LOVE is Wise, Hatred is Foolish and The Origins of Valentines Day Are Darker Than You Think

Replacing a note, a poem, flowers and chocolates with words of wisdom from Bertram Russell on LOVE

Fat Francis

2026-02-16T16:00:10.9700000 2026-02-16T16:34:48.1270000

I put these musings in the Advertising category because things like Valentines Day, a medieval tradition perpetuated by societies around the globe are a kind of societal advertising to me. A construct with a sole purpose to drive trade, a commercial festival we are encouraged to participate in with greetings of Happy Valentines just like Happy Christmas, Happy Mothers Day, Happy Fathers Day, Happy Bastille Day, for the French, Happy Independence Day, or Happy Thanksgiving for the Americans. You see where I am going.

In 1959 Bertrand Russell said Love is wise, hatred is foolish and we have to learn to tolerate each other. We have to learn to put up with the fact some people say things we don’t like. Couples I know could learn from this sage advice. It’s true love is blind, especially in the beginning.

And then I thought about Valentine’s Day. One day when we are trained to expect someone not to say something we don’t like but to say something we do, even if they don’t mean it or they wouldn’t say it on the 13th February nor the 15th February. But on the 14th February it is expected because if it isn’t said on Valentines Day, by way of chocolates, flowers, cards, cuddly teddies, tchotchkes in all shapes and sizes we are less than, feel neglected, unloved.

I’d imagine more people are disappointed on Valentines day than not even if the 18 long stemmed red roses are delivered on time and at three times the price.

18 red roses that cost £50 in January can increase to £150 by 14th February. It’s just a market driven through the roof by marketing and demand.

There were always flowers in my home growing up, my mother was never grateful for them, my father I later learned bought them to relieve his guilt. So the romance of flowers interconnected to the LOVE concept I didn’t believe or buy into even back then. I loved the flowers, but they didn’t create or sustain the preconception.

As Bertrand Russell suggests I looked only at the facts and the flowers purchased never made my mother happy growing up so even though I hoped to and then expected to receive them on Valentines Day, from my partner I never put a great deal of stock in the day especially. I always saw through the hopefulness of receiving an unsigned greeting, like the plot line in Jane Austin’s Emma, the Valentine's card incident (actually a riddle in a charade) leading Emma to falsely believe Mr. Elton is in love with Harriet Smith. Misinterpreting the whole situation and ending up with complete humiliation for Harriet, was more often the norm, a series of calamities and manufactured wishes of the young and foolish when it comes to matters of the heart.

The pressure of Valentine’s Day for young people I understand, believing you are the only one not receiving a card when in fact virtually no one is receiving one is a brutal confidence crashing experience I think we should expose for the commercial brain washing it actually is.

Personally one day of fake acknowledgment for anyone with a sweetheart (I use the word with tongue in cheek) for it works well with Valentines Day as a construct, isn’t really good enough for anyone. I go back to Bertrand Russell advising us that LOVE is wise and smart people don’t wait for one day a year when prices for roses skyrocket to express it. It’s a doing, an action we practise every day.

Makes me think of adapting the first line of the poem by Juan Oliverez, “Don’t bring me flowers when I am dead, come see me today while I am sick in bed”

To “Don’t bring me flowers today on Valentines Day, buy what remains tomorrow or the weekend before I say, or even better save your money, surprise me with a note or gift,

on a day when no one tells you today is the day to declare love.

Chose a day when the roses are blooming, because every day should be “Valentines Day””

If you do a bit of research into the Roman origins of the fertility festival and the people named Valentine who were executed by Roman emperor Claudius II (in the third century) when goats were slaughtered and women whipped with their hides, yep I kid you not, (doesn’t sound very appealing or romantic, more a way for men to get laid if you ask me) you’ll get a completely different take on the day we’ve turned into teddies and chocolates in the name of love.

Why was the I8 BMW discontinued???

You can now pick one up for around from £25,000 which brings this little greener hybrid sports...

Fat Francis

2026-01-29T16:51:45.8600000 2026-01-30T08:22:43.1670000

The BMW I8 was produced between 2014 and 2020 but ultimately didn’t make it even though it’s such a good looking little sports hybrid. Ahead of it’s time maybe definitely, except when a concept car is produced without really testing understanding the consumer and the market it isn’t always plain sailing even with a name like BMW behind the wheel.

It’s competing with cars like the Porsche 911 series, it’s own BMW M series, and include cars around from 2020 to 2024 like Audi R8 and the Aston Martin Vantage, it proved a tough bracket. The i8 with only 369 Horsepower and 420 pound torque from its pretty tiny hybrid system it slipped when it came to performance.

It was introduced to the market at the Frankfurt Motor show for a retail price of $150,000 but then 8 short years later the 2 plus 2 seater was dropped from the BMW line up despite its curb appeal.

The feedback wasn’t that great and sales of the super car wained. Personally I loved the futuristic feel and the De Lorean Ferrari Enzo styling with the pop up fly doors. Except getting in and out just didn’t work. The practicality of using it daily drivers said was too difficult and cumbersome. Reliability was also an issue for driving every day and the build wasn’t conducive to any mechanic working on the I8 which meant back to the BMW dealer every time a little something went wrong which meant very high maintenance and repair bills.

High end sports cars are expensive to fix for sure but the I8 had additional issues which made it different. It was the first plug in hybrid sports cars for BMW which brought with it additional challenges.

So an engine tucked away with limited access and complicated new technology on a car prone to breaking down makes it hard to commit over £100,000 on this beautiful little car.

The pointers that make a car really fun to drive are how it sounds from the inside, how responsive the car is and the drivability. The sound from the 3L engine from the inside comes from speakers, not great and sure it’s quick but compared to other cars in it’s class it’s not that fast so no points there really either. It handles like a front wheel drive high performance car and is pretty easy to drive, but it doesn’t sound great, and being a hybrid it’s not fast enough for the money.

A few people complained about cargo space and back seat space. However no one buys a sports car for the back seats or the boot space so not even worth mentioning here.

People figured out you can tune up an R8 Audi or a Toyota supra to get max performance out of them, which made them super main stream and really popular. You couldn’t do this with the hybrid i8 so unless you could live with the look and the green credentials it wasn’t taking off. People that love sports cars aren’t the most eco conscious let’s face it.

The final factor that finished off the BMW I8 was the price. The starting price was $150K going up to $170K for the Spider. And when it comes to value for money, you aren’t getting performance, you aren’t getting comfort, you aren’t getting that much fun to drive so what’s left on the table is just a beautiful looking car, which for a lady like me it certainly checks all the boxes when it comes to beauty, except not many women spend $150K on a sports car so there was no target market for the BMW I8. Maybe the final nail in the coffin for this gorgeous set of wheels.

It’s not all doom and gloom though because now you can pick up one of these beauties for £50 or £60K which opens it up to whole new market.

At this price it’s a fantastic car to own and drive, good looking, quite rare, highly collectible and a showstopper.

For 100 grand less the value sky rockets on a beauty like this that was truly ahead of its time and yes I think we will see a revival, a relaunch of these fabulous wheels at some point in the future.

I always wanted a 6 series BMW, I like comfort so the in and out would probably be a deal breaker for me but note to younger self, if I could afford the lower price tag I’d pick this car over a quicker Nissan or Toyota any day.

https://youtu.be/r0rGTbUGP6k?si=wubZinRSCVXkWBGb

Welcome Break Leicester Forest East Has Had a Makeover You Won’t Believe!

If you think UK service stations are pretty dire try stopping in Leicester, not brilliant...

Fat Francis

2026-01-15T11:57:47.5970000 2026-01-15T12:58:49.1230000

I am pretty familiar with the service stations on the M1 route between Leeds and London. I use Watford Gap, Northampton, Newport Pagnell, Toddington (Marks and Spencer’s)

And London Gateway, (Starbucks and Waitrose) a lot. And they are all pretty errrr to be honest. They vary from old completely decrepit buildings and filthy loos full of over priced product, I paid £3.80 for a plastic bottle of coke the other day, I honestly nearly keeled over and would have put it back except I needed the caffeine kick, to old decrepit buildings with a few brands, usually the same Waitrose and Starbucks trying their best to make the offering a bit more appealing.

