It is amazing what we would do for our friends and indeed what friends will do for us. Well more about that later.
I was privileged to be invited once again to be a Judge at the NatWest everywoman awards. What a hard task it is – such amazing and outstanding ladies and actually already all winners who have achieved so much in their lives – even those who are so young –though everyone seems so young to me now! These ladies have set up a diverse range of businesses often through amazing adversity and have broken through and made their business and lives a success. An inspiration they are each and everyone!!
OK back to friends. I went to two of my gorgeous friends wedding and I know it’s a cliché but Trish the bride really did look beautiful and it was such a perfect day, the newly weds were so happy all day. Another one of my dear friends, Tricia who lives in Dubai, has been very ill, so I flew out on Friday night for a two night stay. It was wonderful to see her recovering so well after being through the mill. Tricia has a very senior role within a hotel group. We have both been in the travel industry for years and have a natural passion for it; when together we talk about it 24/7 and love exploring hotels. So at my request, even though Tricia was not completely better, she took me on a tour of one of her hotels, the Atlantis. Not satisfied I then cheekily asked if she could take me to see Burj al Arab hotel which is not part of her portfolio. Wow and double wow! If you like superior luxury accommodation, uniqueness and fabulous cuisine and have a celebratory event in mind or simply just want to do something completey extravagant I recommend it – sunny warm climate and sheer exuberant relaxations.
Top Tip: As I went to buy my friend a gift in Duty Free, oops I found I had lost my boarding pass. I went to the airline desk airside – so I had already been through passport control and thought it was going to be a nightmare – but they instnatly issued another one. So don’t panic should this happen to you, there is always an answer.
Whilst I was away last weekend I started panicking about this one. I am going to another wedding but what does a girl wear! Another friend Fiona, who knows what I am like about shopping, contrary to the stereotype about women, I am not a girl that loves to shop she pre-empted my dilemma and volunteered as my personal shopper. So last night she brought around some outfits for me to choose from for my nephews wedding on Saturday. Friends are so precious.
By now you will have either automatically received or requested our beautiful 2011 brochure. I hope you enjoy perusing it, and very much look forward to one of our team chatting to you and putting together your perfect holiday.
Must go, fitness to do
Speak soon
About Mandy Nickerson
Other articles by Mandy Nickerson
Mandy endeavours to share her travel experiences (where she will 'tell it like it is') and also detail the latest exciting projects that she is involved in.
Mandy welcomes your feedback - please feel free to submit your thoughts, queries, comments and theories below. 
We would like to congratulate Bales on its brilliant organisation of a just completed trip to Jordan and Egypt.
From the moment we were met in Amman on the 7th October by the airport representative, through to the Cairo representative arranging our final departure on the 24th, we enjoyed nothing but superlative support…way better than our expectations.
Apart from the support teams, the guides at each location in Jordan, Cairo and the Nile were hugely knowledgable, thoroughly professional and each became a real friend.
The hotels we stayed in were all excellent and a credit to the company….and the week aboard Amber was simply the best. The entire crew made an enormous effort to ensure that we all had an experience that we’ll never forget..
Thankyou to the team at Bales…you should all be very proud of your company
John and Liz Algie