By Paola Bassanese
Last week was eventful to say the least.
It st
arted off badly with a thumb injury when I tried to open a heavy iron gate to let a friend’s dog into an outdoor area in the Serpentine. One week on and it only has started healing; I had some real difficulties working last week.
The week went onwards and upwards from there when I attended the Business of Sport event at the Sports Cafe in Piccadilly and had the chance to meet long jump athlete and Olympian Chris Tomlinson.
The event was superbly organised and gave participants an opportunity to learn more about the world of sports sponsorship and media training. Those lessons can be easily transferred in other areas of business.
Summer in London has been a rainy affair. I put the heating on both at home and in my therapy room and I keep craving tea and cake during my breaks. I really loved the atmosphere and authenticity of vintage-inspired Drink, Shop & Do in King’s Cross, and Honey & Co in Warren Street with their inspired selection of teas.
I also blame the rain for my shopping spree buying clothes and shoes. Of course these purchases are entirely justified: I bought the most stylish work-to-evening 
uniform at Deploy Demi-Couture in Marylebone and have been complimented ever since.
Working as a freelancer I need to look smart at networking events after work without having to bring everything and the kitchen sink with me in terms of changes of outfit.
Towards the end of the week it was time to plan my PR strategy and booked a lovely restaurant near Tower Bridge called Cantina del Ponte which had an excellent selection of Italian dishes and the friendliest service I’ve experienced in a while.
The views were to die for.
On Saturday I booked a front row ticket for the open air theatre at Opera Holland Park and of course it rained, for a change. However, that added to the atmosphere on the Zanetto/Gianni Schicchi double bill: during an emotional rendition of Puccini’s O mio babbino caro, you could hear the rain pouring outside.
One of my massage clients was performing in the orchestra and neither of us knew we were going to be there, which was a nice surprise.
Talking of surprises, I spotted TV personality Gok Wan in the audience and he tweeted this picture with Opera Holland Park’s general manager Mike Volpe and producer James Clutton.
Finally, on Sunday I gave gorgeous blogger Lilinha (see Lilinha’s interview for Energya) a well deserved massage.