Retirement plans

Posted on May 17, 2011 by helena

Rupes and I were discussing football managers this morning, like you do…. Obviously changes are being planned at Chelsea, yet again. One of the reasons we are lagging behind Man U is that we lack the consistency they have achieved in part by holding on to the same manager for 25 years. WE have had six in eight years.

I asked Rupes if he thought Sir Alex might retire now he has overtaken Liverpool’s premier league record of 18 wins.

“To do what?” he replied. “He loves it.”

He has a point. Which got me thinking about our retirement. Of course with everyone living to be about 100 and five children between us, we probably won’t retire until we are 80. But when it happens, there is at least one thing I really want to do. I want to follow the clay-court tennis season from Monaco to Barcelona to Madrid to Rome and then Paris. Can you imagine a more perfect trip? Think of the food, the wine, the shopping, and of course the tennis.

The only downside is Rafa, of course, will no longer be playing. But perhaps his son will?

Going, going, gone…..

Posted on March 3, 2011 by helena

Because I use this blog in part as a diary, I am going to post a speech my deputy made today and show you the glorious cake the magazine team had made for me. I just don’t want you to think I am trying to show off. But it was too lovely a gesture not to keep…obviously I cried.

Here is the cake

Here is Rick’s Speech:
Helena, you wear us out.

You are a whirlwind.

We don’t know how you do it.

You’re a wife, a mother … a tennis player, a yoga practitioner … a
beauty spy, a trier and a tester … a fashion and style icon with
your signature leopard print and pink … a writer, a ghostwriter, an
editor …

We don’t know when you sleep.

Your unflagging energy and tireless commitment to excellence inspire,
ennoble, charm, delight … and only occasionally infuriate us.

We congratulate and celebrate with you on the publication of your
latest novel — and we tell you that our relationship with you is one
of:

Love in a Warm Climate.

Here I am with the cake:

And this is what is left of it now….

Let’s hope book stocks are depleted as fast…yum.

Ladies who lunch

Posted on January 14, 2011 by helena

Last week I joined the ladies who lunch brigade. Our lovely housemaid went off to Sri Lanka on holiday and so I decided to become a housewife for a few days. The plan was slightly complicated by the fact that I had to finish final edits on Love in a Warm Climate but other than that I behaved pretty much like those women I sometimes slightly despise, but mostly envy.

My days were not hard to fill. Making school lunches, cooking, playing tennis, washing, going to to beauty salons and, of course, having lunch. It’s amazing how quickly time goes when you are out of the office, it’s almost like the day takes on a whole other dimension. I can see how they call themselves “busy”. I mean a facial can take an hour and a half for heaven’s sake….

I wondered if the kids would be nicer/calmer/more like 1950s Mad Men ideal we all aspire to. They were no different really, although at one point Leo did ask me why I couldn’t work at home all the time.

The main difference was me. Even though I was getting up at 6am to do the lunchboxes and running around like a mad woman finding all those things Nerosa magically conjures up at any given moment such as rugby socks and swimming costumes, I felt so much calmer and looked forward to the day with relish because I looked forward to just hanging out at home so much. I love my job, but it was so nice to feel like I had less responsibilities for a few days.

It is now the weekend and I have a slight ‘going back to school’ feeling about next week. But I think once I get stuck in I’ll be fine. And if the book becomes a best-seller I can always try becoming a lady who lunches for a bit longer……..

This Devil wears Zara…..

Posted on September 27, 2010 by helena

One of the first conversations I ever had with Rupert was at the business magazine we both worked at when we were starting out in journalism.

“Why aren’t you working at Vogue or some other woman’s magazine?” he asked.

I remember being terribly insulted. OK so I didn’t want to be a business reporter, that was just a way in to journalism. But I wanted to be a foreign correspondent, or maybe a Pulitzer Prize winner who had changed the world, and I certainly didn’t want to write about this season’s shoes or Brad Pitt’s love life.

Now, far too many years on, I finally find myself where I belong; on a woman’s weekly mag. I spend my days happily editing articles about designers, make-up, Zac Efron, but also more serious issues such as the everyday lives of Gazan women and inter-religious marriages.

I started off on the magazine as a staff writer two and a bit years ago. In April I became deputy editor. Yesterday it was announced that I will take over from the editor when she leaves on Thursday. I couldn’t be happier. I have already cut my hair a little shorter and am considering the full Anna Wintour bob. I still can’t afford any Prada, but I find Zara a great substitute, especially the shoes, you can get four pairs for the price of one Louboutin.

During one of my interviews for the job the Editor-in-Chief asked me what I would do if I didn’t get the it.

“Would you be interested in one of the other sections?” he asked.

I thought about it for a minute.

