KEY POINTS:
Just three more sleeps in my plush pad at SkyCity Grand Hotel before I have to - regrettably - hand back the room card and head home. As you can imagine, I'm making the most of my stay. The fluffy bathrobe is packed - shhhh.
I checked in
for the entire period of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series thinking I'd hobnob, as in flirt, with some good looking international sailors, but yesterday, I noticed the boat shoes were less visible and the mud flaps were more apparent.
Okay, I'm exaggerating for effect, but it's fair to say it was somewhat of a motorhead Mecca for those lingering outside the hotel's foyer eager for a glimpse of Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond, who are apparently staying here too.
Mullets aren't exactly my style du jour. Neither are egotistical English gits with a death wish, so I chose something distinctly more feminine and went in search of the hotel's spa.
I'd heard, for the month of February, East Day Spa are offering exclusive Valrhona chocolate facials in honour of Valentine's Day. The sailor WAGs have been in every day, apparently. Now, I'm not much one for schmaltzy romantic marketing gimmicks, but, let's face it, it's chocolate! Which woman would say no? And Valrhona's the Aston Martin of chocolate. Even Clarkson would get it.
Only, I made the mistake of popping in at lunchtime. A bit like shopping at the supermarket on an empty stomach (a complete no-no unless you want to come home with every calorie-laden goodie you don't need but really want), a chocolate facial is the lazy girl's lunch.
Well, it's not meant to be, but who can resist the tempting taste and aroma of cocoa... even when it's smeared across your face. While the pretty beauty therapist gently painted the chocolate on, my tongue was working over-time, stretching out like a giraffe in search of food, only mine was less foliage and more fondant, as I tried in vain to lick around my mouth wiping off the good work she'd painted on.
My flavour - they come in three - was Black Forrest. Apparently Madonna, Posh and Uma all have a penchant for a little chocolate gateau face scrub, too. I was in good company. Only, my bet is they opt for chocolate facials for the antioxidant organic qualities, not the snack factor.
Tonight is the black-tie gala dinner for the Top Gear stars at the ASB Showgrounds in Greenlane. Despite my protestations to macho-fuelled car shows, I'm quite looking forward to it. It's not exactly the plush surroundings of SkyCity where Sharon Hunter, JK (the Prime Minister, not the rugby legend) and Michael Fay partied last week, but then Clarkson's not exactly posh. His mum Shirley, who gave a brilliant interview on Marcus Lush's RadioLive show yesterday, was a former teacher-turned-teddy bear maker. You can check out the piccies in my Herald on Sunday column.
Rachel Glucina
Photo / Babiche Martens