Always leave them wanting more.

"She's a mysterious girl and I think that ladies like her who have a mystery – where there's something hiding beneath the surface – are the really interesting ones."

There can be no prestige without mystery, for familiarity breeds contempt. 

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A lesson in perspective...

Q: Are you Naughty or Nice?

A: Depends on you


I don't give my card out to just anybody.


I once learnt that some reporters write out their stories in a secret code - a shorthand - that they can only read. I use a theory of that to store phone numbers in code names on my phone to protect my contacts and to jot down important key pieces of information in a language unique to me. I discuss the Voynich Manuscript and Leonardo da Vinci; Cryptanalysis, code-breaking and shorthand with my friends...

The question and answer above is meant for a reflection based lesson. It works only for those that think outside the box. The ones that can touch the stars. The ones sending us to outer space.


If you don't recognize the exact card from which I am quoting and referring to, I have attached a hint below.

I don't give this card to just anybody.

Are you naughty or nice?

This concludes a small lesson in judgement.

Post is dedicated to the lovely Cayman's Island. Special note to the play on words.

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The air up here

Heli-skiing in Beautiful British Columbia

You know a sport is dangerous when...

Play safe.

Ashley Hughes enjoying an afternoon in the helicopter

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Quintessentially Emirati

Ashley Hughes and little falcon in the desert in UAE

If one is looking for a royal activity, observing or flying falcons in the Arabian desert is the sport.

Ashley Hughes Vancouver, Lady Ashley Hughes Vancouver, photographs, business, investments, consultant, international, real, of vancouver,  Falcons vs. Pigeons at French Open: Officials at the French Open have had it with pigeon droppings. The slimy deposits can alter how balls bounce on the courts, not to mention the mess is just unpleasant. So the tennis organization has introduced some avian competition: falcons. Eight falcons with knife-like claws and soaring speeds were released at Roland Garros to take on the pesky pigeons. Despite the falcons' killer reputation, officials claim they're just hoping the birds of prey will scare off the pigeons -- not necessarily kill them. Indeed pigeons have already cleared out, but falconer Ludwig Verchatse says that doesn't mean they'll stay away, explaining, "pigeons are stupid. They don't transmit the information to their friends." Expect the falcons to become a long-term fixture at the courts. Talented, regal birds of prey.

Dunebunny.

Ashley Hughes kicking back, relaxing and enjoying the view.  Dune buggy racing in the desert is hard work.

The third element.

The third element of the periodic table is Lithium.

I would like to introduce you to a place where heaven meets the earth - Salar de Uyuni: the salt flats of Bolivia.

When wet, they are the most reflective surfaces in the world. As these are the flattest surfaces on the face of the planet, satellites use these salt flats to recalibrate their positioning in orbit. It is home to something wondrous. It's where flamingos migrate and breed. Imagine the worlds most reflective place, mirroring multitudes of brilliant pink flamingos.

But a special plea to all Governments, Uyuni has 50-70% of the worlds supply of lithium. It rests in the brine from which the flamingos feed. Please take care when recovering what is proving to be an extremely valuable resource. For our iPhones, cameras, computers, electronics... they all use lithium.

This post is dedicated to Kevin O'Leary  and Frank Anderson.

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Bolshoi

Ashley Hughes drinking champagne from chocolate red-soled heels

I am thinking of going back east to catch the Bolshoi ballet in Toronto later this month. Every time I see the Bolshoi ballet, I have a fleeting visual of Russian men drinking vodka out of ballet slippers...



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Nine dragons

Zhang Yin (or Cheung Yan as she is called in Cantonese), runs one of the worlds most successful paper recovering and container board manufacturing businesses. She started the company with her savings of $3,800. Today, nearly 17 years after its founding, the company turns over business worth $3.8 billion. Dragon Lady Yin and her behemoth pulp "recycling" company Nine Dragons paper, is a true tale of trash-to-treasure. Nine dragons is symbolic of " highest fortune", something that this self made billionairess can relate too.