No was my answer, and thankfully I don’t have to think about it any more.

Just imagine, I might have ended up back on the business desk…..

Miss Dep-Ed

Posted on April 19, 2010 by helena

When I took on the job of staff writer at The National, I thought I would never want to do anything else. It seemed a perfect role; roaming around asking questions and not having any real responsibility. I hadn’t worked as an editor since I edited a magazine called Central European for Euromoney many years ago. The only person I edited was Rupert; not that he needs it.

All this has now changed. Mo, my friend and deputy editor of the magazine, was promoted a few weeks ago. I put myself forward for her job and was asked to do a trial. I found editing enormous fun. And what is even more fun is coming up with good ideas that you then don’t have to write, and having some say in how the magazine is run.

From not really wanting to be an editor, I suddenly wanted it more than I had wanted anything in a long time. I worked hard, tried to make things run smoothly and made an effort to learn all I needed to. I had an interview with Rachel the editor.

D-day came on Sunday. I was a bag of nerves. Rachel went in to see the big editor. When she came back she took the other leading candidate outside for a chat.

‘Is that good or bad?’ I texted Rupes.
‘Good,’ he replied.

I could barely breathe. I had a Yogi tea to calm my nerves. ‘For every loss,’ read the message, ‘there is an equal gain’. I’m doomed, I thought, it’s a sign. ‘For every gain,’ it went on, ‘there is an equal loss.’ OK so whatever happens I’m doomed.

After what seemed like a year Rachel came back and took me outside. My heart was beating so fast I was sure she would be able to hear it. We stood opposite each other.

“I’d like to offer you the job of deputy editor,” she said. I threw my arms around her. Possibly not the most traditional response, but she took it well.

So now I am planning ideas to commission. I am onto a piece drawing on our correspondents from the region about women to watch in the Middle East.

I am a very happy ‘dep-ed’ as Rupes calls me. Story ideas welcome…..

Sorry for the long silence

Posted on March 31, 2010 by helena

It has been a very hectic week. I am on a two-week try-out for the job of deputy editor so suddenly have masses to do at work. I am loving it though, I feel totally energetic and excited about it. Editing is just like writing but with a lot less running around. And I love coming up with ideas (that I can then tell someone else to write…)

It’s been a very hectic time on the old social scene as well. Olivia and went to an amazing piano recital a few days ago. I was half-dreading taking her but she LOVED it, in fact she was mesmerized, totally in awe of the young blind Chinese pianist (whose name escapes me). It was one of those times I had been so looking forward to and that worked out even better than I could have imagined, I think she will always remember it.

Last night I went to the farewell dinner for the British Ambassador to the UAE. I love all the ambassadorial events here, they make me feel like I am in an Edith Wharton novel set in Paris in the early 1900s. Or in that book Madame De by Louise de Vilmorin. The British ambassador could easily be in it too, he is charming and smooth and has a voice that could melt frozen butter. He supports Manchester United, but nobody’s perfect.

Rupes has been to Japan, he will go to any lengths to avoid social functions. He comes home tomorrow I hope laden with Laura Mercier lip glosses.

Happy Easter to you all and i finish with a top tip from my yogi teabag this morning: Don’t sleep counting sleep, count blessings, then sleep. Advice I will take if I ever get the job…..

The Crown Prince and I….

Posted on January 23, 2010 by helena

Henri Cartier-Bresson talked about the “defining moment” in photography; that split-second when you capture an image that will never be forgotten. In life there are defining moments too. Depending on what you are into it could be the first time you saw the ballet Swan Lake, or your first pair of Manolo Blahniks, or possibly the birth of your first child.

In journalism, rather like photography, you have to grab those moments when they come up, because they do not happen often. On Thursday I was having lunch with my friend Noch at a local restaurant called Jones the Grocer. A Sheikh walked in. We knew he was someone very important because the whole place ground to a halt and one person even kissed him on the head (a mark of great respect here because it means you elevate the person to the level of your parents).

Noch and I thought we recognised him but decided to check with two Emirati women sitting next to us. “It is Sheikh Mohammed,” they told us. “The Crown Prince.”

This is the second most powerful man in the UAE, probably one of the richest men in the world and, most crucially, the owner of my newspaper. I immediately called Rupert. “Go and ask him for an interview,” he said.

Now I were the owner of a newspaper, that is exactly how I would want my employees to behave. But this is the UAE I thought to myself. Maybe he won’t appreciate being disturbed. But my deep-rooted journalistic instinct took over. I pulled out my business cards, found a pristine one (one that hadn’t been drawn on by the children), and marched over.

“Your Highness,” I began, with a little curtsey which I had perfected for Prince Andrew only weeks before, “I work for your newspaper. My name is Helena Frith Powell.”