There are 11 in total and apart from Donnington Park which is a more sprawling ranch style offering which does feel a little newer and fresher.

Leeds Skelton Lake Services – near J45 (serving Leeds area)

Woolley Edge Services – between J38 and J39 near Wakefield/Huddersfield area

Tibshelf Services – between J28 and J29

Trowell Services – between J25 and J26 (near Nottingham/Derby area)

Donington Park Services – near J23A (between Derby and Nottingham)

Leicester Forest East Services – between J21 and J21A (near Leicester)

Watford Gap Services – between J16 and J17 (Northamptonshire)

Northampton Services – at J15A

Newport Pagnell Services – between J14 and J15 (near Milton Keynes)

Toddington Services – between J11 and J12

London Gateway Services – between J2 and J4 (serves both northbound & southbound)

It does feel like owners of 4 of the 11, Welcome Break (Applegate PLC) capitalise of the need of consumers not their expectation. We stop when we need to, not where we like.

London Gateway Services (M1 between J2–J4)

Newport Pagnell Services (M1 between J14–J15)

Leicester Forest East Services (M1 J21)

Woodall Services (M1 between J30–J31)

The others are shared between Moto (3), Trowel, Donnington, and Toddington, Roadchef (3) Tibshelf, Watford Gap and Northampton and Extra (1) Leeds Skelton Lake. And I’d imagine if you asked anyone which has had the most investment or which is the best company operator, who uses these service stations regularly, they’d tell you, like me, they are all the same, mediocre.

Except I went to Leicester Forest East this week, a Welcome Break quite by chance. I never go there, it’s close to home for me so no reason to stop there on an outbound journey, I always want to get going and on the return I want to get home. This particular visit the driver, the reason to stop, was unusual. I’d dropped someone without a car nearby, they needed picking up in an hour so I had no time to do anything really and the service station offer 2 hours free parking and lunch options. I was there until I was needed again.

And when I parked and stepped through the door I thought I was in another world. The shock significant enough to share. It sparked me to snap a few pictures and write.

It’s the same format pretty much except it was new and clean, modern and shiny. The first thing I saw was a little gift shop, looked like the kind of place my daughters would shop, phone cases, jewellery, bits and bobs, chotskies, then the usual slot machines and gambling, Game Zone but much newer and cleaner and unusually empty. Usually these places are full with blokes in tracksuits, never empty seats, it was a surprise, I snapped a picture. Then I passed a large and glass walled Starbucks and a gleaming brand new Waitrose, OK it’s still Starbucks and Waitrose but foreign travellers wouldn’t be thinking what is the business hell hole. I followed the newly layer, black and white floor, noticeably cleaner, more modern and I ventured upstairs. The redesign had put the food court on the bridge, high up where customers and dinners could take a “Welcome Break”, watch the traffic beneath them more airport style

and relax for the allowed 2 hours free parking.

There was neon signs, modern art and big screen advertising and news feed between celebrity interviews, marketing for diners, a captive audience to stare at, it was definitely a marked improvement.

The food options were the same, Burger King, KFC and Taco Bell, the counters were shiny but the staff still grumpy and the lunch options unchanged. I thought how unbelievable it would have been to encounter just one unfamiliar company, a fresh more modern, healthier option.

I’ve seen Pret A Manger at Toddington which I often stopped at for, except the options are limited, the healthier options not available or sold out so I’ve kind of stopped trying.

Personally I’d like a plant based or vegetarian food company given an opportunity by service station business. On a long journey particular for drivers lighter healthier food is better, not a heavy greasy meal that makes you want to sleep.

I was so encouraged by the changes, the makeover, I went to the loo. Something I usually hold my nose and endure only when absolutely desperate.

It was better than the airport. And for the first time I didn’t emerge desperate to get outside and breath fresh air.

In conclusion if you are on route from Leeds to London or heading north from the capital and planning to make a stop, stop at Leicester Forest East, it is by far the very best of the less than average service stations offering food, loo breaks and a rest on the M1.

A Car Enthusiasts Tale; A Sports Car Lovers First MG Midget

A reliable little sporty iconic roadster still popular with enthusiasts today

Fat Francis

2026-01-09T11:59:33.7700000 2026-01-09T13:09:38.6600000

The vehicle pictured is an MG Midget, a small two-seater sports car produced by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) from 1961 to 1979. This one is post 1974 disguishable by it being bumper less, a 1980 MG Midget 1500 in Pageant Blue. The latest version is still a show stopper although the most valuable MG Midgets now are the MK 1 made between 1961 and 1964.

I don’t have any pictures of my first car a 1972 MG Midget round wheel arched MG in the original paint, damask red, a distinctive dark claret red; a model that was only available for two years from 1972 to 1974. Mine was M reg and I loved it. I remember it costing a staggering £250. I got a loan from the bank to buy it with a repayment of about £30 a month, which was a lot at the time but I didn’t care, I wanted the car so badly I was prepared to make any sacrifice to get it. These days the same car will cost you anywhere from£1000 up to £10,000 in pristine condition.

I found the dream car about 50 miles away from my home and I took the National Express coach alone one way to go and check it out, with a plan to buy it and drive it back home much to my parents horror. I was young, single minded, working and I wanted that car. I knew nothing about car mechanics, running a vehicle, the cost involved, insurance, petrol, road tax, repairs. Simple tasks like keeping the engine oil topped up which I failed to do and blew up the engine eventually but not before driving all over the country, London to Edinburgh, Harrogate to Berkshire, Windsor to Brighton, I loved the freedom, I loved the top down, I loved that powerful little heater that meant it was bearable to drive open topped in all weathers. I even raided my mother’s selection of silk head scarves as I soon discovered the one downside of open topped cruising was knotted, tangled beyond belief hair.

The ashtray was always bursting with fag butts and I joined the MG Owners Club for the badge and the connections with other MG lovers around the country. I even learned how to change the wheel myself when I had a puncture, AA membership and roadside assistance was a much later luxury. And my weekends were spent making small repairs like replacing brake pads and brake discs and working on sanding, filling and repainting areas on the body work rusted away around the wheels, polishing the chrome bumpers to a high shine. When I wasn’t chasing formula 2 racing drivers; one in particular around the local track to get a go behind the wheel. I even made a poor decision to lend my precious MG to a questionable charming character I left home and moved into my first flat to date against my parents wishes. When the police tracked the car down and came knocking, he was long gone and I was lucky I knew very little about the extent of his shady dealings.

I’ve owned and driven a lot of different vehicles over the years from an Audi Quattro, to Porsche 928S, my dating was often foolishly steered by the cars boys drove. I was always angling to be included on insurance policies and offering my chauffeuring services for an opportunity to get behind the wheel. I once got the opportunity to drive a Ferrari 308 2.9 GTS from the south coast back to London for someone I knew who’d lost their license for drinking and driving and had no way of getting the car back to town.

Later in life I’ve driven everything from a BMW 635csi, a car I swore I would own one day, to a jaguar XJS and my other favourite wheels the iconic Etype jaguar. Famous images of actor Paul Newman cruising around London in a white E type jaguar spotted in a cafe I go to on Walton St in the london borough of Kensington and Chelsea, the Walton Street Cafe, worth a visit to see the pictures always take me back to my love of an open topped car.

My boss in my 20’s had a company BMW a 3 series, silver metallic she’d often let me drive, and loaned me whenever she went on holiday which was a lot. At the time I had a less exciting VW golf that incurred more parking tickets in London I think than any other vehicle in living memory. If they locked you up for them back in those days I’d have been in clink. I remember when I had to make sure both vehicles were legally parked I spent a lot of time looking for people with residents parking badges or an empty garage space I could blag now and again.

