Wintery nights

Snowy days can be full of fun but after few months of it, it is nice to see some sunshine.  I am so looking forward travelling to sunny climates in few days, to Destination SPA in Phuket.

Select Developments

When you have so much going on, it seems only natural to take a break and recharge the battery.  I am now planning very soon to make an exciting trip to see the new Destination SPA.

The last few months have seen many positive changes and development at Select and we are almost close to completion.  My son Jonatan has helped with some aspects of these developments and i am starting to realise how much he has grown into a man.

I am looking forward to the opening of the boutique shop in our Helsinki office and exciting changes to the Stockholm office.  All this will coincide with the launch of our much anticipated 2010/2011 brochure in mid March.

More about the changes in Stockholm office will be announced nearer the time.

Greeting

The SAS pilot gave a nice greeting for the day; asking what's the closest distance between two people.

Answer; A smile

How easy to forget the most simpliest thing...




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Wish all children could be happy

I was so sorry to see all the suffering children of Haiti last night on TV
I hope the contributions from the 'World' will make a difference one day









Many Happy Faces
We had invited children and their families to join our 'beach party' at Amanwella in Sri Lanka October 2009

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Do visit now

Venice becomes a different place in winter - it's the only time to visit says Marc Hudson ( the author of 'Titian: The Last Days') for FT

In winter Venice seems to revert to an earlier version of itself, to become just the place where Venetians live. You are more than ever aware of the miracle of this city built on water, which has barely changed in many respects since the 14th century.

Regarding the Venice Carnival (6-16 Feb) and other happenings please talk to my professional Sales Consultants who are more than happy to help you to plan a interesting Package by Select Collection.

Gondolas in Venice under a light snowfall

But today it's clear skies and plus 9 (no snow)

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An exclusive Cocktail for the Russian Society

Last night I held a Cocktail Event together with Nadya Serebryakova in our beautiful Mayfair office for our Russian friends.

The evening was a tremendous success, with everyone enjoying themselves and asking many questions of Select Collection, what we do and what are our values. I think we have built some strong friendship over the course of the evening.

Nadya with two of the guests

Here I'm together with Dr Miguel Martinez, Mr Tor-Björn Gunnarsson and one of the lovely guest.

The 2 Elena's surrounding Julia - a friend and one of the first Select clients.

Collette and two of the guests

Saif with two guests

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Back to London

Lovely being back to a rainy and cold London, but it's not cold in our beautiful office in Mayfair - Saif, Collette and George always give me a warm welcome.  All our clients and guests receive the same level of warmth and welcome.

Shop front

Feathered friend in Mayfair office
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Where happiness lies

The pursuit of bliss should not be founded on denial or illusion.
Says Julian Baggini in an article in FT 16/17 Jan

With happiness, as with much else, there is no algorithm and there are no secrets. Modern life can make you miserable but on average it doesn't and, in any case, a good life is not just a happy life but a truthful one. Knowing the facts can help us to live well but no one can provide us with a bespoke map to guide us through it. What they can do, however, is lead you astray with the promise that - with some survey data, positive thinking and a resolutions chart - mortal bliss is just a few steps away.

Among the most recent bunch of happiness books, there is s good one called: Smile or Die by Barbara Ehrenreich. How positive thinking fooled America and the world. I look forward to reading it.

Elated Gene Kelly as Don Lockwood in

'Singing in the Rain' (1952)

FT Jan 16/17

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20 years of Friendship

Lotta Hellman had invited nine of her best and oldest friends for her birthday! A great dinner party. (Thank you Charlie for good food and thank you young boys for excellent service!) The rule to qualify was 20 years of friendship. I was an exception with my 19!

It was a night of stimulating talks, books and fun! Together with warmhearted lovely ladies.

Lotta with a beautiful present; glass from the Finnish Iittala

Eva Swedenmark one of us, has written 27 books! Amazing!