He stood up to greet me and I handed him my card.

“I just wanted to say that if you ever wanted to give an interview I would really love to interview you.”

He smiled and nodded.

“Thank you, it was lovely to meet you. Enjoy your lunch,” I added and walked back to Noch and my fish and chips.

I am not sure he will ever let me near him again, but it was a pretty defining moment for me. Here is a very bad picture I managed to take once back in my seat…..he’s the one standing up.

A life without expectations

Posted on January 17, 2010 by helena

Every week in the magazine we have a back page interview called Life Lessons where people I interview give their five life lessons. I have thought long and hard about what my life lessons would be and can only come up with a couple.

Treat everyone as your best friend would be one of them. This is what Ines de la Fressange told me when I thanked her for all her time and help with Two Lipsticks and a Lover.

Another would be to get the hairs on your legs lasered well before the age of 40. I could have written another book with all that time I spend shaving and waxing.

Last week I interviewed my lovely yoga teacher Ria. Her number one life lesson is Live your life without expectations. This is of course not a new concept. Benjamin Franklin once said: “Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.” But it is really worth thinking about.

Over the weekend I expected nothing from the children and guess what? They behaved a lot better than normal. Although Leo did have a mini-tremor at one stage and told me “life is so frustrating at this age”. This was after he came out of the bathroom, his face covered in Hermes body lotion and asked me “do I look younger?”

Anyway the fact is if you expect nothing and get something you are overjoyed and if you get nothing you are not upset. So there’s really no downside. I have realised that the problem with my life so far has been high expectations. I expected all my books to become bestsellers and they didn’t (with the exception of Two Lipsticks which sold above the 10,000 copies required to classify it as a bestseller). This time I am just going to expect that it does nothing and so I will be pleasantly surprised if it does anything else. It may sound hard to do but once you get your head around it, it’s as easy as a forward bend. Easier in fact.

So here’s to a life of contentment with no expectations but lots of success. If that makes sense…..And not that I’m expecting it….

The Prince and I

Posted on October 30, 2009 by helena

As Abu Dhabi gears up for the Grand Prix, I am preparing for what is possibly my biggest interview ever. Tomorrow morning I will be in the Royal Suite at the Emirates Palace Hotel interviewing the fourth in line to the throne; Prince Andrew.

I met him for the first time two nights ago at the opening party of the Fairmont Hotel here. He was much more attractive and charming than I imagined. My friend Amanda was horrified that she had missed out on curtseying the first time she met him so asked if she could do it this time.

“Why on earth would you want to do a thing like that?” laughed the Prince.

“When else is she going to get the chance?” I asked.

I took full advantage of royal protocol, the words ‘good evening your royal highness’ rolling off my tongue as if I said them every day. I felt like Deborah Kerr in The King and I.

The prince then took me to one side and we had a chat about the role of the media in the Middle East. All very grown-up. Obviously I told all my friends who were watching in awe that he was asking for my phone number.

Abu Dhabi is the place to be right now. Last night my stepchildren went to see Beyonce. This evening, while I dine at the The British Embassy, the kids and Rupert will all be at Jamiroquai. And the race hasn’t even begun.

Meanwhile here is a picture of two boy racers to whet your appetite. And if there is anything you ever wanted to ask Prince Andrew, leave me a comment here.

Ferrari

my first blog by Bea

Posted on September 20, 2009 by helena

Today is a public holiday so Bea came with me to work. This is what she wrote, she called it ‘My first blog’. Here she is relaxing after work in a wig with her sister (Bea is on the right).

Bloggers of the future in wigs (Bea on right)

how working in an office is like?
well my parents work in an office and i think it’s good but you gotta know what to do !

So my mother works on the magazine that only comes out on saturday’s.

And my father works on the newspaper which comes out every morning.
So my mother works hard everyday off the week to make the magazine as good as she can and my father also hase to word very hard in the week .
But they both write books my father has writen 3 books and my mother has writen 5 books but she is working on a story book which will be called lost in france .
it’s about a mother with three kids they have two twins ones called charlotte and ones called emily and the little boy edward and the mother sophie so they moved to france and had a little house and were making wine and the kids went to school and one day the father came and said you can’t work here and they neeeded to go but they decided to stay in france because they liked it there .
and then for dooing the newspaper you ‘d have to write about hotels and acciedents like the sky news but on a newspaper and my father is a very good person he writtes coloms in the newspaper.
For the magazine it’s the same but it’s fashion and dresses and shoes and boots and jeans and tops .But my mother is a very important person she writtes blogs in the magazine.
but they both also have a little wepsite and have a million blogs on that ,like helena frith powell .com

satutday 2009 september.