I'm full as I attended lunch hosted by Ian & Lise Manley at the Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa. I was sitting with such nice people - one of whom I can't name as she threatened me with social demise if I did.  The subject of Hilary Prendini's column in the March issue of Style came up with special reference to her report that the wine at The Consul to Monaco's dinner for their prince was sponsored.

John Wardall, editorial director at TIR, said when he had attended dinners at our embassies abroad they always served South African wine, which I think is the most appropriate. I think it rather un-chic and un patriotic that some diplomatic circles feel their budget doesn't allow them to use wine from their country of origin. Someone put it wryly in perspective when questioning the hype and fuss around Monaco: after all, they said,  many privately-held South African farms are bigger than the principality.

Annette Kesler, asserting her role as grande dame of our culinary circles looked fabulous in yellow. She said Liz (McGrath) must have been angry with my assertion (in my Cape Times review of Antique) that the pricing at her hotels was a snobbish way of keeping the rabble away. I have not heard from Mrs McGrath, nor do I expect to, but was pleased to have a call from the Cellar's new GM who introduced himself and whom I look forward to meeting.

 Justine Drake was there too, wearing the cutest pink heeled-sandals while Abigail Donnely, usually resplendent in pink herself, was in pared-down white to match her ever-shrinking figure. Libby Peacock, who is suffering from whooping cough, said she'd had vomaremia as a result of the cough when Justine joked what a good way that was of keeping slim - until she remembered her own battle with bulimia.  

Jill Wagner (marketing honcho for Bushman's Kloof) was to my left. We reminisced about 20 years ago when I was an 18-year old who decided to make the Cape Sun Hotel (where she worked as banqueting manager) my home. It is true to say that hotels are in my blood - my grandparents owned The Royal Hotel in Alice which was once favoured by the traveling salesmen and renowned for its excellent food. It was, however, only when I was seven or eight-years old that I realised how much I liked to be served. We went on a family holiday  to the Elangeni Hotel in Durban. Although mostly relegated to the children's dining room, one night I ate in the restaurant with my parents. The first time I dropped my napkin was an accident but soon after realising that a waiter would pick it up and replace it on my lap, I knew the power of the patron. My parents put a stop to this and I was told to behave or return to the children's dining room.

20 years on from The Cape Sun I'm putting everything I know  about enjoying luxury hotels (and all of my money) into my own. Sure, I'm starting with just one room, but - who knows, maybe  in 20 and 40 years to come my family will talk about The Chairman's Suite(s) at Mutual Heights in the same way as we do about the Mount Nelson or Ellerman House today. My hope is that it will be known as a grand, smart place and not as a derelict slice of once elegant life in Africa.

The Twelve Apostles has some smashing winter specials including a deal which I'll personally take up - dinner, movie, a night in one of their rooms and breakfast the following day for R595 per person sharing. 021-437-9000.