Hotels

Not much difference so far

Eight days ago, in reporting to readers of this organ that I was about to begin a driving ban for having amassed a cumulative 12 points for minor speeding offences upon the roads of Britain, I concluded my piece by stating that I proposed to offer occasional reflections upon the ban as I endured [...]

August 24, 2021 // 0 Comments

A La Colthard/the Royal Crescent Bath

It was Nancy’s idea that “Rusters On European Tour” might make a trip to Bath. Alice (Mansfield) wanted to see the Canaletto exhibition at the Holburne museum Bath and I don’t need much excuse to revisit one of my favourite hotels The Royal Crescent. As the name would suggest the [...]

August 19, 2021 // 0 Comments

A la Colthard/Sir Christopher Wren Windsor

A few years ago I was a regular visitor to both the Sir Christopher Wren hotel and Windsor. The hotel got tattier and tattier. One day on the outdoor terrace I saw a spritely Indian businessman directing affairs. He turned out to be the owner of Sarova hotels. Sarova have now taken over the hotel. [...]

July 27, 2021 // 0 Comments

The Open

I was last at St George’s in 1993 when Greg Norman roasted the field. I followed him early and stayed with him to the 18th. Since then Ben Curtis and Darren Clarke have won the claret jug here. Like all links courses, it’s weather dependent: wind in your face – a wood, wind with you [...]

July 15, 2021 // 0 Comments

Time and tide waits for no man

Occasionally on the pages of this organ contributors, myself included, address aspects of the passing of time upon sporting careers and particularly the point at which top sportsmen and woman decide to call a halt. In this context the truisms can flow long and hard. Some elite athletes are [...]

July 12, 2021 // 0 Comments

A la Colthard: Hotel du Vin/Wimbledon

I had last stayed at this hotel when it was the Cannizzaro, a Palladian house in the style of Kenwood with equally magnificent grounds. However the hotel – especially the service – disappointed. Now under the management of Hotel du Vin they have upped their game. On arrival I was stuck [...]

June 9, 2021 // 0 Comments

The Grand Eastbourne

A few years ago I was a naughty, very naughty girl. I was reviewing an up-market trattoria in Chelsea. I had arrived late and was the only diner left. The manager Federico offered me a complimentary grappa and one became three. My marriage was going through a difficult time and as I told my [...]

May 23, 2021 // 0 Comments

Lockdown observations in a full-on day

I once met a psychiatrist who specialised in geriatrics who opined that character faults were heightened as the person grows older. For ‘growing old’ I would substitute ‘in lockdown’. I confess to being more than irritated by casual service and in the last 48 hours encountered this in [...]

May 6, 2021 // 0 Comments

Gravetye Manor

As – to use a vogue phrase – a circuit breaker from the daily domestic routine, I made a reservation sometime ago for lunch yesterday at Gravetye Manor near East Grinstead. I had only heard good things of a hotel which was once the home of Victorian gardener and writer William Robinson [...]

October 17, 2020 // 0 Comments

London: it’s eerie

Yesterday I travelled to London for various meetings. A taxi took me to my first appointment via Oxford St. – I have never seen it so deserted. If I had to describe the West End pre-Covid I would use the word bustling. Now it would be eerie. It was like those nightmarish science fictions [...]

October 15, 2020 // 0 Comments

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My art week

December 3, 2021 // 0 Comments

I have just finished Art of the Extreme 1905-1915 by Philip Hook the ex-Director of Impressionism and Modern Art at Sothebys. His background is sales. He writes well. He is [...]
Not just a matter of self-identification

December 3, 2021 // 0 Comments

Many of those who contribute to this organ take pride in the Rust‘s long and healthy record of pointing out both the oddities and absurdities of modern 21st Century [...]
West Ham 1 Brighton 1

December 2, 2021 // 0 Comments

The Seagulls maintained their unbeaten record against the Hammers in their second consecutive draw. They left it rather late – and had only 10 players on the pitch [...]
It’s all about a load of hot air …

December 2, 2021 // 0 Comments

Now some two months into my new life living on the south coast of England, I have been learning much – in my terminally technologically illiterate way – about the [...]
Duck into the bouncer, Doug!

December 1, 2021 // 0 Comments

In 1993 I was on the beach at Bridgetown Barbados facing a skinny 11 year old with a mean bouncer. At the other end was my friend Wayne Daniel who advised me to “duck into [...]