Tough work JK, but someone has to do it.

While, mark our words, ITK doesn't even know that British Men & Women are the finest fighting and workforce in the world.

When not mislead and mismanaged by well balanced Tories; with chips on both shoulders.

Quote tough German troops on never-say-day UK Tommies mislead by arrogant officers: " They Are Lions, Lead By Donkeys!"

Welcome home, from a near miss in Morocco.

O lucky bastard.
you may as well flaunt it and rub it in to all your detractors.

Oh how I would love to visit Morocco again (been 15 years)but I just met a very grand hotel owner from Marrakesh who despairs that it is becoming a clone of almost every Mediterranean holiday spot. Your views ?

Marrakech now very expensive (land and property prices on a par with Paris and London)... some terrific shopping malls on a standard equal to those cities... but still great atmosphere and it's a gorgeous city. The culture and people remain essentially Arabic/Berber which, if you love those as I do, are still fabulous.

I met friends there and showed them around - they adored it (first time for them both).

The wonderful thing about Morocco (I plan to make several TV series on it and North Africa) is that most cities are totally different from each other. Marrakech is unlike Fes (Taroudannt is like Marrakech was 40 years ago), Rabat is totally unlike Tangiers, Casablanca is like New York where Meknes is a village... I cannot recommend it highly enough.

My friends (a couple) were inspired to try it after reading my Three Months diary from last year and Lynn Barber also said her favourite thing about the book was seeing how much I love North Africa.

And another friend heads for Tunisia next month after reading it.

Like Hedda, it is now 15 years since I was in Morocco - I spent some 4 months travelling from Tangiers down through Tetouan, Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, Essaouira, Taroudant and Agadir. Like JK, I found each place had it's own identity and differences. Above all, I found the Moroccans - especially the Berbers, very friendly and great company. I was amazed at being 'approached' by young men around 18-23 at every stop, and although I appreciated that homosexuality was illegal in Morocco, the persuasive and attractive young men were irresistible.
I fear that Morocco may have changed so much that my memories would be spoiled by returning.

fabulous houses ?...on my last visit I had dinner at Mde de Gaulle's in her amazing house in the medina..hidden behind an old wooden door and opening up into a small palace..and the next night...at Yves St Laurent's sensational villa with it's sunken garden and a dozen young Arab waiters wearing starched white jackets and holding silver trays...pure magic and all from a chance meeting with some mad Italian queens in a cafe a few days before...but alas...I doubt any of this is possible anymore

the shopping malls you speak of..that is exactly what my grand Italian friend who owns the beautiful La Maison Arabe simply hates...what is the point he says if you can find the same shops in Paris and Rome as in Morocco...and I agree.

It's the same with Asia now. Every city has a dozen shopping centres that are clones of each other.

JK might love it though if he feels at home in Westfield !