Beautiful Ormonde Jayne Fragrance Gone in a flash

At almost 200 euros a bottle I’d expect it to last

Sarah Jane Black

2025-06-20T12:08:00.0000000 2025-11-17T15:47:28.9630000

My sister is not a perfumer but she might as well be the amount she purchases. She is always shopping the perfume counter and when she comes to Rome it’s something we always do together, exploring the less well

Known Italian fragrance houses, like PRO FVMVM ROMA,

CAMPOMARZIO 70, Laboratorio Olfativvo and Nektar from Ale Parfum, via Leonina similar to independent French houses Maison D’etto and villa Nellcote inspired from 16 bedroom mansion built during the Belle Epoque by banker Eugene Thomas where the Rolling Stones famously stayed. It’s located on a headland above the sea at Villefranche-sur-Mer on the Côte d'Azur in Southern France where we holidayed as kids.

She does have quite a nose. She’s dragged me around the perfumers in Grasse, once I remember when I was pregnant and the scents were so over powering combined with the heat in the height of the summer I wasn’t sure whether I would throw up or pass out and in which order.

I wasn’t surprised when a box arrived from London with some English glossy magazines and a load of perfume samples she’d collected for me to try the most interesting and noteworthy were from an independent brand I’d never heard of before wholly owned and operated by fellow Brit Linda Pilkington a girl from Cheshire, close to where we grew up with stories of concocting face packs and perfumes made from rose petals with her sister. It sounded like us growing up too.

The one thing ladies in Italy expect when they drop a couple of hundred euros on a luxury fragrance is for it to last and linger.

I’ve only tried Levante by Ormonde Jayne so far and have sprayed the tester bottle very liberally and even though it does smell absolutely divine, inspired by the Lebanon, a woody, musky fragrance from the Eastern shore of the Mediterranean, with its heart firmly in the Lebanon, sad to say it doesn’t hold. Levant originates from the Latin “rising” due to the sun rising in the east. And the scent does conjure images of dessert escapes, spicy aromatics and heady lush groves.

And I love it, I personally wouldn’t invest because unlike the Italian fragrances I am used to it didn’t last. By lunchtime I could barely smell it at all and by evening you’d definitely need to spray again.

May work better in a cooler climate but in hot sticky Rome in the summer it wasn’t long enough lasting for me.

My favourite that will hold and hold, laboratoria Olfativvo is difficult to find but you won’t get the same issue and much cheaper at €120 euros for 100ml.

The Most Fabulous Budget Hotel In Moscow Artel

You might feel like a dissident but it’s a magic hotel

Sarah Jane Black

2025-06-13T11:31:00.0000000 2025-06-14T08:08:07.4970000

I felt absolutely compelled to write this review as finding this hotel online would probably never happen unless you already knew about it. Even when we returned we struggled to find out anything about it. You can book through Zen Hotels. And the address Teatralnyy pr-d, 3, Moskva, Russia, 107031. It’s the perfect location for anyone seeking to explore Moscow close to everything and if you’ve ever tried to go anywhere by car inside the ring you’ll understand what I mean, it can take 30 minutes to travel a distance it would take 5 minutes to walk.

We absolutely adored the experience at “artel” a place like no other where we enjoyed a weeks stay and hope someday to return when all the problems have been sorted out and travel to Russia opens up again for Europeans.

I cannot describe really the culture shock being transported into another time. It was close to minus 30 when we arrived and were grateful to be welcomed into warmth of the old building we struggled to find up a back street and completely disguised as any kind of hotel from the street. It was an absolute adventure.

The very best thing about Artel was the location, close to the Kremlin and Red Square, the historic Bolshoi Ballet and wonderful luxury shopping in walking distance across the street.

The reception desk is on the top floor and no porter so be prepared to hike your luggage up three flights of stairs. It’s a funny set up with a restaurant and super high end fashion store on the ground floor, neither connected to the hotel and a cocktail bar on the middle floor where we enjoyed drinks a couple of nights and had a brilliant experience sharing drinks and stories with a world renowned conductor from Germany and several members of his orchestra. We stayed up very late this particular evening.

