From the desk of Penelope Alice, Britain’s most fabulous PA

I have been out and about on the town again this week. First up, was a shindig for Ascott serviced apartments – they’re a Singapore-based company that has literally oodles of properties in all sorts of far-flung and exotic-sounding places, like Doha, Bangkok and Tokyo. Personally, I liked the sound of the new Citadines Suites Louvre Paris, situated right in the heart of the French capital – I definitely feel a weekend trip coming on, strictly in the interests of research, of course, mes amis!

The venue chosen added a huge wow factor to the proceedings, as it was held at the Tower Bridge Walkways (pictured above) – one of London’s most recognisable landmarks, offering incredible, panoramic views over the Thames and the city beyond. All that schmoosing is thirsty work, so I was very glad to try a Singapore Sling, served in honour of Ascott’s Oriental origins. The nibbles offered alongside included dainty bowls of salmon with risotto, lamb tagine with couscous and – my favourite – mini-sausages with caramelised onions and mash, a perfect winter warmer of a dish!

Next, I attended the Serviced Apartment Bookers’ Association’s networking event, which took place at the newly extended offices of SilverDoor, a leader in the industry. I even managed to have a chat with the chap in charge of the renovation work on the office, so I’ll have to sneak his card on to Mr P’s desk, just in case our own offices could use a refresher.

The canapés were adorable, mainly small-scale versions of traditional British food: mini ham and cheese toasties, tiny cups of fish and chips and bite-size sausages complete with a roll and ketchup, complemented by cocktail falafel to bring a touch of overseas culture to the multi-national proceedings. And of course, drinks were in plentiful supply, which helped the conversation flow among the literally hundreds of attendees.

This blog originally appeared on the PA Life Club site. To read more of Penelope Alice’s blog entries and get access to a range of fantastic benefits, including discounts and special deals at dozens of selected retailers and venues, as well as exclusive monthly competitions, networking events and 50% off PA Life’s new training courses, click here: palife.co.uk/pa-life-club