But of all the cars I’ve had the pleasure to own and drive, and it’s been a lot over the years the MG Midget was that first love you never forget. If you are a car driving lover you’ll undertstand. It’s a big milestone, your driving license. The day when driving provides that coming of age freedom to put your peddle to the metal and just go. When the thought of a long drive was not a chore but a pleasure, when mix tapes were made just for that purpose and the experience was the journey not the destination. I still love driving and am always thinking about driving East to West Coast US, route 66, driving from the North of France into Spain, or exploring the route across Northern Europe through Poland and Czech Republic.

I took some pretty long journeys in the MG alone, I never worried about breaking down and funnily enough, I am sure my MG Midget wasn’t all that reliable except I don’t remember ever being stranded. I have only feelings of it being the best little car ever.

When I spotted this one parked on the street in the small public school town of Uppingham in Rutland I had to snap take a few pictures. If she’s yours she’s an absolute beauty.

Pragnell Mount Street Mayfair & Leicester City Centre: British Fine Jewellery, Engagement Rings, Bespoke Craftsmanship and Watch Expertise

Pragnell Mayfair & Leicester: British Fine Jewellery & Watches

Fat Francis

2026-01-05T15:56:20.8500000 2026-01-07T15:28:50.4670000

Pragnell of Mount Street, Mayfair and Leicester City Centre: British Craft in Two Distinct Worlds

There are two jewellers I love in Leicester, Lumbers on the high st but my favourite in Pragnell 22-24 Market St, Leicester LE1. A sucker for a vintage car and a vintage diamond, I love seeing the old morris minor van parked outside the shop.

Lots of people like new jewellery and you can select stones and settings separately and have something custom created, a wonderful service but I absolutely love browsing the curated selection of the special vintage and estate pieces, starting from early Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco, through retro designs and pieces from esteemed houses like Cartier and Van Cleef, Aspreys and Boodles.

You can check the beautiful selection online, easily searchable by price, preferred stones or type of piece you are looking for, necklace, ring, bracelet, and then go into store for a personal shopping appointment where the experience, whether in London’s Mayfair, Leicester or Stratford Upon Avon I have always found to be warm and personal with champagne, tea or coffee if you like.

It’s unusual to find a shopping experience at this level in Leicester, one to definitely experience if you have the budget to cross the threshold and if you are in search of a luxury watch, they are Rolex and Patek Phillipe specialists. The first jeweller to bring these renowned Swiss brands to the UK over 70 years ago.

The Pragnell jewellery chain is still a family business with family values, a modern approach with an old fashioned attention to detail feeling.

If you are in the neighbourhood of Market St in Leicester or the gorgeous Mount Street in Mayfair, make an appointment to pop in and have a shop.

These two locations could not be any more different but the service, comfortable yet refined shop interiors and warm friendly reception from staff where nothing is too much trouble will make you want to return over and over again.

It’s true across Britain’s luxury landscape, from the mill and factory town of Leicester and the hoi polloi, to the ladies and gents of Mayfair few names balance heritage, craftsmanship and modern service quite as deftly as Pragnell. With a London presence on Mount Street in Mayfair and a long-established home in Leicester city centre, the family jeweller straddles two very different worlds: the discreet, international elegance of Mayfair and the warm, grounded energy of the Midlands. Together they form a portrait of contemporary British fine jewellery and watch expertise that is both cosmopolitan and deeply rooted.

A family ethos, refined over generations.

Pragnell’s story is one of independence and continuity. As a family business, it has evolved with each generation while holding firm to the principles that matter most in fine jewellery: honest advice, meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to enduring beauty. That ethos runs like a thread through each showroom, informing everything from design to aftercare. And the proof of the pudding is in the eating. My Dad like to shop there so it’s a bit of a family tradition for me too.

The jeweller’s reputation rests on three pillars. First is an eye for exceptional stones and craftsmanship, whether in new creations or heirloom pieces. Second is horological knowledge, drawing in watch enthusiasts who value both the romance and engineering of fine timepieces. Third is a service culture that treats a once-in-a-lifetime purchase with the same care as a small repair, building relationships that often span decades, for us it’s three.

Mount Street, Mayfair: discretion and rarity

Mayfair’s Mount Street has long been a byword for refined taste, where heritage houses and contemporary artisans share a quiet confidence. Pragnell’s presence here feels entirely at home. The space is designed for unhurried discovery, where clients can engage with jewellery and watches at their own pace. Expect a curated selection that leans into rarity and narrative: jewels with exceptional character, signed pieces from important periods, and watches that reward connoisseurship as much as they delight at a glance. Take your time and enjoy the experience, they won’t mind so long as you are shopping.

The Mayfair experience is notably personal. Appointments are unrushed; discussions about provenance, design and care are encouraged; and private areas allow for thoughtful decision-making away from the bustle of the street. It is an environment built for collectors and celebrants alike, from those seeking a singular stone to mark an occasion to clients assembling a coherent personal collection over time.

Leicester city centre: heritage, community and celebration

If Mayfair whispers, Leicester sings. The city centre showroom sits at the heart of a thriving, diverse community, welcoming first-time buyers and seasoned collectors with equal enthusiasm. It is a destination for engagement rings and wedding bands—a place where couples can compare settings, learn about diamond characteristics in clear, accessible terms and find a design that feels distinctly their own. IT’s posh for Leicester folk.

Leicester’s role is also practical. Many clients come with family pieces to refresh or restore, and the team’s expertise in remodelling allows old treasures to enjoy new lives. There is a strong educational element too: staff are adept at demystifying gemstones and watch movements, ensuring that customers feel informed as well as inspired. In a city that values craft and value in equal measure, Pragnell offers both.

Craftsmanship and the art of the bespoke

Whether in Mayfair or Leicester, the path to a finished jewel often starts with conversation. Bespoke commissions are collaborative by design. Clients might bring a sketch, a theme, or an inherited stone; the team translates that idea into renderings, models and, ultimately, a piece that marries personal significance with structural integrity.

Attention to detail runs from claw alignment and metal finishing to how a ring sits between the fingers over many years of wear. Ethical sourcing and transparency are central considerations, with careful attention paid to origin, cut quality and long-term durability. For restorations, the guiding principle is sympathetic craftsmanship: retaining the character of an heirloom while ensuring its future.

Watches with soul and substance

Pragnell’s watch counters bring together technical depth and aesthetic discernment. Clients encounter timepieces that reward close inspection—movements worth understanding, histories worth telling. For those exploring their first mechanical watch, the team can explain the differences between complications, movements and materials. For veteran collectors, conversation often turns to nuances of dial production, period-correct details and long-term maintenance.

Pre-owned and vintage pieces frequently feature, offering a route into discontinued references and a way to connect with horological history. Servicing and aftercare are given the same emphasis as the initial sale, recognising that a great watch is a long-term companion. If you are in search of a specific model secondhand they’ll keep an eye out for you until the watch you want comes in.

Service that outlasts the purchase

One hallmark of a serious jeweller is how they support clients after the ribbon is cut. Pragnell’s services span valuations, cleaning and inspections, resizing, repairs, remodelling, and guidance on insurance. For watches, routine servicing and accuracy checks help preserve performance and value. These practicalities underpin the romance of a purchase, ensuring that beauty remains wearable and dependable for decades.

Design language: British, timeless, quietly modern

Across both locations, the aesthetic is distinctly British. Jewellery designs often blend classical lines with subtle modernity—think clean proportions, tactile metalwork and settings that showcase the stone rather than overwhelm it. Where craftsmanship shines, it does so in the details: the way light returns through a diamond, the taper of a shoulder, the smoothness of a bracelet’s articulation. It is an approach that favours longevity over fashion, meaning pieces feel current today and poised to become tomorrow’s heirlooms.

Two locations, one identity

What unites Mount Street and Leicester city centre is a consistent point of view: a belief that luxury should be welcoming, that knowledge should be shared generously and that what people buy should enrich their lives beyond the moment of purchase. The settings are different—the hushed elegance of Mayfair versus the lively spirit of the Midlands—but the experience is recognisably Pragnell in both.

