How quilts are made


At Your Service

Every year, preparations for the 31st ofbut homely, 'cottage' feel throughout. The
December have followed the same pattern forbedroom has a sumptuous, king-size bed
Andy and Julie. They invite all theiradorned with beautifully crisp, fresh linen
friends round and Julie spends the best partand an opulent quilt, together with a
of a week cleaning the house from top tohand-carved vanity unit and dressing table.
bottom, trying to make everything lookThe bathroom has a separate walk-in shower
respectable following the rigors ofand huge, fluffy white towels hang invitingly
Christmas. By the time New Year's Eveon the rails. The kitchen, newly fitted in
arrives, even the vacuum cleaner doesn't wantpine, has everything they could possibly
to cooperate, refusing point blank to pick upneed; fridge/freezer, oven, hob, microwave,
the Christmas tree's fallen pine needles fromdishwasher, toaster, coffee maker... and the
the carpet. Andy goes to the off-licence tolounge is the ultimate in comfort, with a
buy enough alcohol to sink a battleship,fabulous view from the window of the
whilst Julie (by her own admission, no Deliatree-lined street below. There's a huge,
Smith) heads for the kitchen and attempts tosoft sofa to sink into, and even a great
tackle the buffet. Many hours and scores ofselection of books, videos and CDs to choose
vol-au-vents later, Julie's exhausted,from, in the highly unlikely event that they
covered in flour and a bit fed up, and thereneed  to  create  their  own  entertainment.
isn't enough room in the fridge for all those
chicken drumsticks. Andy can't rememberIt's the last day of the year, but Andy and
where he stored the guests' inflatableJulie have plenty of time to take in some of
mattresses from last year and seems to bethe sights of London before the festivities
suffering the mild depression that many of usbegin. They begin with a leisurely stroll
experience  at  the  end  of  the  year.around Kew village, with its wonderful shops,
and finish with a first class dinner in one
On the eve itself, it's very much an 'openof its many marvellous restaurants. Then
house', a case of 'all welcome'; the partyit's back to the apartment to freshen up with
comes and goes, but then there's thean invigorating shower and get changed into
aftermath on New Year's Day... paper plates,party gear. New Year in London wouldn't be
half eaten sausage rolls, party poppers andright without a visit to the London Eye, and
streamers all over the floor... bodiesa short taxi ride takes them there. There
littered everywhere in various stages ofmust be thousands of people, young and old,
slumber, including one individual, curled upall soaking in the wonderful atmosphere.
in the bath, wearing little more than a partyIt's electric. And as the big countdown
hat and an apologetic grin. Eventually,starts and Big Ben strikes midnight, a mighty
their groggy guests having gone, Andy andwhoop goes up as the crowd is entertained by
Julie have a hearty breakfast of paracetamolthe most breathtaking firework display from
and water, and set about the business ofthe floodlit London Eye and the river,
clearing up the devastation. (Did theyaccompanied by the sound of countless
really  get  through  that  many  bottles?)champagne corks popping. Cries of 'Happy New
Year' abound, as complete strangers laugh and
It's going to be very different this year.embrace each other. It's a truly spectacular
Andy and Julie decide they're going to havestart  to  a  brand  new  year.
some time to themselves - all the fun of New
Year, without the fuss. A luxury servicedHappy and giggling like teenagers, Andy and
apartment in West London fits the billJulie return to the luxury of their serviced
exactly. They're pleasantly surprised at theapartment which is every bit as spick and
cost, and booking on the Internet couldn't bespan as when they arrived. In their absence,
easier.as if by magic, the dishwasher has been
emptied and the contents tidily put away, and
The apartment is situated at Kew, in thefresh towels have been placed in the
Borough of Richmond, just minutes away frombathroom. The clothes they wore earlier have
the famous botanical gardens. From theeven been folded and placed in a neat pile on
moment they arrive, they know they've madethe bedroom stool. Later in the morning,
the right choice. The apartment iswith not a vol-au-vent or party popper in
absolutely spotless. It's light, airy andsight, Andy and Julie laugh as they snuggle
spacious, immaculately decorated andup in bed, thinking back to last New Year's
tastefully equipped with every facility theyDay. It's strange, they never did discover
could wish for. Neutral cream furnishingswho the guy in the bath was.
and natural warm woods give a contemporary,



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