Naming Monsters – Hannah Eaton (Myriad Editions, £12.99) Naming Monsters is a very different and interesting book with a story being told not just by words but by images too. The main character is a young girl who lives with her grandmother, and it follows her journey of teenage life via boys, exams and friendships. […]

Finally My Ambulance – Joseph Smith (Jonathan Cape, £14.99) This book invites you to embark on a journey via 13 short stories connected by theme and tone. I’m not sure exactly what journey the book took me on as I found the writing didn’t flow from story to story. Finally My Ambulance was the longest, […]

Equipment theft is a serious issue for the majority of businesses, but almost a quarter of firms say they don’t take precautions to prevent it, despite reporting some unusual items that have been lost or stolen, including wigs, a portable loo, eyelashes and a fire surround. A survey of 2,000 companies commissioned by Avery reveals […]

Keeping costs down will be the key factor in organising business travel this coming year, with all modes of transport being closely monitored by companies in order to find the best available deal. The results of the latest American Express Global Business Travel Barometer reveal that 87% of companies surveyed say that keeping on top […]

Rail operator CrossCountry has made available discounted tickets for its corporate customers. The announcement is timely, as the latest American Express Global Business Travel Barometer has revealed that an increasing number of companies are considering using train travel as opposed to air. The “Advance on the Day” initiative has been introduced by the rail company […]

The Ritz is a byword for opulence and dining here is something to which all bon viveurs aspire, writes Colette Doyle. Luxury comes as standard, as frock-coated waiters cater to your every whim and each patron, whether they have a title or not, is made to feel special. If you like understated minimalism you may […]

This year marks the 175th anniversary of Brown’s Hotel, making it something of a Mayfair institution, writes Colette Doyle. This Rocco Forte-run property has seen many a famous face cross its doors over the decades, including Queen Victoria. Nowadays, it welcomes the likes of Tracey Emin, Paul Smith and Stella McCartney and is synonymous with […]

Many of us are already practising project management every day both at home and at work, often without even realising it, according to Ann Pilkington. Getting the spare bedroom decorated, or organising a friend’s hen or stag party are all tasks that need careful planning. There will be a critical path – what order do […]

There are some rail journeys that have an innate air of grandeur about them: the Venice-Simplon Orient Express, the Trans-Siberian Express, or the Rovos Rail itinerary from Pretoria to Cape Town, writes Colette Doyle. At the opposite end of the spectrum there’s the horror of your average train ride to work – sweaty armpits pressed […]

Tough times call for everyone to dig deep at work, but a new survey reveals that tensions between office workers and bosses might be at an all-time high. We’re all guilty of an occasional work grumble, but it seems this is on the increase in the current climate. More than half of UK office workers […]

An astounding 4.5 million British office workers are losing more than six days of annual leave every year. Reasons given include being worried about losing their job, or looking bad in front of the boss. One in 20 even admitted they take just half of the time off they are entitled to, saying that using […]

The role of the PA has changed dramatically during the 21st century, due to developments at executive level and changes in technology. Assistants have become vital members of organisations and this has led to a demand for PAs who have knowledge of management theories and practices. Birkbeck University and the Global PA Network have teamed […]

2014 is going to be a big year for all those working in office management, as it has officially been designated as the International Year of the Secretary and Administrative Assistant (IYOTSA). The idea originated in South Africa, where a group of leading PAs at a PAFSA meeting (the Professional Association for Secretaries and Administrative […]

Since restaurant reviewers are supposed to attempt at least some sign of professional impartiality, allow me to make a disclosure up front: I absolutely love Thai food, writes Colette Doyle. From Tom Kha soup and fish cakes to red curry with pork and Weeping Tiger (beef in a spicy marinade), there are very few Thai […]

Call them what you like – tapas, mezze, or cicchetti – I love the idea of sharing dishes, so I was very pleased indeed to try out the newly opened all-day dining outlet at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hyde Park, writes Colette Doyle. The Urban Meadow Café’s motto is “farm to fork” – it lays […]

A broad knowledge base and the ability to learn from others are essential skills that many successful people share, according to former Special Assistant to President Clinton and White House Director of Events Laura Schwartz (pictured). “I have found throughout my career and especially in my years at the White House that all great leaders […]

Getting your boss safely from A to B is one of the holy grails of being a good executive assistant. Here, PA Life asks four experts from leading TMCs for their top tips on making travel arrangements and their take on current trends within the market. “Industry evidence shows that, on average, airfares are cheaper if […]

If you’re looking for a more flexible way of working that will allow you to be home-based and pick and choose the clients you want, then you might consider switching to a VA role. With lots of companies now outsourcing their executive management positions and dedicated agencies for freelance office professionals springing up, there’s never […]