For those seeking an exceptional engagement ring, a noteworthy watch, or the restoration of a family treasure, these two addresses offer complementary paths. In Mayfair, the emphasis is on privacy, curation and rarity. In Leicester, it is on celebration, community and craft made accessible. Together, they embody a modern expression of British fine jewellery—one that values story as much as sparkle, and substance as much as style.

Planning your visit

1. Book ahead if you want a private appointment, particularly for bespoke commissions or significant watch enquiries.

2. Bring any relevant documentation for valuations or service histories; it helps tailor advice.

3. For remodelling projects, bring the pieces you’re considering; photographs of past wearers can also inform sympathetic designs.

4. If you’re new to diamonds or mechanical watches, don’t worry—expect clear explanations and time to compare options side by side.

In an industry where detail matters and trust is everything, Pragnell’s twin presence in Mount Street, Mayfair and Leicester city centre offers a compelling blend of knowledge, artistry and hospitality—proof that true luxury is as much about how you are made to feel as it is about what you eventually take home.

Thanks to everyone at Pragnell in Mayfair for my experience. You made me feel so welcome and valued as a long standing customer.

The 10 main differences between a Bentley and a Rolls Royce

If money were no object would you drive a Bentley or a Rolls Royce?

Fat Francis

2025-12-18T14:21:18.7570000 2025-12-18T15:34:08.7370000

Both Rolls-Royce and Bentley represent the pinnacle of British luxury motoring, but they cater to slightly different tastes and experiences — Rolls-Royce for unmatched opulence and quiet grandeur, Bentley for luxurious yet engaging performance. The first time in a Rolls Royce I was 11 and a bridesmaid in a wedding, my mothers cousin, I rode in a Bentley about 10 years later, leaving a night club on the Kings Road in Chelsea. And later being chauffeured around the City of London with a much older, married, don’t judge me, ‘love’ (and I use the word loosely) interest. I have never driven either but here is a detailed comparison of Rolls-Royce vs. Bentley across key points history, manufacturing, colour/interior options, pricing, resale value, convertible options, customer type, and reasons someone might choose one over the other:

1) Brand History & Early Manufacture

Rolls-Royce was founded in 1904 by Henry Royce and Charles Rolls with the goal of making “the best car in the world.”

Rolls Royce built a reputation early on for unmatched refinement and engineering excellence.

They made many iconic models through the 20th century (e.g., Silver Cloud, Phantom lineage) like the wedding car I rode in.

Historically, Rolls-Royce owned Bentley from 1931 until 1998, so many classic Bentleys were mechanically similar to Rolls-Royces under the skin.

Bentley was founded later in 1919 by W.O. Bentley, with a strong early focus on performance and racing success (notably Le Mans).

After being bought by Rolls-Royce in 1931, Bentley became the sportier counterpart up until 1998 when the brands parted company. Post-1998, Bentley revived itself under Volkswagen Group ownership and pushed into new performance-luxury territory, including SUVs and high-performance GTs.

Rolls-Royce’s heritage is slightly longer as a standalone pioneering luxury brand, while Bentley’s roots are in performance-oriented luxury.

2) Where They Are Made

Rolls-Royce are manufactured at the Goodwood plant in West Sussex, England, a bespoke production facility built by BMW after acquiring the brand.

Bentley are built in Crewe, England, Bentley’s historic home factory.

Both are hand-built luxury cars produced in the UK — but at different facilities under different modern corporate ownerships (BMW for Rolls-Royce; Volkswagen Group for Bentley).

3) Colour & Interior Options (Customization)

Rolls-Royce offers extreme bespoke options — nearly limitless paint colours and combinations, custom embroideries, personalised veneers, and even unique thematic interiors.

It is known for features like Starlight Headliner (hundreds of tiny LEDs in the roof), they are lovely, bespoke colour matching, and client-specific artworks.

Bentley also has an extensive personalisation program called Mulliner, with bespoke paint, custom leather, wood trims, and tailored options.

Bentley’s customization often has a sportier, performance-inspired flavour, more modern and hip compared to Rolls-Royce’s aristocratic focus.

Rolls-Royce is typically seen as more ultra-bespoke and artisanal, while Bentley’s personalisation balances luxury with dynamic style for a perhaps younger hipper customer.

4) Price Range

Rolls Royce models generally start higher on price — well above Bentley’s range on most vehicles.

Bespoke options can push prices into the millions.

Bentley tends to start lower than Rolls-Royce; entry models like the Bentayga or Continental GT often begin in the low-to-mid six-figure range and are less expensive than similar Rolls-Royce models.

Rolls-Royce commands a premium price reflecting exclusivity and bespoke elements, while Bentley offers luxury with more “accessible” (still very high) pricing.

5) Resale Value

Both brands retain value well, particularly limited editions and bespoke cars.

Rolls-Royce often depreciates slower because of its low production volume and extreme exclusivity; very rare bespoke cars may appreciate. Like Ferrari if you buy one and take care of it over a long time it ends up being worth more than you paid for it.

Bentley also holds value, especially limited or high-performance variants, but resale is generally more volatile than Rolls-Royce.

Ultra-luxury cars aren’t usually bought for investment, but they can perform better than mainstream cars in the resale market.

6) Driving Experience & Performance

Rolls-Royce Prioritizes a “magic carpet ride” — extremely smooth, quiet, and passenger-focused. They say you could drink a cup of tea at 100 miles per hour without spillage. Less about the drive, dynamic handling, more about comfort and serenity.

Bentley Offers a more driver-engaged experience — powerful engines, sharper suspension, and performance-oriented tuning. Bentley cars are often driven by their owners; Rolls-Royces are more typically chauffeur-driven.

Bentley blends luxury with sportiness; Rolls-Royce elevates comfort above all.

7) Convertible & Body Style Options

Rolls-Royce Has offered convertibles historically (e.g., Corniche).

Current line-up includes luxury saloons and SUVs; bespoke Coachbuild programs have also produced unique convertible and coupe models.

Bentley Offers convertible versions like the Continental GT Convertible and high-performance open-top variants in the less expensive than Rolls Royce mainstream offering. Bentley’s convertibles typically lean toward grand touring sportiness.

Both brands offer convertible options, but Bentley’s are more performance-oriented, while Rolls-Royce’s are ultra-luxury and bespoke more expensive.

8) Typical Buyer & Brand Image

Rolls-Royce Attracts buyers who prioritize ultimate luxury, exclusivity, and status — heads of state, royalty, celebrities, and collectors. Often used as a symbol of prestige or chauffeured travel.

Bentley Appeals to wealthy buyers who want luxury and performance, including entrepreneurs and enthusiasts who drive their vehicles themselves.

Ì think Bentley are seen as slightly more youthful and dynamic compared to Rolls-Royce’s more venerable image.

This vs. That, I would choose Bentley over Rolls Royce because they are more everyday than dressed up if you get me.

9) Why Someone Would Choose One Over the Other

You’d choose Rolls-Royce if you want: Maximum luxury, exclusivity, and bespoke craftsmanship. A serene, ultra-quiet ride. A car that’s frequently chauffeur-driven or a symbol of status.

You’d choose Bentley if you want: Luxury combined with performance and a more engaging driving experience. A sportier, dynamic grand tourer that’s easier to park and slightly more price flexibility or value retention in performance variants.

10) Brand Philosophy & Identity (Core Difference)

Rolls-Royce is about uncompromising luxury and bespoke exclusivity whilst Bentley balances luxury with performance, blending comfort with dynamic driving.

I did a bit of research what you might be in for, for a 15 year old Bentley Vs Rolls Royce with 50,000 on the clock and you might be surprised to discover you could buy a Bentley for between £12K and £25K, the equivalent Rolls Royce is going to set you back closer to £75K

Bentley Continental / Flying Spur / GT (2010 – 2011)

Bentley Continental Flying Spur (15 years old, 80 k miles) priced between about £12,000 – £25,000 for older W12-powered examples, depending on condition and mileage.