Burberry's joined the billionaire club

Burberry has joined a league of fashion heavyweights that includes Prada, Gucci and Louis Vuitton as a billion-pound label. "We are the only global luxury goods brand from Britain," the label's finance director Stacey Cartwright told the Evening Standard. "We are unique and we are balanced across clothing and leather goods. Our other difference is our focus on digital. Shoppers can buy straight from the catwalk with iPads in stores and we now have more than 12 million Facebook fans." The luxury British brand has reached record sales of £1 billion in the past six months - an increase of 18 per cent, thanks to a boost in the British, French and Chinese markets.

In a previous post I mentioned Lakshmi Mittal, which got me thinking about PPR - formerly Pinault-Printemps-Redoute - as it's another holding company I like.

Project Glass: One day soon.

People are always asking me what I personally invest in. Bet your bottom dollar technology is paramount.

Lakshmi Mittal

Vanadium, steel rebar... Mental notes

Diamonds may be a girls best friend... but Diamond mines are a lady's.

Kimberlite indicator minerals (KIMs): Finding tiny crystals of chromium diopside and pyrope garnets on the earth's surface is a good indicator that diamond crystals could have been forced through the mantle.

As you may know by now, I try to be diplomatic. I am also a proud Canadian who chooses to promote conflict free issues. Therefore, this post is dedicated to Chuck Fipke and Stuart Blusson for the contribution of one of the worlds man-made wonders, Diavik (and Ekati) diamond mines.

Diamond indicator minerals in kimberlite.

Diavik diamond mine in Canada.

Just wondering how long diamond mines last? Till they run out of diamonds? Then what?

Pinky.

She is both of my favourite colours....  Pinky & Goldman.

She will probably beat you in golf.

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Not all those who wander are lost.

Ashley Hughes wandering about the desert in the middle east.

In case you haven't heard Mohammed al-Fayed (you may be familiar with his son Dodi), has sold the Harrods store to Qatar Holdings for a reported 1.5 billion pounds ($2.3 billion). I enjoy grabbing Harrods loose leaf tea whenever at the London airport. I had some this morning and it reminded me of another holding company I try to follow... the exotic al-Thani family's Qatar Holdings. The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), has a 20% stake in the London Stock Exchange and Harrods; as well as substantial holdings in Barclays Bank; slightly over 9% in Hochtief; Credit Suisse, 17% in Volkswagen and 10% in Porsche. Looks like the al-Thani family has a profitable future. 

The CEO of the Board of Directors of the Qatari state fund, Qatar Holdings, is Ahmad Mohamed Al-Sayed. This 35 year old international student has studied law and business acumen in Doha, Boston, New York and Paris. 

Another thing I found interesting was much of the natural gas now used to power the UK, is from Qatar. It is shipped as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), into Milford Haven, Pembrokeshir, Whales, before being piped to Gloucestershire for further distribution.  

 A little bird told me about tile and cement. hint hint wink wink

I love to travel. It is a key information medium for the business elite and ensures development of personal rapport. 


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You don't buy a yacht, you build one.

Citadel.  A place of refuge, safety.

I don't know about you, but the first thing I inquire about before I spend any lengthy time on a vessel is where my citadel is.

Another word you may know it by, panic room.

It is safe to say that if you are going to be on a luxury mega yacht, its best to assume the worlds wealthy are spending millions on specialized trained personnel, some even British SAS (SIS) / MI5 or 6.... and military-style James Bond technology.

A citadel is basically a hidden chamber on a vessel with food and water; telephones and radios; some even have toilets... basically the necessities for survival.

With no welding and minimal need for specialist equipment or training, the room offers ballistic and blast protection, smoke screen technology, and can keep a crew of 2-24 people safe for up to 5 days with ship to shore communication.

Even more extravagant is the "escape pod" - a submarine that is ready at all times to ferry those on board away to safety. The submarines are mostly used as a leisure addition on super yachts, but there are no denying the benefits of these dual purposed luxury items.

The Nautilus VAS Luxury Submersible is perfect for exploring and is a great escape if pirates are after you. The best part is you can listen to music on its stereo and use the minibar to fix yourself a dirty martini - shaken, not stirred. A steal for only $2.7 million, especially next to Paul Allen's 40 foot submersible. 

Ashley Hughes rests briefly after walking all around a megayacht. 