The hotel is like nothing I have ever experienced before but it was inexpensive for Moscow so highly recommend this hotel for anyone in search of a fantastic location and an absolutely Russian experience. No one spoke any English so make sure you have mastered the translation app on your phone. It’s tricky in Russia because of the Cyrillic type and different alphabet as all the signs menus etc are completely illegible for anyone not familiar with reading Russian.

It has 26 rooms all decorated with original art murals so whilst the accommodation is basic by western standards to say the least, a mattress and cushions on the floor is what you get and a couple of lamps that looked like they were from the 1950’s also on the floor it was clean and certainly adequate.

We’d booked in on a bed and breakfast basis and the breakfast was delivered promptly at 6.30am. When we saw the tray for the first time we did feel a bit like prisoners of war, it was a bowl of porridge each, well we think that’s what it was. It was very funny and like I said an experience.

It wasn’t an issue, the restaurant downstairs were very friendly and accommodating, and luxury mall in walking distance just across the road provided fresh mint teas and delicious coffee and cakes every day we were there. The one thing that was noteworthy despite the Baltic temperatures outside it was always toasty warm once you stepped inside.

There are loads of luxury 5 star hotels in Moscow to pick from but if you love finding something amazing, off the beaten track for considerably less money I’d recommend anyone staying here and being transported to another world and time. We certainly felt it was the kind of place that held one or two secrets. If only the walls could talk.

Emanuele Jane Morelli an Italian artist on a mission

An empire built on waste

Sarah Jane Black

2025-05-05T09:51:00.0000000 2025-05-08T11:05:31.6900000

Morelli writes “SHEIN didn’t build a fashion business, it built a monument of excess, a global empire rising from landfills stitched with synthetic thread and unpaid labour”

To accompany this image created and posted 5 days ago on Emanuele Jane Morelli’s Instagram feed @jane_morelli image credit.

The image is so striking and powerful it has already been shared by many fashion commentators including Retail Boss.

Created using AI, graphic artist Emanuele Morelli takes a powerful swing at every fast fashion brand like SHEIN in this

satirical picture of a billboard suspended above a landfill site. I think the artist is seriously calling out an industry built on over production, mass production, synthetic materials, and an exploited labour force.

The image raises important questions about the true cost of affordability and convenience and shocks us hopefully enough to make us stop.

Interestingly I recently read SHEIN having established themselves as a high unethical fast fashion polluter are expanding their platform like Amazon and ASOS to sell other less conspicuously offending brands. I presume in some way to mitigate all the negative press about the retailer despite record profits.

In 2024 it was reported Sheins net sales rose producing 48 billion dollars up from 1.8 billion dollars in 2018.

Clearly more people could not care less than could, why this image was so important and why I chose to share it and magnify the artist’s voice here in our community.

I read a short comment someone from Columbia had written on the post, I wanted to say something profound myself but the words didn’t come so eloquently for me so I will write what he said

“Thank you for creating such a powerful image, it really struck a cord with me. The way you portrayed the mountain of waste almost invisible beneath the modelled top was incredibly impactful. It’s more than just an image it’s a message, a mirror, a wake up call.”

If you are shopping on Labour Day, when the world takes a break, on a holiday created from roots in the labour movement of the 19th century and came about after a series of disputes and strikes to make conditions better, maybe give a thought to what you are buying, where it came from and who made it before handing over hard earned cash.

I am sure there will be no rest or improved conditions and pay for stitchers in factories supplying Shein present day.

So I urge everyone to look at the image and then ask am I part of the problem. They are not going to stop making the rubbish, it’s us who have to stop buying it.

Thank you Emanuele for this beautiful piece of art.

Belmond Hotel Cipriani Lunch Menu Venetian Dream

Bella Italia Views Piazza San Marco from Cips Club

Sarah Jane Black

2025-04-25T11:01:00.0000000 2025-11-19T08:13:15.4830000

The first time I went to Venice I was struck first by the smell and then the wonder. I was in my 20s and it was several years before I would relocate to Rome with my Italian stallion Ricardo.