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Strong Link

First I was angry! But then I began thinking about the importance of every link in a chain.

To cut a long and tedious story short – we sent three men to Finland to put the “cherry on top” of our new renovated office in Helsinki – the shop sign. When checking in the sign at SAS counter, they met a nonchalant employee. The result was a lost sign, a lost working day and the cost of an overnight hotel in Helsinki. I thought how sad it was that the work of so many hard working employees at SAS can be ruined by the attitude of one employee – a weak link; and that companies are only as good as their weakest link in the chain.

Then I though about my own organization and how lucky I am that my employees not only pull their weight but are passionate about what they do. That brought back the smile on my face…..

Pampering - Mauritian Style

And there were more smiles doing the round when our incoming partners in Mauritius came for a visit to our headquarters in Stockholm on Thursday.

Mautourco are our wonderful people on the spot on the paradise island, who meet all our clients with a hot towel and other pampering, to start their luxury holiday in the right style and ease.

Here our production manager Jeanette Bolin (middle) is with Shalina Ruhee, Mautourco’s commercial executive (left), and Joëlle Jean, their commercial manager (right).

Calvin is best!

It was still dark and cold but very white when I met with Calvin early this morning

Calvin is the best PT in town! A great way to start the day at the gym

We are very busy in all offices..so I think many clients are escaping from this picture. If you want to see warm pictures please click on Select Collection



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Fantastic!

I left Helsinki this afternoon and I had a lovely feeling of content. Here you will see some fantastic pictures from the newly renovated Finland office.

There is much more to it than the pics! There is a totally new concept of marketing Travel Dreams!

You will hear about it very soon ...

Shop Front

Foyer

Foyer

Coffee & Tea Center

Inside Front Window

Birgit at her new desk

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Supper after hard work

Last night we had supper at Toscanini. Its located at the trendy Klaus K hotel
The restaurant and the hotel have really service minded and lovely staff



Kalle Isotalo,(left) the Master of Renovations!
Here with Marcus, one of his team members. Kalle has a Construction company called Isoprod

Great help from great friends;

Camilla and Erik Dannbäck

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Almost there...

Here comes a little peak of the just renovated Helsinki office. We are so excited to open our doors for our valued clients tomorrow.





Our Guardian; the African Nubien warrior in his Peacock outfit






A relaxing Coconut Corner





Mr Phiffer himself... My interior Designer Jim Grundström dressed in an African Royal headgear. Perhaps something for the staff to wear!?

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A total Mess!

I'm spending the weekend in Helsinki as we are now finalizing a major renovation for the Finnish office! We are a wonderful Team working! Thank you for all support !

Select Collection will introduce a new exciting concept very soon - I can hardly wait to present it!


A Mess! at the moment but Monday morning you will see some beautiful pictures. Our office in Helsinki is located on the famous Bulevardi

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Thank you Lisen

Today I got great feedback from our valued client Lisen who just came back from a lovely holiday at Reethi Rah in the Maldives. She said it was one of the best hotels she has stayed at. Everything was to its perfection. Our Sales Consultant Linda had tailormade an excellent package including a stop in India.

Believe me Lisen knows what she is talking about - she and her husband John have a perfect hideaway in Marrakech, The Dar JL. We have a great contract with them and their Villas will be in the new Select Collection produced in March.












Lovely lunch with Lisen and John in their olivegardens

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Saif's South Africa Trip

Here you can read in Saif Haque's own words about a safari he's just been on

Saif is our UK Country Manager based in our lovely Select Collection Travel Boutique in Mayfair, London

Safaris in general never appealed to my senses until my recent trip to South Africa, which changed not only my perception of Safari trips but also what one can get out of it. My attitude changed having come a few feet from wild lions and appreciating their majesty or seeing elephants stroll around without a care in the world.

A trip lasting two weeks managed to cover Cape Town, Franschhock, Garden Route and finally to Kruger National Park. There is not one hotel or one place that I can say was my favourite since each part of the country had something different and unique about it.

