N.Y.C...Youuuu!

I am so so lucky that many of my blog posts over the last couple of years have included the sentence “I am writing this from my Emirates Business Class bed…”

So...I am in an Emirates Business Class bed…on my way to NYC!

Excited!

TAG Heuer are flying me and two other journos over to interview Cameron Diaz and then go to a charity ball with her and Leo DiCaprio. Sometimes my job is too good.

We were due to fly back Sunday, but I have extended and am moving to The Empire hotel for another couple of nights so I can shop and of course see my lovely N&J! Going to be weird being there and not staying with them, but we will still have our funtimes - I flipping hope, anyway!

I am used to a 7 hour NYC flight – this is a 14 and a half hour demon (and we sat on the tarmac for an hour before take off) but it has been such an entertaining flight. I only have 4 hrs 45mins to go and so far I have only slept for one. Going to regret that!

One of the other journos, a Brit guy, is flipping hilarious. Only met him in the Business Class lounge at the airport but fell in love with him within 5 mins. Not in that way, I’m not his type, but he is brilliant. Elle, the Ed of HELLO! ME knows him and said we would be great pals and she was so right. 

We were due to take off at 8.30am but were still on the runway at 9.30am so he was round at my cabin and we were on the champers and gossing.

Tipsy by 9am, we went straight to the bar after take off and stayed there drinking champagne solidly for three hours. In the end the sensible part of me took over – when we get to NYC it will only be 2pm and I have TAG cocktails tonight and then we are talking about a night out at SoHo House, so I dragged myself to my bed, slept for an hour (which I needed, think I slept for 30 mins last night) and woke up feeling not remotely drunk or hungover. Random. 

Watched The Watch with Ben Stiller, ridiculous film then started writing this…and eating…and writing…and drinking tea.

He didn’t stop and came and tried to drag me back to the bar, but I got out of it. When there is two hours to go, I will probably do some more bar propping up...or I might watch Seeking a Friend For The End of The World. Started it on the way back from China but gave up.

Don’t really want to be hanging out of my ass when I interview Cameron in the morning!

It was 32 degrees when I left Dubai and apparently one degree and snowing in NYC…blimey! I am excited about wearing a coat and my big Russian hat strangely, but I’m sure the cold and annoyance of layer wearing will soon strike. 

But whatever, as long as I don’t get diverted to freaking Bangor (not the one in  Wales) like last year I will be happy.

NYC – woooo hoooooo!

Until the Big Apple…x

Chilling with Mark Ronson

I interviewed Mark Ronson today for the first time. How I never did him during my Daily Star Goss days I do not know and also why did no one tell me he was that hot?

He's not the new face of Fendi’s new male fragrance for nothing. He’s rocking the fitness.

I did the interview in a suite at the Grand Hyatt hotel and the PR had pre-warned me that he was in a stinker, had cancelled loads of interviews and had instead spent the morning getting his hair and make-up done.

Don’t laugh. I didn’t…ok, I did. Obviously.

He walked into the suite, wearing a dapper Fendi suit and Ray-Bans and was like some kind of enigma. All quiet and mysterious. People like that make me happy because I see them as a challenge. I make it my mission to break them with banter and have them laughing by the end. And I broke the Ronson. Yes!

My photographer did all of the snaps first of a mean and moody Ronson, so I started the buttering up…”Ooo, I love your shoes Mark…” “Thanks. Fendi.”

“Can we have some pics with your sunglasses off, or do we not need the sight of what you’re hiding in our lives?” “Yeah, I’ve only just flown in. I don’t look great.”

I was making definite progress and I don’t think he wanted to punch me.

The snapper left and then it was just me and Mark on a sofa. Not even a loitering PR. He was great actually, I really enjoyed chatting to him. He is so passionate about music, which is so apparent. Every answer he gave he related it to music. He’s really interesting too, I enjoyed speaking to him a lot and wish I could have stayed longer. He’s one of those layered types…lots to uncover.

And by the end we were bitching about people and chatting about London (ahh London).

We chatted music, fashion, Paul McCartney, Dubai, Fendi shoots…I can’t do any spoilers as the interview hasn’t been published yet…but if the opportunity to interview him again comes up, I’m on it. And it really isn’t often I say that.