It is still one of my favourite cities for art and culture. I am fascinated by the history and the wealth and power of this tiny principality place throughout the Renaissance. I have never stayed at the Belmond. It’s on my list next. I’ve stayed at the Danielli which is a beautiful oldy worldy hotel close to St Marks. Palazzo Morosini Sagredo or better known as Ca Sagredo is luxury hotel, an old Venetian palace on the grand canal where the famous hands emerge as if holding up the crumbling building Crafted by artist Lorenzo Quinn, the hands sculpture in the Venice Grand Canal makes a dramatic statement about climate change. A sight to behold and a wonderful grand hotel with a modern twist. I remember an amazing yoga session by Anna Yoga Love who hosts yoga workshops a 15th-century palace yeah showcasing elaborately painted wall friezes and unbelievable carpets while you downward dog.

The last time we took the train from Rome, takes about 4 hours, a bit far for the day however we slept on the train and arrived super early. We arrived in Venice at around 9am leaving time for a shop and a wander before lunch.

We had lunch at the Belmont and my goodness what a hotel. What a menu. What a lunch. Survived a little tipsy, high on ambiance and a lot of fun to say it was well worth the journey.

The hotel is unlike other Venice hotels as it is not in the centre. It hosts five restaurants including one Michelin star. We ate at the world famous Cips Club on the grand canal and it was majestic, magnificent, fun a complete experience we will never ever forget. . We savoured tapas style al fresco plates, we had 3 starters and one main and shared, the food portions weren’t massive but there was enough and mouth wateringly tasty. The menu had something for everyone, loads of fresh fish choices and seafood and a pea and mint risotto for vegetarians. The prices around €40 euros for a starter €60-€70 euros for a main.

This hotel is also Home to Oro, where an artistic taster menu is offered (Michelin starred) hold onto your wallet. If you are dining at Hotel Cipriani it is a glamorous occasion so make sure you dress up, make an effort. There isn’t a dress code but the people look spectacular. I think the people in Venice, the Italians (tourists aside) are probably the most stylish of anywhere, in terms of glamour. Milan and Rome are hipper, younger, Venice is not snobby but knows her worth if you know what I mean. I sipped an original Bellini. It’s the thing to do at legendary Cip’s Club. It was spitting, I’d actually purchased a giant umbrella on the way from a street vendor and I have to say we chose to sit outside anyway to the Maitre D’s surprise, they accommodated us.

The most beautiful of all Italian dining, Be it a light lunch poolside or a bite in the evening dining at Il Porticciolo the staff will take incredible care of you or you might want to end the night rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous at Bar Gabbiano.

This is the type of hotel you don’t just want to be a lunch guest. I spied a stylish family checking in, the MCM matching luggage trunks were equally impressive. I’ve told Ricardo I want a weekend back here soon. He’s saving up. I checked the tariffs now open for the 2025 season it’s about €1700 per night.

Lunch and we didn’t have a lot, one bottle of wine and two cocktails to start, no coffees and the bill was €300

Joep Bertrams Netherlands Take On President Trump

From a cartoon perspective

Sarah Jane Black

2025-04-18T12:17:00.0000000 2025-04-18T18:13:39.4330000

Joep Bertrams is a Dutch political cartoonist whose work appears in the Amsterdam-based daily newspaper Het Parool and the TV program NOVA. I follow him on Instagram @joep_bertrams and although I don’t speak Dutch and don’t dislike President Trump especially, the cartoons are absolute genius, hilarious, well thought out.

I think partly because Mr. Trump plays so well to the media, giving a clever cartoonist like Joep Bertrans so much material to work with.

In many ways President Trump and President Putin are the perfect villainous characters high stakes political leaders that give satirists and political commentators and comedians so much to go at.

I think in many cases the outrageous statements especially from the Trump Administration is intentional and designed to keep both the press and more importantly other world leaders, like Italy’s PM Georgia Meloni and popularist leader who visited the White House oval Office this week, guessing. Even though Mr Trump and Ms Meloni seemed to get along quite well together I was wondering if I might see something funny about the two pop up on Joel Bertram’s feed, as yet no.

The interesting thing for me as someone who doesn’t have an opinion on the leader of the free world especially, and I don’t believe Joep Bertram is as opposed to Trumps ideas as the democrats in the US.