A Bentley Continental GT / convertible / coupe examples are going to be more £26,000 – £35,000 plus for well-finished W12 coupes with moderate mileage; rare or Mulliner variants you can expect to go higher.

Some very low-priced older Bentleys below £15,000 do show up, but these often have higher miles or may need work.

Typical Price Range Used Bentley

£12,000 – £35,000 for a used Bentley from 2010 with 50,000–80,000 miles.

Used Rolls-Royce (2010 – 2011) Rolls-Royce models of similar age typically sit significantly higher in price, largely because of their rarity, prestige, and slower depreciation.

Rolls-Royce Ghost (2010–2012) I found listings on UK used sites showing many Rolls-Royce Ghost cars (2010–2012) priced around £55,000 – £75,000 with similar mileage (60,000 – 80,000 miles).

Some examples with particularly good condition or extra options can even be £70,000 – £80,000+.

Rolls-Royce Phantom (older flagship) Older Phantom values are usually much higher on average, with many around £54,000 up to well over £100,000 depending on condition and specification, though rarer listings push much higher still.

Typical Price Range Used Rolls Royce

£55,000 – £80,000 (and often higher) for a 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost with moderate mileage.

Somehow the words used Rolls Royce don’t sound quite right and writing this made me think of the funny line in the 1987 movie Personal Services with Julie Walters. She played the 1960’s madam Christine Painter loosely based on the real life story of British madam Cynthia Payne, and the acronym “BCSD” used to describe one of her customers, big car small dick. And another line we used to say when admiring beautiful cars in the 1980s when we were so much younger, “would you take the man without the car?” Not sure the origin of that one but could be an adaptation of the famous soviet politician and Russian secret police chief Lavrentiy Beria quote “Give me the man and I will give you the case against him” or Ivana Trump’s famous line ‘Don’t get mad, get everything” and whilst she never expressed a preference it was usually a Rolls Royce that awaited her at the airport during her marriage to Donald Trump.

These days I love cars and driving so much, I own my own and I do it myself.

I have included the address of Rolls Royce Pasadena as they were very helpful with information and pricing when compiling this snoop https://www.rollsroycepasadena.com/

Rimowa Utility Suitcases and Amenity Cases an LVMH Company

First Class travel cases are now highly collectible and going up in value

Fat Francis

2025-08-10T09:05:47.0800000 2025-08-16T09:15:21.2930000

I had never heard of Rimowa until recently.

They are a German suitcase company who began making aluminium suitcases in 1937. The innovative super light design modelled on aircraft fuselage marked a significant moment in the brand's history and helped establish Rimowa as a leader in luggage design.

They introduced polycarbonate suitcases cases in 2000 and developed a niche very high end customer base for their functionality and practicality.

Then in 2016 more well known luggage brand Louis Vuitton parent LVMH acquired a stake in their first German brand, they picked up an 80% share in Rimowa for a cool 640 million euros.

I first saw the super cool amenity case on a Thai airways flight where the passengers travel kit came in a branded mini suitcase like this one.

They collaborated with FORMIA and World Planet to create these miniature travel cases, which are available in various colors and contain skincare products.

From the early 2010s, we saw the amenity kits offered on Star Alliance brand flights in first class on Nippon Airways, Lufthansa, and Thai Airways, as already mentioned and in business class on some EVA Air flights.

Since the luggage brand LMVH acquired a controlling stake in Rimowa of course the brand has been catapulted into the media and what was a niche luggage brand known for it’s quality and design amongst it’s customers is now way more aspirational.

I’ve read a lot of comments on Reddit about price hikes since the acquisition putting the luggage way out of reach for actual existing customers coupled with a deterioration in quality so like many premium brands looking for more margin the recommendation seems to be if you are going to buy a Rimowa suitcase find one pre 2016 for maximum quality and value.

I’ve seen the utility cases become very collectible over the last couple of years. Even bad colours in secondary markets are going for between £100 and £200 so if you’ve got one it might be wise to hang onto it as all airline partnerships from Rimowa have now ended.

My Utility case 2016 is very rare. It came from a goody bag for a launch event, a brand partnership between media and culture brand Monocle and Rimowa when they launched a pair of suitcases in army surplus green in conjunction with the London 2016 Olympics.

The monocle suitcases are now very collectible and I’ve never seen another utility case like it. If you manage to get your hands on one of these little stylish boxes, frequent flyers may have a few stashed away they are incredibly useful if you don’t want to carry a handbag.

They can fit a IPhone 16 max pro, your keys, your sunglasses, make up. Durable. Light, stylish, easy to carry.

It’s not surprising for me to see the price going up and up. I just spotted one in metallic blue in a charity shop for a staggering £145 and saw a highly collectible Lufthansa turquoise one (for me a not so attractive colour) go in a bidding war for £82 and based on the prices of others I’ve seen online that was a bargain.

If you’ve got one in your cupboard as a souvenir from a trip you’ve long forgotten about you might want to get it out, start using it or even make a few quid.

At the moment everyone is after a little piece of Rimowa and with the suitcases costing anywhere from £1000 and up the utility case is the brand’s “lipstick”,

Chinese fast fashion brand have even tried to get in on the action producing their own version with a forever strap, the distinguishing feature so you carry it like a cross body bag. Visually it looks very similar but don't be fooled into thinking at under £10.00 it's anything like the Rimowa version.

Ferrari Enzo dreamy sports cars named after Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari 2002-2004

I like the Ferrari Enzo at lot but nothing beats the Formula 2 Ferrari Dino for me

Fat Francis

2025-07-08T12:01:00.0000000 2026-01-09T13:12:51.0070000

It’s so rare to see a Ferrari Enzo it wasn’t surprising to me when I spotted this one there were a whole load of people milling around waiting for the picture when the owner came back and opened the doors. It was a one in a million moment I wanted to share. It’s a special car. Only 400 were produced between 2002 and 2004 so to spy one whilst out and about in London was a treat for anyone who loves cars.

It’s not an absolute favourite of mine, preferring the vintage Ferrari Dino, produced between 1969 and 1974.

The Enzo was revealed to the public at the Paris motor show in 2002, it was considered a very bold move to make the car after Ferrari’s founder. The Enzo (Type F140) designed by Ken Okuyama, then head of design at Pininfarina, placed the V12 engine into a carbon filter hub with top speeds published at 217 mph and some road tests recording a top speed of 221 mph. The 0-60; under 4 seconds at 3.65 seconds, very quick indeed. When they launched to car in 2002 they retailed for £400,000, today depending on mileage and condition you are paying anywhere between £2,500,000 and £4,000,000.

Over a 20 year investment not a bad return.

Personally I prefer the shape of the Ferrari Dino, much more affordably priced for the enthusiast at between £290,000 and £700,000 depending on mileage and condition.

For me the original 206GT is the nicest, this model was followed by the more expensive 246GT and then the 246GTS, the targa topped version that these days commands the highest prices.

Whilst James Bond never drove a Dino it is the kind of sleek aesthetic I associate with Bond. It was however driven by Roger Moore in the TV show the Persuaders in 1971, where Danny Wilde played by Tony Curtis drives the Dino in the opening sequence set on the Cote D’Azur. The classic car named after Alfredo, Ferrari founder’s son who died at age 24 from muscular Dystophy has become a favourite amongst Ferrari enthusiasts. No where near as rare as the Ferrari Enzo pictured, 3569 were produced between 1969 and 1974.

Only 152 206 GT were produced between 1967 and 1969 all left hand drive so if you spot one of these beautiful cars although has a lower price tag and probably less desirable than the 246GT and 246GTS that followed make sure to snap a picture because this little classic is even rarer than the Ferrari Enzo.

A 206 GT Ferrari Dino is a very rare car priced around £450,000 in good condition although at auction there have been examples going for as much as £1,000,000.