Where's My Purse? Waaah!

I was having the nicest weekend, I decided I was going to chill and actually get to some yoga classes at Zen Yoga – something I have been meaning/wanting to do since I got here. 

Yesterday I went to a Studio 54 class…it’s a new thing and basically in an hour you do 54 rounds of sun salutations (yoga lovers will know that after about 10 rounds your heart is pumping) to disco tunes. I thought it was a great idea, and it was really good. I loved it. But wow, by about 30 rounds in I was feeling the burn…but you have to keep going. 

Needless to say, when I woke today my arms were hurting and it appears it’s the pain that keeps giving.

After studio 54 I had been invited to brunch at the Rixos Hotel on The Palm – it was a family affair, not one of those get royally trollied on shots and watermelons full of booze and whatever the hell else goes on at these brunches that go down in Dubai. I have yet to make it to a proper one – I have been invited to loads at the ‘legendary’ Saffron, but for some reason or another (fear?) I have never made it. I know, shame on me.

Me and my nephew at brunch x

I hadn’t seen my bro, sis-in law and super cool little nephew for a couple of weeks, so I invited them to come with and while my nephew ran around, making crowns, playing with the clown (the kids entertainer) us grown ups ate. To be fair, I only ate as much as I normally would but my bro and sis in-law made the most of the amazing buffet. Seriously, every food you can imagine, everywhere. If you are on any kind of diet, these brunches are your nemesis.

Anyway, I am being a massive bore-off and after the China experience/booze binge/carnage and then my full on weekend with Steph I placed myself firmly on the wagon which meant last night (Friday night) I stayed in and did work. Again, shame on me. A friend came over to see me on his way out (he’s not some kind of loser who stays in and works on a Friday night) which was lovely. I hadn’t seen him since before China and I had missed him, so it was tres bon to see him.

While he went out to party like a young’un, Grandma went to bed…but that did mean I woke up sans hangover today and was able to go to my second yoga class in as many days. Despite the killer Studio 54 arm pain.

It was Hatha flow today and it was great. I felt so chilled after and my plan was to cab home, have some dinner, work, chill and have an early night.

But you know what they say about the best laid plans. Especially if your name is Sonja Stephen and you live in Dubai.

I am one of those annoying, organised people who always has a plan, a schedule and food in the fridge.

Today because I was engrossed in work, I had no food in the fridge. Nothing. Not a bean (literally). I jumped in a cab after yoga, in my hatha bliss bubble and jumped out at some traffic lights near mine so I could run into the supermarket on the way home. As I approached the supermarket, I suddenly got this thought in my head: “My purse isn’t in my bag!” So I looked and that mofo of a purse was absolutely NOT in my bag. Or in my pocket. Or on the road where I got out of the cab…yes, I ran back. I honestly have no idea how it could have happened. 

I have never, lost my purse EVER. (I have had it stolen once by a sneaky skank in a pub in Fulham) but I have never lost it. I can only imagine that when I had paid and put back in my bag to climb over to get out, it got pushed out by my yoga mat or something. God knows.

So yeah, I lost all of my UAE bank cards, my health insurance card…and oh yeah, I’m that clever I (used to) keep all of my UK cards in there as well as my UK Driving Licence. Hooray!

All gone.

So this evening I have spent hours on the phone cancelling everything. EVERYTHING.

I called my neighbour but he was out having dinner at the Emirates Club and he’s so cool, he invited me and said he would pay for my cab, my dinner and then lend me money. But I was too moody to go.

Instead, I ate a small tin of tuna and some frozen strawberries for dinner. Desperate times.

My iphone and then my purse in a matter of weeks.

Seriously WFT? Can this stuff stop happening to me now? Please?

HELLO! ADFF VIP Lounge

I popped my Abu Dhabi cherry today. Me and the HELLO! Fashion and beauty writer Sam headed to AD to visit the Abu Dhabi Film Festival VIP Lounge. Basically the gifting suite where all the celebs – including Richard Gere – went to get given free stuff.

We were treated like the celebs and just handed free thing after free thing – thank you!

