After the apartment building fire made us homeless last week, we became reliant on friends for our accommodation. Judy went to David’s one bed in Gramercy, and JM lent me half her bed in her Murray Hill studio. Lovely people but not an Ideal Situation.
And then I received the kind of unsolicited & staggeringly generous email that makes the heart sing: The Peninsula Hotel New York had heard about the fire & were offering me Friday & Saturday nights in their hotel as their guest. (I’ve visited The Peninsula in Bangkok, but this would be my first time in the Manhattan one.)
I accepted with alacrity and pitched up on Friday afternoon in a slightly grubby cream jacket that I had grabbed as I ran out of the building on Tuesday, carrying a battered LLBean canvas bag with a change of clothes, to be greeted by the cocooning luxe in these photographs. I felt very unworthy.
The crowning glory of the room was not the vase of peonies (my favourite flowers), the delicious fruit plate, the deep, bubble-filled bath or the spectacular view down Fifth Avenue to Central Park, but the marshmallow cloud that masqueraded as a bed:
And in which I could happily have spent the entire weekend. I shot a little 2 minute video of my room here which sums up my stay:
After all, how can you not love a hotel that has its own coffee cups?
LLG was a very, very grateful guest of The Peninsula New York
(The rest of my photos are here)

32 comments
Chourou
Looks like you’re having a hard,but a bit gorgeous time. It was really something about the fire.
Well,The photos uploaded are fabulous. I’m looking forward to checking out your site from now on.
TF
Dear LLG,
Please can i come and stay with you there? 😉
It looks divine, just what i imagine you must need right now x
Jean
Wow that was so generous and amazing of them to do that!
I hope that things have been getting better since the fire.
By the way, you should totally get into voiceover work as you have the most beautiful speaking voice!
Northern Snippet
What photogenic fruit! Is it real?
Alison Cross
Looks very comfortable, LLG. While it doesn’t make up for what happened to your friend’s apartment, it gives you somewhere beautiful and Your Own to allow you some time to regroup.
BTW – hat a beautiful voice you have!
Hope your insurance company sorts things out for you ASAP.
Ali x
teawithonesugarplease
New Yorkers do have a heart
admin
@teawithonesugarplease Absolutely they do!
@Alison You are absolutely right: it’s amazing to be able to decompress in that way.
@Northern Snippet Yup! The fruit is real, & I ate it all!
@Jean That is just the nicest thing to have said – thank you!
@Trish I’m no longer in residence! 🙁
@Chourou You’re very welcome!
LLGxx
Lucy Waters
Gorgeous photos and video of a fabulous hotel – I’ve only ever made it to the rooftop bar! Such a shame that you were there under horrible circumstances – but I love how everyone has flocked round to help – makes the heart swell!
Solange
You so deserve this!! Enjoy that wonderful cocoon as long as possible.
Love your accent, by the way….
admin
@Solange & @Lucy Thank you! And yes, it is amazing how lovely everyone has been! LLGxx
Kate
Hi LLG
Sorry to hear of your dire circumstances but just wanted to comment on how lovely you speak, your voice is so soothing and you speak really nice English. Refined but not toff-ish. Totes jealous!
admin
@kate Refined? I like it! LLGxx
Karen
It must have been difficult to leave! Best of luck to you, I’m so sorry about the fire but glad you and your friend were not in harm’s way.