When I was younger I was very interested in formula 2 racing and the Ferrari Dino was developed with the purpose of homologating, making sure it met all regulatory standards, its relatively small 2.0 liter V6 Ferrari engine for use in Formula 2 racing. I’ve had a connection to Ferrari and been an enthusiast for a lot of years, the 206GT Dino especially.

And there’s one coming up for sale in Monterey, California at RM Sotheby’s 1969 Ferrari Dino 206 GT by Scaglietti. Auction date 16th August, 2025. You can register your interest between 15th-16th August, 2025.

Fluff Up Brow wax from benefit it’s a keeper

Fat Francis

2025-07-05T08:17:49.6370000 2025-07-07T09:39:53.9030000

The brow saga continues. You know that feeling when you’ve used a make up product for a while, you think it doesn’t really do anything and then when it runs out you continue to use the empty container. Yep that’s my experience with Benefit fluff up brow wax. I have to buy again. A product that does a job. When there are so many one time purchase products out there for beauty and make up lovers, suppliers experts out there it’s great to know about the ones that get us hooked, buying in and going out to buy again.

I was introduced to Fluff up brow wax at a promotional demo stand in a store, so for make up brands a friendly expert showing customers the benefit of the product without over selling or being pushy, solving problems and listening to the customer works. You got me benefit.

I have originally quite thick (until the bad salon brow experience) unruly brows that have become more wayward as I have gotten older so eventually I broke down and went in search of a product to tame and shape them.

I have been using the Fluff up brow wax for about 6 months. I didn’t think it was one of my beauty essential products until it ran out and I have found myself applying the brow wax even though there’s none left, like licking an empty mascara you love (I didn’t lick the brow wax) in the hope some minuscule amount of product is left lurking.

I am buying a new one today. I photographed my Fluff up brow wax next to my also empty Dior colour reviver lip balm. Another product I have to break down and replace as this product I have scraped out right down inside the lipstick case until there is literally not a scrap left.

Funny how like our clothes where there are just some things we wear on repeat and others that never ever come out of the wardrobe my over flowing make up collection is the same.

Hundreds of make up one time purchase mistakes over the years and then a few products like Benefit fluff up brow wax I use, sorts out a problem and now I cannot be without.

Thanks benefit for the kind brow lady who put me onto this.

I think when make up brands go back to demoing, entertaining masterclasses and listening to your customers instead of just selling you’ll have so many more happy customers, not just for the one off purchase that stays in the drawer, but customers repeat buying for life. As money gets tighter make up lovers don’t want to waste money on another mistake. If that happens with any brand psychologically it puts me off. No one wants to feel like they got sold something that doesn’t work and with make up especially you cannot return something once you’ve tried it if it doesn’t work for you.

Fluff up benefit wax costs £26.

I apply in the morning and it holds my brows in shape all day. No need to reapply. Doesn’t feel sticky or hard in anyway. Brows feel perfectly natural just groomed and in shape instead of drooping down and closing the eye shape.

When I bought mine precisely my brow wax from benefit wasn’t available which seems to be exactly the same product but with colour for the same price which I might try. It could cut out the eyebrow pencil stage of my routine, this product is the same price £26.

UK Brow complex peptide eyebrow serum 4-6 weeks until fuller thicker eyebrows

Fat Francis

2025-06-27T15:06:20.4630000 2025-06-27T16:20:35.2770000

At least that’s what they say at UK brow about this miracle product that cost £42. They do two different eyebrow serums,

This one is the more expensive of the two. I did ask what’s the difference between UK brow complex peptide eyebrow serum and UK Brow eyebrow serum and it’s really difficult to tell from the brand online, both promoting fuller thicker brows in 4-6 weeks. The only real difference I can see is peptide eyebrow serum in a white tube has 31 ingredients, UK brow eyebrow serum in a gold tube has only 23. And the USP unique selling point of the higher priced complex peptide eyebrow serum are 6 peptides

Pea Peptides

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Palmitoyl Oligopeptide

Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate

Hexapeptide-8

Copper Tripeptide-1

However I am not sure exactly how or why these babies are going to help my eyebrows grow.

I did read a lot of reviews online before opting to go for this particular version of this particular brand. There are so many beauty editors talking and reviewing eyebrow serums it can get very confusing working out what’s real and what’s sales and marketing.

I actually watched a few films of women who had used the product and read a load of individual reviews once I’d settled on UK lash as the company I was going with, cruelty free and paraben free swung it for me and this is where the big difference came in, women who had lost their brows for a whole myriad of reasons from over plucking, to thinning due to the menopause, to eyebrow loss through ill health and prescribed medication. The consensus was definitely much more positive in favour of UK Brow complex peptide eyebrow serum where women experienced and actually showed on short video clips improvement where the women reviewing the UK lash Eyebrow serum, for £38 were a lot less convincing, although it’s also worth mentioning over 5700 reviews for the less expensive product and only 59 on the brand website for the more expensive complex peptide eyebrow serum so it’s easy to see which is the most popular.

The story of my eyebrows began with plucking as a teenager. My eyebrows were bushy and met in the middle so my first mistake was plucking them too far apart. That wasn’t it though about 5 years ago I had an eyebrow catastrophe in a salon on the Narborough Road in Leicester where an over zealous technician, not my usual person went crazy and cut off too much on one eyebrow, ruined the natural shape and left me completely horrified. I couldn’t believe I had been so stupid and I stopped messing with my eyebrows there and then. I just have to pencil in the gaps if I want them to

look even. And for this job I use the Laura Mercier eyebrow pencil in the new original formula, with the spoolie on the end in colour shade brunette, which matches perfectly my tinted brows, which would be grey without the help of my hairdresser who slaps a bit of my hair colour over them every 3-4 weeks, (I went prematurely grey at age 25) helping me stay out the eyebrow salon for that service. I tried the decleor eyebrow pencil stocked by another local beauty salon owner in

Leicester I wanted to support but went back to Laura Mercier eyebrow pencil. L’Oreal purchase Decleor brand in 2014 along with Shisedo and then the brand went into decline, products eventually being discontinued. The Laura Mercier eyebrow pencil just goes on better and looks more natural.

My experiment with UK brow peptide eyebrow serum started today. The instruction is to paint the serum on every day for 6 weeks and watch thicker fuller lashes appear.

I have to say I am a sceptic. After the bad salon experience the eyebrow in question never grew back so if this stuff works I’ll let you all know here. If it doesn’t I’ll tell you that too of course.

Ferrari 296 GTB Semi Auto Top Speed 206 MPH

Fat Francis

2025-04-21T08:40:14.7170000 2025-04-21T11:31:21.6900000

Not something you see everyday. A brand new Ferrari 296 S-A 296 GTB semi auto with an 8 speed semi auto gear box.

Year of manufacture 2025. Appreciate cost to buy prices start at £241,000 according to Ferrari the average cost on auto trader £260,000. It’s not mine.

I love driving and I am interested in cars. I grew up racing scalextric, to give context here my sister got a complete Hornby train set for her 2nd birthday) and I was always the first to get the track set up on bank holidays. I remember that smell of over heating the power box as we pushed our little cars to the limit.

Then the “spot the car games” to keep us occupied on long journeys. All that time

spent playing and observing ended up being a car make and model education. It was here I learned all the car makes and models, designs, and brand badges. Before I knew it I was spotting vehicles I liked and making a mental note of body shapes and designs I liked.

At one point I even applied for a scholarship university sponsorship with Ford. I was quite excited at the prospect of designing/engineering cars in my late teens.

All the Ferraris I have ever been in touching distance of have been owned by someone else, a boss, a boyfriend, a friend. I did get to drive one once as a favour to someone who needed their’s moving from one point to another and I remember being very nervous to touch the accelerator, it was so sensitive I thought I’d hit a wall by mistake. I remember it was a bit like driving a normal car with the brakes on, you had to be quite strong to depress the clutch and you have more gears than a regular car. Also the steering wheel is much smaller and I remember it being extremely sensitive.