Mmm, new sunnies

I got some great stuff, including some Roberto Cavalli sunnies which I LOVE.

We had a mani too and then went to get our hair and make-up done. This is where my great day took a turn for the worse. Or actually, a turn for the tranny. 

Sam got given really cool smokey eyes and lovely sleek hair. I got a face a tranny would say was OTT, eyebrows that could take over the world and a hair-do I haven’t seen since my sixth form college May Ball.

Rancid dot com to the max.

The slap going on...

I sat in the car back and rubbed my eyebrows off, pulled all of my hair out and took deep breaths to stop me freaking out at what was looking back at me in the mirror.

The organisers had seen us and said “Oh Sam, you look amazing” followed by an “Oh, er, erm. I like your, er, hair Sonja.”

Washed my face three times as soon as I got in…and then checked out all of my incredible gifts. So grateful…and my family are going to get some good stuff in their Xmas Extra Goody Bags this year.

The day I stop appreciating all of the great things I get to do and all the brilliant things I get gifted with, someone punch me. Deal?

The One Where The Bestie Comes To Visit

Me and Steph

My bestie Steph has just left – ahhh! In the two months I’ve been here we haven’t spoken on the phone once or even skyped. Bizarrely...(but we both hate talking on the phone and I hate Skype with a passion). We have been in contact every day either on Whatsapp, bbm or Facebook chat though and it was so nice to see her little face smiling at me in the reception of my apartment tower.

I got home from China Tuesday. Went to work Wednesday and was feeling really emotional and weird after what had gone on in China so Wednesday, I was supposed to go out with a friend but I had to cancel for a night on the sofa. So tired and that damn China cold would not bugger off. So I told my bro and sis-in law to go out and drop my neph off at mine so I spent the night snuggled on my sofa next to him watching Thomas The Tank engine (on a loop!) knowing that when I woke up my bestie would be here. I could have cried to be honest, I was so happy. China did something odd to me.

I needed to not be on my own so Steph being with me, was great (and she hand delivered my new iphone my mum had sorted for me – amazing!). My body was telling me not to go wild, but I wanted her to have a great time so I planned a fun itinerary which went something like this…

The Ivy Dubai

Thursday: 

I went to work, Steph slept... and then…
Happy Hour at the Yacht Club – love it in there

Dinner at The Ivy – yum!

Drinks at The Observatory – never get bored of the amazing views from up there

Friday:

Chill at my Pool

Blowdry at my favourite salon – JetSet at Grosvenor House

Sandance – my first ever one. It’s a mini festival on the beach. Stunning location and view. We chilled like oldies, sitting on a towel on the sand by the water’s edge, drinking and catching up while The Fray played but when Dizzee Rascal came on we got involved – we had to!

Steph, Me and Alice x

Blends @ The Address, Dubai Marina – we quickly got changed then got to Blends for around midnight to see my Dubai bestie Alice. It was one of her work mates’ birthdays. Had a right good dance in there and got the worst chat up line I think I have ever had – this guy, made his hand beat over his heart, reached inside his shirt, pretended to grab his heart and then handed it to me. Oh yes, that shit went down. That happened. Needless to say, it didn’t get him anything apart from a laugh in his face. 

Dessert @ Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE

Saturday:

The Blue Marlin Ibiza opened in Dubai back in Feb, so I went to check it out. It’s a 30 mins drive from mine so they sent a car to get us. It was a little slice of heaven. Delicious lunch in the private secluded beach, top tunes and then an afternoon chilling on one of the massive beds on the sand. Great.

After a cuppa at JBR, we walked home and I fell asleep on the sofa 10 mins into an ep of Homeland – sorry Steph.

Sunday:

While I worked Steph shopped then we met up at The Dubai Mall for dinner at The Rivington Grill. Wow, that is what I call a good steak. I had been craving one since China and that one did the job. Fit-ass piece of cow. Incredible views from our table on the terrace too...The Dubai Fountain dancing right in front of us. So nice.

We got home, Steph packed, we watched Felix jump from space (crazy fool – as if he landed on his feet!) and now steph has just headed off to the airport meaning it’s once again just me, myself and I.

BED!