Inspite of the judiciary in the US doing their very best to undermine decisions made in the Oval Office, I am waiting to see what happens and if President Trump manages to stop the killing first and foremost that has to the most important thing before land acquisition, mineral acquisition or power plays.

And in this way I believe Joep and my views are aligned.

You can license Joep Bertram’s art through his agent in Santa Barbara California, cable.com link below.

Henri Rousseau

Rousseau’s Secrets at The Barnes Foundation 2025

Sarah Jane Black

2025-01-23T10:09:00.0000000 2025-01-23T11:05:11.3900000 Event date: 19/10/2025 10:30 - 22/02/2026 18:00 Export event

I love art. I am not an art buff or expert in anyway but I am left in awe at the translation of natural reality into observational canvas or sculpture, the creativity and “listening” to what to artist is telling us through our own eyes.

Henri Rousseau was the very first famous artist I was ever properly exposed to. Of course I had seen Van Gogh sunflowers and self portrait in poster form, Monet and Renoir’s famous picture post cards impressionist paintings instantly recognisable just like Jackson Pollocks paint splashes, David Hockney’s swimming pools and

Edvard Munch Scream or Rene Magrets apples and bowler hats.

Like many I have a blanket art experience that would possibly get me through an episode of Jeopardy or the Chase but would render me mute in the specialist subject mastermind chair.

My art teacher introduced me to Henri Rousseau at about 14. The bold almost interior textile in style prints appealed to me immediately when I was young. The animals, wild and jungle like in theme, detailed illustrations hidden inside dense dark green forestation, thick and lush, I found exciting and captivating as a young, not so talented artist.

Although I didn’t have a natural ability, I did enjoy sketching and drawing and would often spend hours working on pieces that didn’t quite turn out as I’d hoped.

I am not an artist but studying and appreciating the work of Henri Rousseau over the years has brought me a much deeper appreciation of the artist’s journey and what drives them to create.

I love a gallery or museum, it’s sort of a guilty pleasure for me, to sneak off and enjoy an hour or two, encased in silent walls surrounded by inspiration and beauty.

Henri Rousseau is an artist the youngest children can enjoy but that doesn’t mean the work isn’t complex and deep, it’s that too.

Although you can see unbelievable examples of Rousseau’s work at the Tate Modern and National Gallery in London, to the Getty in Los Angeles and MoMA and the Guggenheim in NYC, Rousseau best known for his bold pictures of the jungle, teeming with flora and fauna. Yet this painter of exotic locales never left France. The biggest collection of his work in Paris is the Musee D’Orsay, a relatively small yet beautiful gallery on the banks of the Seine, somewhere I absolutely love.

For Rousseau fans across the world The Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, USA is hosting an exciting exhibition on the scale of Tate Modern’s Rousseau in the Jungle back in 2005.

The exhibition entitled Rousseaus Secrets will run from 19th October, 2025.

I am not sure I’ll get there in person but will be watching all the talks and previews online for sure.

Cueva De Nerja Festival of Music and Dance

The caves At Nerja Malaga Spain

Sarah Jane Black

2025-01-06T08:41:00.0000000 2025-01-06T09:24:52.2300000

Since 1960 the festival of music and dance, Nerja, Malaga, Spain has been taking place in the most unlikely of places.

Underground in the caves. The festival takes place annually in the summer between early July to mid August.

Imagine yourself in a huge chamber which forms a natural amphitheater with reverberating acoustic, encased in 200 million years of history, a place full of stunning formations, stalagmites and stalactites emanating from the floor and ceiling.

The world recognised and protected caves, some of the most stunning examples in the world host the International Festival of Music and Dance. The festival has attracted many international stars, Rostropovich, Paco de Lucia and Jose Carreras and world renowned ballet companies too.

This year, the International Festival of Music and Dance will be taking place in June and July, 2025 artists and dates to be announced.

The much awaited music festival celebrates its 65th year in 2025 with a group of renowned talent. The event will take place in 3 different locations to preserve the conservation of the caves. This summer, in accordance with expert advice, two shows will take place among stalactites and stalagmites, in the intimate setting of the Cascade Chamber.

