There’s a new kid on the block in the Pimlico road and her name is Molly Alexander. I have worked with Molly for the past twelve years and she ranks in the top five of the people in the world that I rank with the best ‘eye’. Her new shop is terrific, combining eighteenth century English furniture with twentieth century furniture, the odd enormous pair of Elks antlers mixing in too a smorgasbord of twentieth century painting or Roman sculpture or a 16th century Turkish tile. The objects and furniture are chosen with the greatest care and are scrupulously vetted before being allowed to cross the threshold of her FABULOUS shop. I highly recommend a visit. @mollyalexanderltd
Ahhhh… spring at last, with the wood pigeons cooing and the pheasants squawking, the daffodils and narcissi sparkling(no tulips, they’ve been eaten by creatures unknown) and bright green leaves appearing gradually in the hedgerow…. I’d like to say that all was well but let’s face it, it just isn’t; I’m thinking all the time about all the people that are being bombed and maimed and killed right now as all these lovely, peaceful things are happening in my garden and my stomach churns.
As you may know winter is NOT my favourite season; Dull, dark and dismal, I think HOWEVER there are cheery things that do happen around now that remind you that spring and summer are round the corner and these two huge amaryllis are amongst them. I got home to find them in full, glorious fig; Trumpets of joy signalling longer days, daffodils and narcissi, tulips and eventually leaves on the trees…
A friend of mine asked me the other day who, if I could choose anybody alive or dead, I would like to have dinner with. I said that it would have to be Coco Chanel. He then got hold of an old photograph of me by Mike Owen and merged it with one of Chanel using AI and here is the result. @mikeowenphotography
I have been staying in what I have always thought is one of the most beautiful houses in the world, Heron bay. For years I’d only known it from photographs but could never have imagined how truly special it is in reality. Whilst the house ( commissioned and built by Ronald Tree)is grand in style it is (fairly) modest in scale and is surrounded by really beautifully conceived gardens designed by Geoffrey Jellicoe in the 1940’s which are a wonderful mix of jungle and linear symmetry all looking out over the pale blue Caribbean Sea. Heron bay is exquisitely preserved and cared for by it’s chatelaine Carole Bamford and her remarkable local team and is very lucky to have such an owner who pours her love, energy and immaculate taste in to looking after and nurturing it. Thank you Anthony and Carole, I really have had the most wonderful, calm and serene time and am VERY sorry to leave.
Many thanks to Luca and Meriem and the whole team at Villa Mabrouka for the extraordinary efforts to put on the truly spectacular New Year’s Eve festivities. A very happy 2026 to them and all our customers @villamabrouka
Good morning, there are a lot of pheasants out there today. The sun is rising on what looks like maybe a clear blue sky and it is suddenly jolly cold. Have an excellent week.
Out and about with Kristin Scott Thomas at the Pink ball at the British Museum on Friday… she was ‘in the pink’ looking absolutely sensational… ravishing in fact @kristinscottthomas
Last night I went for dinner and a tour of the Sir John Soane museum which was entirely lit by candlelight for the evening. This was a truly unique and utterly wonderful experience. Thank you so much to my hosts ANŪT Cairo for inviting me. This museum is right up there in the top five of my favourite places to visit in London and if you’ve never been, go now, you’re in for a treat. @anut.cairo@soanemuseum
Tea yesterday with the wonderful Julian and Isabel Bannerman in their incredible house and garden. I’ve watched them transform their house and create the garden over the past five years which they took from pretty hellish to undoubted SENSATION. Their vision in what they do outside and inside is simply UNMATCHED and totally magical . @isabelbannerman
