J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by RoseR

I thought of that he could have bought his own painting, but a lot have been sold, but I think I might try and get a valuation if only for insurance purposes. Certainly is partner who is co owner of the hotel is John Mappin well known in the music business, and also heir to the Mappin and Webb jewellery makers. So he does not need the money. The other thing I found out about them they are all scientologists, thats why their are pictures of them all with Tom Cruise and John Travolta all over the place. They could be just trying to recruit people or raise funds for their cause. They were really strange people, funny but strange.

I thought of that but the painter is a lot younger than me so will probably outlive me :lol: But on the other hand my husband is a lot, lot younger than me so he could benefit. :lol:

Sorry this is un ski related, but it may be the source of my future hols. Plus I can be a bit naive sometimes so would appreciate some-one elses views.
I will try to be brief. Last summer we took a spur of the moment weekend break in Tintagel, Cornwall. Lovely big hotel, like a castle, called camelot castle. The whole hotel was covered in artwork, some good, some passable and some hideous. We found out that the castle is owned by a well known artist called Ted Stourton and a well known record producer, singer/songwriter called John Mappin. We ended up having a tour of the basement studios by Ted the artist. It was weird to say the least, he sang to us, strummed a guitar, photograped us, spoke poetry to us, all really surreal and very funny. He took us into his room that he calls the light box, this is where he illuminates about 20 of his latest paintings. He asked if we liked one and there was one we could both live with, he offered it to us for £4000, we said no way and he kept bringing the price down until he got to £90, at which stage my hubby bought it for me. We came home did a bit of research on who he was and discovered that the beckhams, Brad Pitt and sultan of Brunei all have commissioned paintings by him. He said we could have his painting for £90 cos 'we were a special couple and he liked us', my opinion I didnt stand a chance but my husband was definately in there :lol: well this week a letter came from John Mappin to say that were we aware, and because we had bought one of Teds painting that a painting similar to ours had just sold for £25,000.
Me being the cynic thinks this is a ploy to get us down to the hotel and buy up more paintings. So I looked on Sothebys and Christies web sites and sure enough his paintings sell like hot cakes and one similar to ours did sell to an undisclosed buyer for £25,000.
So do we dash down there and blag some more cheap paintings, do we sell the one we have, or do we wait and see if the price goes up.
This would fund one hell of a lot of ski holidays. What do you think?

I would love to try a chalet but still think I would only be happy if it was full of people we know, I am still wary of getting with a crowd of people I just dont get on with, or a rowdy group of lads, or people with naughty children. I imagine its great if you all go with children, if the kiddies are in bed the adults can still have fun without worrying about sitters. If I had been ski-ing when mine were young this would have been great.
Our first ski holiday was in a hotel at Axamer Lizum and there were 100 french students staying there, they got drunk and rampaged the hotel every night, also at meal times we were on a table with all the other couples, we all used to have polite chat about the days ski, weather etc but it was all so strained you could tell we all had nothing in common. Thats why I have always been wary, thats why next year we wanted different from hotel, but just cant quite make the decision for a chalet. So have opted for a log cabin to ourselves.

Dont think I could do the chalet thing, we like our privacy too much, besides my hubby snores so much he would really pee every-one else off, I have to wear ear plugs on occasions. But then again they might all move out and leave the chalet to us. Plus I like my own loo, bath and shower. :lol:

When you said scotia I thought you meant Nova Scotia/Canada. Duh I even looked in the atlas for that one :oops:

Cape Breton and marble mountain? but my geography may be c**p

Dont forget Karen if the person who is driving after the ferry trip, takes sea-sickness pills unfortunately they all have a drowsy effect in which you are advised not to drive with them.