What to expect when you visit. First off you can visit the caves at any time of the year. Entrance is about €15. The museum body do offer 60 free tickets daily from 9.30am if you are in a budget,

The caves are something else. It’s like being in another world, and something you kinda have to see for yourself.

There are a lot and I mean a lot of stairs and it’s a bit rickerty is places, you kinda get Indiana Jones feels like a boulder could come hurtling down at any time.

I am not sure if I would watch ballet again in this setting. It was definitely an experience but even though I heeded advice it’s on the chilly side (even in the height of summer) I was absolutely freezing which did spoil it for me a bit.

I would without doubt recommend going to check this wonder of the world out for sure.

Not sure I’d return for the arts festival, I am so glad I have had the experience. For me I like to be above ground to watch a theatrical artistic performance.

Great to see for yourself, I was in awe. The calibre of the performers was exceptional, just not the most comfortable of settings for me.

Blue Bay Banus Spain

A mistake

Sarah Jane Black

2024-11-28T12:24:00.0000000 2024-12-02T13:01:57.1500000

The picture is the view from Puente Romano, a five star resort we crashed from the second day, bought lunch and talked our way into getting a sun lounger.

If you think it’s too good to be true, it probably is. I saw a holiday, a 7 day break in Puerto Banus, close to the resort of Marbella on the Costa Del Sol. It’s cold in Rome right now so we thought we’d get in a bit of late in the year sunshine.

It was a great deal offered at the Blue Bay Banus, the reviews were mixed, the pictures looked OK so decided to go for it.

It was a mistake.

The property was fine, actually quite cute apartment style accommodation (even though it’s a hotel) but it was oldy worldy, and I did quite like the room, high ceilings and local art which was nice, except the phone didn’t work.

The reception was buzzing and very busy every time we seemed to need anything and with no phone working it got frustrating having to walk to speak to anyone.

We did try to get moved but that wasn’t happening without money changing hands.

The pool area was very noisy, even though it was low season. A lot of partying and drinking which wasn’t really our thing. We wanted relaxation.

The sunbeds needed an overhaul, many were broken and not that comfortable to be fair and the breakfast I’d say was 2 star, not 4 star. The juices were out of a machine, the bread was white (no brown) and the jam and marmalade were in plastic.

I’d say this is a great hotel for families on a budget just looking for a good base location.

We ended up at Puente Romano by day, Blue Bay Banus by night.

TSUM Luxury Shopping Mall

Close to the Bolshoi Theatre

Sarah Jane Black

2024-10-05T11:11:00.0000000 2024-10-05T11:29:57.4930000

Had to write about this. Such a beautiful small exquisite shopping experience I had to write about it.

Getting around Moscow is not easy, the underground is great but everything all the signs are in Cyrillic type so it is a tough place to navigate without the language. Also the traffic inside the garden ring, like the ring road around Moscow, is absolutely brutal, faster to walk, so we were grateful to have this amazing shopping destination across the road for everything we needed during our stay.

We got really lucky staying in this weird and wonderful little art hotel next to the Bolshoi theatre where we had everything we needed including an evening in the hole in the wall bar upstairs, like something out of a World War II resistance movie we met a German conductor and a few of the orchestra musicians from all four corners of the globe.

It’s the shopping mall, department store opposite I loved. It was pretty cold outside but the welcome, the lights, the displays the windows were quite lovely and other worldly. The mint tea every where is fantastic always using loads of fresh mint but especially in the posh cafe here where the cakes and snacks whilst quite expensive, €10 for a mint tea we felt like we were in The Ritz.

The shops are a mixture of brands you recognise like Balenciaga and brands you don’t but one thing is for sure everything was of the highest quality and luxury and an absolute pleasure to experience all the different sights and sounds.i live in Rome which has beautiful shopping on offer that said I never in my life been anywhere quite like this. Truly memorable and so very well done.

Dior On Stage Black Eyeliner

On 44 year old eyes

Sarah Jane Black

2024-09-28T14:58:00.0000000 2025-07-07T12:41:44.2670000

I love a cats eye. I also do a bit of amateur dramatics and operetta so dramatic stage make up is required for this too.

The problem as I have gotten older the pencil eyeliner doesn’t go on as it used to and liquid eyeliner seems to make too much of a mess.