I have been lucky and had experience driving lots of different cars from Porsche, Mercedes, BMW, Lotus and Lamborghini. I had a friend who impressed me with his racing, competing in Formula 2 for a short time thanks to his Dad and his Dad’s financial backing. Motor of any kind is extremely expensive especially racing driving.

My first car was a mini coupe, 1275GT very nifty and quick, then a triumph spitfire, then a Fiat punto turbo, and I’ve driven a Mazda, my friend had an MR2, and always imagined myself in an Alfa Romeo or Figaro skirting the Italian coastline, Cary Grant and Grace Kelly style with the top down, a scarf billowing, half a pack of cigarettes in my pocket and me, yes driving, tunes playing, elbow out the window wearing the iconic wayfarers from Rayban. Road tripping for me is open road bliss.

After seeing this beautiful Ferrari I am imagining an upgrade on the Fiat 500, another iconic Italian design triumph. For me when it comes to cars the higher price doesn’t necessarily make it better for me.

Mount St Gardens and Berkeley Square

Fat Francis

2025-04-15T07:40:10.9530000 2025-04-15T16:40:08.2570000

A walk in the park has been an activity I have loved either alone or with a companion for as long as I can remember. It began with visits to see George the swan in Batley Park, with Grandma and a fishing net on a doweling pole and then long solitary walks alone in a Leeds, Yorkshire park, The Hollies along with my dog.

When you live in a built up area or are visiting somewhere for the first time finding space and solitude in nature can be a challenge. And where to eat lunch for free when you’ve packed a picnic or packed lunch and are on a budget? Mayfair could be one such challenge surrounded by expensive eateries and posh nosh.

Whenever I am in London these days I’ll often break up the day working or not with a sit down in the park. It’s a pastime I don’t enjoy alone (even if I am alone) as these two outdoor public spaces within 5 minutes of one another are sometimes standing room only even in the winter. Don't think graffiti and broken swings, more like 19th century Age of innocence, freshly painted wrought iron railings and manicured lawns, bandstands, well usually marques for events and exhibitions.

Sometimes it’s a quiet bench for one, and sharing a few breadcrumbs with the birds, a simply joyous activity I love, watching the birds interact for the shared morsels. I am not a talker to strangers in particular but sometimes I’ve had a funny/interesting/annoying/ interaction with someone. Only the other day an especially good looking man asked to share my bench and I said sure. The park is one of those places where you have absolutely no idea what might happen.

Everyone’s heard of Berkeley Square made famous in the song and I’ll often take my sandwich, find a bench, usually facing west as I like the afternoon sunshine and close my eyes for a few minutes. Half an hour in the park people watching, reading my book,

or reading the bench signs, donated in memory of loved ones, offering free respite to anyone.

The people watching in the park is fantastic, all ages, all nationalities love this shared pastime. Rich or poor away from social media everyone is the same in the park, perhaps why historically these open spaces across our towns and cities are places we share moments of passion, grief, solitude or sun bathing. The park is a place where it’s OK to be alone and it’s free and I love that too.

I’ve mentioned Mount St Gardens here because they are more secluded and less well known, a secret garden behind Mount St shared by local residents and suits, looking for even more quiet than Berkeley Square, not so much tourist interest.

There are spectacular unusual trees in the middle of Mount St gardens, London Plane trees, I don’t know the variety, almost tropical like a fat trunked palm tree whose shade I have enjoyed on more than one occasion surrounded by the warm terracotta tones of ornate gothic architecture wondering about the people who live looking out of the windows on the park benches and the people that come and go below.

County Crafts Bespoke Picture Framing Service

Picture Framing Market Harborough

Fat Francis

2025-04-10T07:42:17.3770000 2025-04-15T12:09:47.6930000

I don’t really like going in small shops. I always feel a bit awkward if I don’t buy anything and find myself making some lame excuse as to why I have to leave without making a purchase. On the flip side my brain says get what you need from a small independent instead of a big giant spreading the wealth more evenly. The problem for many small shopkeepers I think customers don’t know what to expect crossing threshold so choose to pass by instead. I know I don’t want to get trapped or be forced to engage in a confined space.

This is a shout out for small shops everywhere making a difference for their customers, adding value and genuinely going the extra mile to make the experience better.

I have only ever been in County Crafts once. My home is complete, I don’t really buy framed art or gifts so not on my radar especially.

Although I came across some old quite rare photographs I decided to have framed and went to County Crafts with the assignment.

The experience was so memorable I decided to share. I don’t remember the name of the shop keeper the experience I’ll never forget. It was so unusual and genuine I told a lot of people after the fact.

And when I was in Market Harborough the other day I snapped this picture with the intention of writing this to make that shopkeepers day when he reads it, just like he made mine a couple of years ago.

I am sure he won’t remember me, he serves loads of people each day and as I said I’ve only ever been in once, my pictures cost me about £100 each which was very reasonable I thought, bespoke picture framing is notoriously expensive because of all the labour involved.

If you like out of this world genuine customer service this is one shop where you’ll get it.

This shopkeeper will make you feel so good you’ll want to go back and even when you don’t need what he sells his good vibes and karma continue to spread.

Loved the work you did with my pictures and the memory of our funny meeting, there’s certainly no one else I would go to when I need more bespoke picture framing.

Lovely lovely shop.

Linda Farrow Solid Gold Sunglasses Shop London

Fat Francis

2025-03-21T08:00:34.2970000 2025-12-20T16:50:31.3530000

I bought my first pair back in 2017 when Negin Mirsalehi along with three other high profile influencers Nicole Warne, Elena Perminova, Leaf Greener were selected for the Linda Farrow campaign.

The campaign was literally everywhere, Vogue, Harpers, Vanity Fair and I think it was the first time I had seen a very expensive but not that well known to the masses use “the influencer” I’d guess at the height of the job, for the campaign, it was "a first" journalists wrote about which is interesting for me, it was a moment, (social media influencers given the celebrity status of actors and musicians, models) as the trend for consumers to move away from social media has grown we've seen the power of the influencer wane.

That said I bought a pair second hand online and then found another pair I loved in TK Maxx of all places with the case. I still have both pairs and I wear them. I actually love them, both saucer round, one with rims, one without, sort of a Linda Farrow signature. Mine are not solid gold sunglasses.

The Linda Farrow eyewear brand was a revival of the Linda Farrow fashion brand from the 1970s so not surprising the eyewear design influences came from those early collections that had proved so sought after in high end department stores like Browns and Harvey Nichols.

Another signature is the use of precious metals in the design and construction, a reason why the price point is so high. Yep they sell solid gold sunglasses. It’s not unusual to find 22 karat gold in your shades from Linda Farrow.

I took me a couple of years to pluck up the courage to step over the threshold and into the shop. I lost had pinched my Linda Farrow case on holiday, fortunately the glasses were on my nose and I wanted to replace it and have the experience.

I of course had no real idea of the price point, I think I paid about £29.99 in TK Maxx which I knew was a mistake, how much of a mistake I was about to find out.

The experience in store was gorgeous, the staff were very kind to me and not snooty at all. I was wearing my sunglasses in case they thought I was an imposter.

I began browsing to discover the pair I liked were at the time about £1200. So after they’d picked me up off the floor I went ahead and purchased a new case for about £50 or £60.

The Linda Farrow brand are my absolute favourite sunglasses and the store on Mount St London is an absolute pleasure to visit.

The quality and design are really something special for men and women.

The Black Horse Market Bosworth

Fat Francis

2025-01-30T10:37:34.6870000 2025-07-05T08:47:38.8330000

Nothing is more frustrating when you have to give up something you like because you’ve been treated badly but when you raise it with the business, your truth doesn’t match theirs and they don’t accept your issue, or acknowledge your feelings, then you kinda wish you hadn’t said anything because now you cannot go back.

