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. 

Ashley Hughes, Ashley Hughes Vancouver, Lady Ashley Hughes, Lady Ashley Hughes Vancouver, 

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.

"the main marketing man", Virgin, Richard Branson Vancouver, Ashley Hughes Vancouver, Marketing, SEO, Sir Richard Branson, Lady Ashley Hughes     

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

Ashley Hughes, Ashley Hughes Vancouver, Lady Ashley Hughes, Lady Ashley Hughes Vancouver, skiing, vail, beaver creek, aspen, whistler, helicopter, heli-skiing

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.

Ashley Hughes Vancouver, Ashley Hughes Consulting, Ashley Hughes, Lady Ashley Hughes, Lady Ashley Hughes Vancouver, international business, Environment, Lady Ashley Hughes Environmental Consulting, 

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...



Ashley Hughes Vancouver, Ashley Hughes Consulting, Ashley Hughes, Lady Ashley Hughes, Lady Ashley Hughes Vancouver, international business, Environment, Lady Ashley Hughes Environmental Consulting, 

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