The best liquid eyeliner in a bottle (the old fashioned type) I have tried is Guerlain but not always easy to find in my usual pharmacy beauty supply in Rome.

I have also tried the Chanel equivalent of this product which for me was OK, the brush fatter and the flow not so good so getting that sleek one stroke perfect line up was challenging with the Chanel.

I’ve also tried the Benefit mega liner or extreme liner I think it is called eyeliner and whilst I do think their brow wax is a great product, the liner for me was nothing special, the pen was OK but the liner went on a bit grainy and sticky for me and dried up super quick.

The on stage Dior Black eyeliner comes in Matt and silk a more shiny satin finish and both are great.

The price £29 which is a lot for an eyeliner but I have tried quite a few versions of this product, all cats may look grey in dark but there is a definite difference in the quality of my cats eye with the Dior on stage liner.

The thing about the Dior one too, if you can keep your lids closed for 30 seconds whilst your liner dries you don’t end up with a load of black in the crease of your lid, an aging hazard for gals who ver 40 still partial to dramatic eye makeup.

The Sealed Letter by Emma Donoghue

A page turning drama packed with sex, passion and intrigue

Sarah Jane Black

2024-07-11T13:56:00.0000000 2024-07-11T14:33:15.8900000

I really like to get my teeth into a historical drama, Hilary Mantel and Joanna Trollope adorn my shelves. This book is a perfect holiday read perhaps not as meaty in terms of historical data but definitely more to it than your run of the mill Sophie Kinsella or Marion Keyes.

Briskly written, deftly plotted and nice ironic it’s the story of two friends, Fido, (Emily) a good not so pretty one who never gets the attention and a very pretty flighty married one Helen who certainly gets more attention, as a woman in Victorian England returned from an outpost in Cyprus where the rules around etiquette and infidelity are a little more loose, finds herself at the mercy of gossip around her behaviour deemed inappropriate.

Whilst married Helen is having fun with a string of lovers her friend and confidente is making waves in other quarters simply by working and being independent. The writer is very good at showing the different perceived struggles of both women based on the life paths they have individually chosen.

I haven’t actually finished it yet, about two thirds of the way through but there are several places I have already marked for their poignancy to reference later points made in such a succinct fashion they are note worthy.

“If women could shed their husbands without risk of losing their children too it’s feared that an alarming proportion would do so” given as explanation why in the case of divorce in 1864 custody of children went to husbands not wives.

Lots of nuance and reference to life for working women in Victorian England and the predecessors of the suffragette movement.

Probably more female skewed, in between hard core literature and easy reading. I think most women, regardless of age will see something of themselves in both lead characters.

The writer has cleverly shown both light and dark sides of each so as the plot unfolds you really don’t know who’s the good guy and who’s the bad, apparently it has a jaw dropping ending too.

Galleria Dell' Accademia

Sarah Jane Black

2013-03-15T16:58:00.0000000 2016-07-19T17:24:12.5700000

FAVORITE PLACE IN THE WHOLE OF ITALIA

It's unimpressive from the outside and an overnight train ride from Rome for us so we only get to go about once a year but I do try to visit Florence often because I love this place.

The Gallery is right between piazza del Duomo and piazza Santissima Annunziata, and near to the Accademia di Belle Arti and the Opificio delle pietre dure (an art restoration institute): in the XIXth century they decided to establish a museum in what used to be a convent and a hospital.

It cost only 6.50 Euro to visit David and lots more besides.

I would recommend a guide for a little more. It is worth it.

The magical part, that gives me chills everytime is the long hall where David stands at the far end.

I am always shocked by his scale even though I have been to visit a dozen or more times.

it is hard to describe the experience. I still remember the first time when I was a child of 12 or 13 years old with my parents. I remember seeing all the sculptures on display climbing from the rocks they are encased in, unfinished works which are surprisingly magnificent on their own and then as you walk towards The David you feel in awe, you know you are looking at something like nothing else.

This is one place which should be included on everyones "Bucket List" I think. It is an experience like no other.

For practical reasons it is good to visit in low season as in the summer the queues extend all the way round the building and because the museum is very small you can have to wait half a day. Also buy tickets ahead of your visit to avoid disappointment.