This is what happened to me at the Black Horse in Market Bosworth, a lovely spot for a delicious Sunday Lunch. It was a place I enjoyed regularly, at least once or twice a month for a couple of years. The homemade soups they have to start were something I always looked forward to.

Then we had one issue we raised that went unacknowledged and we literally could not believe it. We had given so much business, we were on first name terms with the staff, had even exchanged gifts with them and one complaint and we were persona non gratis.

Be careful when you complain about something you really like, you might not get the response you were hoping for.

I think big businesses have pandered to customers by offering compensation that some people have become trained in the art of complaining to receive something free and small business has got savvy, maybe why in this case what we took issue with fell on deaf ears.

For us it wasn’t the case, we had a genuine issue which could have been resolved with a bit of diplomacy. Instead we just never went back.

Reglaze Glasses Direct

Fat Francis

2025-01-30T10:02:53.8800000 2025-01-30T10:21:03.5800000

If I can find a business doing things better for cheaper, even the same service for the same price I will always support small over massive. I just prefer the personal touch. I used to go to Specsavers for my glasses, a big brand spending millions on advertising to gain our trust and brand loyalty.

The service was OK except they seemed a bit twitchy when I wanted lenses in my own existing frames, and didn’t seem that onboard when it comes to recycling glasses. We’ve all got so many pairs and need more and stronger as eyes deteriorate it would seem obvious to offer reuse or recycling.

A few years ago I came across Reglaze Glasses Direct, a small business local to me who send you a prepaid box to pop your specs and prescription in and bobs your uncle a week or so later they come back all made up.

The prices are not super cheap but definitely less than the high street opticians that are always ready to upsell you, 2 for 1, tints, lens thickness, bi focal, vari focal.

The service at Reglaze Direct is really simple and no massive advertising budget to pay for. You just have to know about them.

I thought they were so good I told Jo Elvin, editor at Glamour Magazine about them, don’t know if she’s a customer yet but she was extremely grateful for the heads up.

Les Beiges Water Fresh Tint Foundation From Chanel

Fat Francis

2024-12-28T12:59:43.6500000 2024-12-28T13:05:04.4470000

I am in my late thirties. I used to wear quite heavy stage like make up, something like Estée Lauder Double wear. As I have gotten older I like something very easy I can put on without a mirror, no streaks, also something that gives me a plump glow without the caked on make up look.

I have a pale complexion, pretty clear, combination skin prone to a few blackheads on my nose where I am conscious foundation may clump or clog.

The water fresh tint from Chanel I began using about 5 to 6 years ago when the similar compact foundation was discontinued.

It comes with a dense small brush which I now have about 10 of, and I stopped using the brush to apply, preferring my fingers instead because the product is £55 expensive and I found the brush soaked up a lot of product.

In the winter I choose the medium shade. I’d recommend going in to a department store with absolutely no make on and ask to have a go.

You’ll be surprised how little you need and how your face is transformed without looking like you’ve got any make up on.

I’d say for anyone who likes coverage that looks like you’re not wearing make up this is the product for you.

I am pale, Irish complexion with pink in my cheeks, and the medium plus shade in the gives me enough colour to look sunkissed without any orange tone.

This foundation is not to be confused with Les Briges “Touché de teint” which is the same idea only denser coverage and comes in a round cylinder tube container instead of square.

United Heathcare CEO Brian Thompson Murder

Fat Francis

2024-12-09T13:53:28.0570000 2024-12-09T16:26:29.0870000

Delay, Deny, Oppose.

The words written in marker pen on the shells casings of the bullets that killed insurance boss Brian Thompson, 5th December, 2024

And instead of Americans being up in arms about the cold blooded killing, it has opened up a much wider debate about the state of American healthcare.

What do you do when you pay for health insurance, you need care, your insurance company denies you the care you need?

This appears to be the scenario for hundreds possibly thousands of United Healthcare policy holders making claims only to have the care they need denied, with reports of up to 90% of United Healthcare claims being denied.

All of this has come to the front of people’s consciousness, a system completely broken when CEO’s are being gunned down in broad daylight by disgruntled customers.

This week’s fatal shooting of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson has unleashed a wave of public feeling, not dissimilar in sentiment to that portrayed in Todd Philips film Joker, where a man marginalised by the system, snaps, killing three people on the New York subway — of course this is reality not a movie, where public sentiment should be with the victim and the cold blooded way he was murdered and yet exasperation, resentment, helplessness have replaced anger — Americans are seeking a different kind of justice, sharing personal stories of interactions with insurance companies, often seen as faceless corporate giants.

Unlike many others I don’t have a nightmare healthcare story to tell.

I actually can imagine what it is like to be denied healthcare because of no insurance in the US because I have witnessed it happen to someone close and experienced how scary that is for real.

Mr. Thompson looked after and over saw the healthcare for over 49 million Americans and took care of assets producing 74 billion dollars in revenue last quarter.

We also have all the resources of the NYPD, a photo of the person thought to be responsible in circulation and no sign of a suspect.

We have no idea why the person was driven to do this and of course no one deserves to be shot in the back and killed in such a horrific way.

I can feel the immense pain of what is a broken system bearing down on all of us, where making money has over taken the point of the business in question at the cost, the suffering of it’s clients, in this case the policy holders.

The bigger issue for me is when the people turn against the protection of the state or the system and feel the need to take matters into their own hands, whether that be harming someone out of complete frustration and helplessness or empathising with and or protecting someone who has done something usually inexcusable our society lines may have blurred beyond the clarity of simple right and wrong.

Insurance Business confused.com

Fat Francis

2024-11-25T11:23:41.6900000 2024-11-25T12:00:52.0130000

I am confused. I shopped for my insurance on confused.com as I am sure many other people have which is fine, I purchased a policy and I am sure confused.com or any other comparison site used got paid a Commision for delivering me as a customer to the insurer.

Did you know the maximum protection for personal belonging on any policy offered at my particular insurer (doesn’t really matter who it is for the purpose of this snoop) I was totally shocked to discover is £750.

The insurance agent told me mine was £250 after a recent theft and subsequent claim

I lost several thousand pounds worth of goods stolen from my car.

I submitted an insurance claim not thinking anything about it until my insurer called me this morning with the bad news.

It was a big shock but then the real shock happened.

The insurance agent asked me if I actually wanted the insurance company to send the £250 or and wait for it if I would prefer to forfeit the claim because of the potential negative impact at my renewal.

I know. I couldn’t believe it either.

I decided to take the £250.

The “added value” the insurance agent was able to offer, if at premium renewal the impact of me being robbed, being insured but not, if you get you my drift and taking the £250, cost me so much it was untenable, I could pay back the claim and maintain my insurance at the old premium without the claim.

I said so basically get insurance that doesn’t pay out anyway a bit cheaper. She said yes.

Is it maybe time for the government to look into forcing people to pay exorbitant amounts of money to insurance companies that don’t really provide much insurance.

Regents Park

Fat Francis

2024-10-28T09:42:43.9870000 2024-10-28T10:03:07.0970000

Regents Park is absolutely stunning and after Holland Park (much smaller with a fantastic restaurant) Regents Park is my favourite in London.

I used to live in St John’s Wood so the park always encouraged us to walk into the West End instead of taking the bus or tube. It really makes a 20-30 minute walk a breeze.

Like all of London’s open spaces this park is immaculately maintained and houses some of London’s biggest attractions London Zoo and Britains oldest outdoor theatre.

The place many people don’t know about inside Regents Park is Queen Mary’s Rose Garden, one of the most spectacular rose gardens I have seen, better than Hampton Court where there are over 12000 varieties and species.

In the summer it’s something not to missed. The scent is so overpowering and magical you’ll want to return over and over.

The coffee shops and restaurants are OK, not stand out for me. I do like watching the recreational fields, team sports happening make good free entertainment for the whole family.

Getting out of town isn’t always possible. A walk in the park, smelling the roses, watching life unfold moment to moment, come rain or shine, feeding the swans is one of my private pleasures that doesn’t cost a penny.