darlings!

our first 60 minutes in Portland (Oregon) has gone extremely well so far! we are most pleased. And we haven’t even gone outside to Explore yet.

we got a taxi cab from the international airport and our driver was swift yet-not-silent but we just pretended not to understand because getting up at 4.30AM (our clothes were laid out ready or that would not have been possible as the driver in Los Angeles arrived promptly at 5AM) is rather wearing.

and usually taxi drivers are the first people to ask if one is Married or has Children and they Completely neglect to ask if one has had a Deeply Interesting International career-in-digital and has a book coming out in Feb (most remiss). As we have neither of the former and a lot of the latter, we generally stay silent.

not everyone understands a Career Girl.

the flight?

bless you for asking.

w-ell.

despite getting to check-in Awfully Early we found that our seat assignment could not be changed and 13B (which sounded very near the front of the plane) turned out to be right at the end near the bathroom facilities.

*sobs*

because the plane was a terribly small one – the sort of plane one imagined that Elizabeth Taylor would have commandeered and installed therein a large bed and on flights to Aspen watched her old movies (the good ones – especially this one – because she clearly had somewhat fuzzy memories during the making of it) and ate chocolates while Mr. Burton (if this was a Mr. Burton period) scowled and read scripts by the far window.

would you like to see it?

our plane – not Elizabeth’s.

yes.

very small.

but the hotel?

DIVINE!

glorious 1930s style bathroom accoutrements (the curtain has a pale satin strip – we adore a pale satin strip, as you know). 

exquisitely made light fixtures. 

a soft glow (don’t you Appreciate a soft glow in a hotel room? we certainly do)

and we’re sharing it with Gregory and Ingrid (above the bed – we’ll get a better shot later) as well as Cary Grant and (darlings – who is that? Miss Simmons? movie reference please!)

lovely touch. 

yes!

a CHANDELIER in the lobby. and a Very Smart Social Media team who welcomed us most warmly.

so – we’ve been here just over an hour (because we just had to write to you and let you know about the artwork and light fixtures) – we’re Bathed (deep tub, delicious) and in a few moments, we’re going to head downstairs and eat something light yet nutritious and then head out INTO PORTLAND.

yes, yes, there’s work ahead.

but we only have thoroughly good thoughts about Work so that’s a Joy too.

quick note: we *do* appreciate the fact that there was just a telephone directory in the drawer next to the bed – you know we welcome all and everyone’s spiritual Paths but it was particularly Refreshing that one has to call down to Reception and order whichever book-that-guides-one you might like – isn’t that lovely?

one could be Hindu or even Tom Cruise and feel at home here, put it that way.

most impressively open-minded.

a bit like us.

and You, of course.

see you later.

and may say that robe looks very fetching on you – an excellent shade for your complexion.