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Stealthy stake building of Bernard Arnault.

Ashley Hughes stands before the gardens of Newton Vineyards in Napa Valley. A lady always brings a scarf to wrap around her shoulders as temperatures can dip in the valley.

I have always had a special place in my heart for luxury goods. Ever since I spent the afternoon at Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton's (LVMH) vineyard Newton in California, I kept a close eye on their business and acquisitions. I was saddened when they engulfed one of my favourite brands Bvlgari, for 3.7 billion euros ($5.2 billion) in March of 2011, but I know Bvlgari is in good hands. After all, 2 members of the Bvlgari family now get seats on the board of LVMH.

I am a cautious investor in luxury stocks overall, but I am keeping an eye out on the Hermes / LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton saga. LVMH's 22% stake in Hermes International could be priceless over the long haul. The brand sets itself apart from the other leather luxury goods, there is a genuine demand for their products and the luxury industry is basically in the infancy of growth in places like China. Hermes and LVMH headlines have garnered a lot of attention as a recruitment story, but Hermes's holding company capital structure can assist the family and future generations and allow them to remain independent, at least over the 15-20 year view. 

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Informed. International. Inspired.

From left to right: Greg Fabbro, Ashley Hughes and Chris Bamford at the Illuminismo Conversation Series in Vancouver for a presentation by Dr. Zbignew Brzezinski, Former US National Security Advisor.

People are always asking me about my travels and conversations with interesting people around the world. I actively seek out mentors and teachers to learn from along my journey. I also like to keep myself  educated with current events.

A perfect example of an informative evening was the time I was fortunate enough to attend a presentation by Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski, former US National Security Advisor and National Security Advisor to Barack Obama, to address us at a $500 dollar per person event. Dr. Brzezinski was speaking for the Illuminismo Series from the Fraser Institute on the evening of Monday September 29th.

The Illuminismo Series invitation reveals the idea has its roots in the Age of Reason and reflects the radical intellectual upheaval of the 17th and 18th centuries when individuals, amidst newly emerging freedoms, used reason and scientific approach to inquire into the nature of knowledge.

The guests were invited by the Illuminismo Co-Chairs Hassan and Nezhat Khosrowshahi. The series has brought such speakers as Karl Rove, Richard Dawkins and Mark Steyn and brought Afghanistan's Fawzia Koofi to Vancouver in 2011.

en sof aur

http://www.fraserinstitute.org/

Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski

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Upper Echelon, strategic and international studies

Fascinating.

Lady-like! Ashley Hughes poses briefly at a horserace donning a fascinator. Regal and royal combined.

http://www.arturorios.com/

http://www.philiptreacy.co.uk/

Please note, as of 2012 hats only for ladies for the Royal Ascot.

 Dubai World cup still allows fascinators. 

Ladies, looks like a perfect excuse to go shopping.

Oh and by the way, I handmade this fascinator under the amazing tutelage of a saucy milliner. Bespoke, couture and one of a kind.

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Upper Echelon, strategic and international studies


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Overcoming fear of judgement

Ashley Hughes is never afraid of getting a little dirty, as long as it involves constant change and internal growth. Sowing seeds for my future.

Have you heard of ‘tall poppy syndrome’?

It’s that social tendency which sees high achievers – ‘tall poppies’ – as standing ‘above the crowd’ somehow; and it cuts them down to size. And if it’s taken root in your patch, it can make it tricky for you to strive. To grow. To dare to put yourself out there in the world and try your best at what you’re passionate about. For it can be a pretty potent motivator to stay small…safe…(silent, even).


Tall poppy syndrome (TPS) is a pejorative term primarily used to describe a social phenomenon in which people of genuine merit are resented, attacked, cut down, or criticised because their talents or achievements elevate them above or distinguish them from their peers. Basically, a tall poppy is a successful person or achiever who, as a result, is the target of jealousy and grudging remarks.


The goal is to make everyone the same, but the result is no one strives to be great or believes that change is possible.

I wouldn't want to be a part of a world where no one strives to be great...

Liquid gold

"Even an emperor, denied water, would swiftly turn to dust. Water is the real monarch and we are all its slaves." - The Enchantress of Florence