Cape Town is the southernmost city in the African Subcontinent, lies just beneath Table Mountain and originally was the stopping post for seafarers travelling from Europe to Indian Ocean. This is a vibrant city and its heart and soul seems to be around the waterfront with its multitude of shops and restaurants. The Place to stay is the One & Only Cape Town, though there are other wonderful hotels such as Cape Grace which is also located on the waterfront.

Franschhock is the ideal place to visit if one is a connoisseur of wine and the places to stay here are Franschhock Country House and Villas, Mont Rochelle and Grand Provence. If staying in Cape Town then a visit to this place is a must.

The Garden route consists of such a varied landscape. One minute you could be driving past vineyards and next there are rolling hills with cattle grazing without a care in the world. The place to stop en route is Knysna or Plettenburg Bay. Hotel Pezula in Knysna is world renowned for its service and golf course. Further along the route is Plettenburg Bay and here the must stay place is the Plettenburg Park Hotel, located on a cliff with fantastic view out to the Indian Ocean – if one is lucky this is the route the Whales take in their migration and one can see them out of their windows.

Kruger National Park – home to the big 5 and also numerous other creatures, is a must visit destination. Singita Lebombo Lodge was less of a Safari Camp but more like staying with one’s favourite relatives – the staff and the whole place had a welcoming feel to it and the staff here made the safari experience even more worthwhile with their friendliness.

Watch out – I have a new passion in life now: Safaris!

You can call any of our offices and they will help you to get answers from Saif to any questions you have on this exciting safari trip. We have some other safari-locations as well, so please feel free to ask anything, we'll usually have a person whose been on location and can give you all the insight to make your trip personalised and perfect from the very booking moment all the way till you are back home.

Some pictures from the trip below

Dining Room Grand Provence - Franschhock

Foot bridge to Grand Provence

View of the ocean from Pezula Castle - Knysna

Myself and Fiona Cuerden of Pezula Sales & Marketing Team

Foyer of Plettenburg Park Hotel

Pool at Saxon House Jo'burg

Painting by Nelson Mandela - Saxon House

View from lodge at Lebombo Camp at Singita

Lion sleeps tonight - good song title

Where is the sign post!!!!

Think outside the Botox

Beatrice Aidin gave up her injections and embraced a new beauty trend: Mobile facial features

"Botox pre-ages the skin," says some experts .. "If you reduce the blood supply to the area, then the area goes crepey.."

There are no real evidence of the negatve effects but I have a beautiful alternative for those clients who want healthy anti aging. We have an exclusive contract with the beautiful SHA Wellness Clinic in Spain. They have some lovely facial treatments that I will tell you more about.

Look for an invitation early spring!
I can promise you that you that after visiting SHA you don't only feel mobile in your face but even young at heart.










Expressive
Beatrice Aidin after giving up the botox injections (above) and the small picture during the Botox years

Financial Times Sunday 3 January

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More about Romantic Capri

I met our valued client and NHL Hockey Star Mats Sundin last night at my favorite restaurant. We were chating about how much we long to escape the cold...and thinking back of the wonderful time and happy memories his wife and him have from their lovely honeymoon at the Capri Palace


P.S. I always ask for permission if I write about our valued clients








Page 381 in Select Collection

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Narcotic Venus

I got a lovely present from a lovely person

The bottle of perfume is part of the project Nasomatto. The fragrance is the result of a quest for the overwhelming addictive intensity of female sexual power.

I have also learned that on the beautiful Island of Capri, to where I organize romantic packages of Select Collection, they also have a very rare production of perfume





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Positive Energy for 2010

I have started the New Year with lots of positive energy and hope to share it with all my friends, my staff and my valued clients

" Life is not a problem. To look at it as a problem is to take a wrong step. It is a mystery to be lived, loved, experienced."
By Osho


Stockholm on NewYears Day

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