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FROM BERLIN TO THE BALL !
By Claire Simmo
It ' s finally here and I can barely contain my excitement at the thought of becoming a columnist for this fabulous magazine , thank you so much for the huge support across social media following the announcement and I promise not to disappoint and deliver on this amazing opportunity !
I have known the Editors - Si & Nicky and Justin ( their Head of Advertising ), for many years - having met them at events I was hosting and whilst working at Radio City , and it was only during our time at a press trip to Berlin ( and after a couple of Aperol Spritz !) that they asked me to come on board - and quite frankly – I couldn ’ t be happier .
I have always loved my city , and everything about it - the people , the venues , the events that take place , and it ' s a fabulous platform for me to also to get to shout about my hometown Southport , and so many local businesses and people which are such a huge part of my life , who will be featuring over the coming months .
So - what have I been up to over the last month ? I ' ll gloss over the fact of having my arm broken in 3 places - but you will see photos of me in my " blinged sling " so that answers that question straight away . However , two breaks in my humerus and one in my elbow didn ’ t stop me 3 days later to travel with The Guide Liverpool and Lufthansa to experience their brand new service from John Lennon Airport to Frankfurt - where you can transfer to so many destinations across the world and not give your luggage a second thought until you land at your chosen destination . Not being biased , but with the horror stories I had heard about certain airports and queues in security , we sailed through check in at Liverpool in less than 10 mins ( which of course left plenty of time for us at the Kissing Gate bar !) We went from Frankfurt to Berlin and the change was seamless and we spent a fabulous 3 days with meals by the river , a fascinating walking tour of the city - and yes even I was virtually left speechless to learn that the children ' s sandpit I was dangling my feet in happened to be where Hitler was cremated ! We experienced the best views for miles from the Berlin TV Tower - which wasn ' t quite as tall as the Radio City Tower at a mere 368 feet compared to 450 feet ! Our stay was finished with a trip to a German market and cocktails in Charlies Bar - which was of course based by Charlies Checkpoint ! It ' s definitely a place I will visit again - and think I learnt more in 2 days than I did in the whole of school .
After returning from Berlin - it was straight back out the next day to attend the Liverpool International Tennis Tournament in Aigburth . For the first time I went as a guest with the Mersey Life team as I have always worked there hosting in the past , and it was a wonderful experience , and another huge event for the City to host , there was such a buzz of excitement there and there ' s a reason that Anders Borg hosts it there every year - and that ’ s because of the reception he receives from the crowds - who even sat through a few outbursts of rain on the Saturday .
A couple of weeks later , I also experienced another event which I wasn ' t working at - twice in a month would you believe it - and it was wonderful to dress up and be a guest at Julie Lawson ' s fabulous Black and White Tiara Ball at the Titanic Hotel in association with Mersey Life . Wow ! She had totally pulled out all the stops - which you always expect from Julie and it was full of glitz and glamour whilst raising over £ 22,000 which will benefit 4 different charities . Julie is such an amazing lady and she will be certainly appearing to tell her story in this column in the very near future . I must give a special mention to the incredible Rob Lamberti , who was possibly the best George Michael tribute act I have ever seen , and there is no doubt in my mind that the event will be just as , if not more successful next year .
18 merseylife . com