darlings
a lovely day yesterday.
our friend Arianna published our review of the French Film and then who-we-are-in-RL had some Splendid news (which we are Not Allowed to Divulge – she was Very Strict about this, our feelings were a Tiny bit bruised but we said we’d Obey) about some work – and while she was squealing on the corner of Wilshire and *saidvaguely* some side street-in-beverly-hills we got a bit peckish and said:
could we go and have a pot of tea at that nice five star hotel over there?
and she agreed that would be lovely.
yes – that’s a real italian piano player and he knew his audience – mostly back catalogue of Streisand hits with delicious musical re-arrangement…..
like standing under the largest pearl necklace on the Planet
or a ladies’ up-do with pearls as an adornment?
now this is where it gets interesting……see those doors to the left?
we walked through them onto the Terrace (we Adore a Terrace)
and then THE DOORS LOCKED BEHIND US!
now if you’re going to be stuck on a Terrace, it isn’t so bad if it’s a very balmy night in southern california and it looks like this
but nobody passed by the doors and we walked the perimeter of the Terrace but the doors to the ballroom (we adore a ballroom) were Also Locked.
so what did we do?
well – thank goodness for the cellular telephone – we called the reception desk of the Four Seasons Beverly Hills and described where we were and asked them to Send A Security Man (or a woman, but unlikely).
there was a pause on the other end
we can’t quite picture where you are, madam
it’s the long hallway from the restaurant where the gift shop and the powder rooms are – keep going – into the Veranda Room 11 and past the Chinese screen – the room with that big – not really a chandelier but sort of the biggest pearl necklace scooped up to the ceiling
(pause)
we have your number – we’ll find you, madam.
and then we waited.
nobody came.
so we called back.
welcome to the Four Seasons – how may we direct your call?
it’s us – we’re still locked out from the Veranda Room on the back Terrace!
(pause)
and then we realized what had happened…….we were Not At the Four Seasons.
(gulp)
oh. we’re terribly sorry – we’re at the Peninsula
(relief on the other end – they had lost an englishwoman in their hotel and there had been Consternation among the Staff)
(dialing)
welcome to the Peninsula – how may we direct your call
(small voice)
I’m stuck on the Terrace could you come and get me?
security man rushes down the long corridor where the gift shop and the powder rooms are, past the Chinese Screen and the biggest pearl necklace in the World and Opens The Doors.
relief.
thank goodness it was a lovely evening.
sometimes it is Very Hard to tell between all the Five Star Hotels as they all have such lovely gilt – gold – heavy cream pillows – and general Versailles-esque decorative touches.
we admit this is a quality problem.
but an amusing anecdote (after the fact).
Photos of the Peninsula are absolutely luxurious, not quite the first things that pop into my mind when I think of LA, but all the more beautiful and decadent because it’s so unexpected.
Many have said that Our View of LA is very different to the average guide ;)
I am sorry….but I can’t stop laughing at your adventure and the consternation you caused. It is what happens when who you are in RL has to concentrate really, really hard on keeping splendid news securely locked in your brain. They didn’t mean that in order to secure your silence that you had to lock yourself away from us completely!
I saw a chandelier in the first episode, tonight, of Miss Fisher http://www.abc.net.au/tv/phrynefisher/about/ We have been waiting so long to see her in New Zealand. http://www.knowledge.ca/missfisher I think you might approve. Now I am going to read your review.
you inspired us!!!!! see today’s post for details. xxxxx
Oh divine! Will be at your post shortly.
My dear you have the most wonderful adventures. I say if you’re going to be locked out by accident, let it be some place very nice, which is all the nicer when they let you back in.
XXXX Bisous, G
we almost hugged the security guard.
seriously.
Very pleased to hear that you have had some splendid work news.
I saw this Alain De Botton tweet recently:
“What masterpieces we’d have if writers accepted the need for daily practice and total sacrifice as the great athletes do.”
I am not suggesting the total sacrifice – the world won’t be the same without some time to dream and the occasional pit stop for tea at a swanky hotel – but I do admire that you write everyday.
*wavingtoireland*
thank you for saying that.
some days it is Hard to Write.
and we have No Idea how Mr. Shakespeare or Miss.Austen did it without lovely people leaving comments on their blogs.