into the Absolut Ice Bar. It's not quite the Ice Hotel, but it is owned by the same people and was an enjoyable experience for all. The Absolute team were really cool and really contributed to the fun of the evening. Just look at the pic of the guy behind the bar How friendly? We were enjoying it so much we stayed for 2 sessions and made good use of the Absolut cocktail menu.
Next to Below Zero in the heart of the West End you will find the UK's first permanent ice bar About Absolut Icebar London. The interior is kept at below zero temperature –5°C all year round. Step into an environment where all of the interior fittings, including the walls, bar, tables, and even your own personal glass holding the vodka drinks is made out of pure, clear ice from the Torne River in northern Sweden. The Icebar is run in partnership with Below Zero London, Absolut, and Icehotel. On entry you will be provided with a personal ice glass & thermal cape to keep you warm during your stay (40 minute time limit) Source - http://www.fluidstyle.co.uk
Afterwards we made our way to 2 floors in London and then back to MI9. For a night cap but mostly a nap.
Whilst going through my image archive. I found an old image of the Burger Index. I'ts a man on the steet global currency indicator. An easy way to understand how much your money should be worth in another coutry.
"Burgernomics is based on the theory of purchasing-power parity, the notion that a dollar should buy the same amount in all countries. Thus in the long run, the exchange rate between two countries should move towards the rate that equalises the prices of an identical basket of goods and services in each country. Our "basket" is a McDonald's Big Mac, which is produced in about 120 countries. The Big Mac PPP is the exchange rate that would mean hamburgers cost the same in America as abroad. Comparing actual exchange rates with PPPs indicates whether a currency is under- or overvalued."
A time to meet new friends, catch up with old friends and wish
