The day I went to Top Gear

On the 21st of February, 2009, I went to Top Gear Live! with Daddy.

It was amazing because four motor bikes were in a sphere driving at the same time (they were French drivers) and Mark Hammond said "if they crashed they would be French Fries!".

And cars were playing football - they made Hong Kong win ... on purpose.

And I saw a Bugatti which was stunning. And had a ride on a Segway which was very hard because you were the machine - because you have to lean forward to make it go forward and lean backwards to go backwards and turn left to go left and turn right to go right.

There was also a game where you had to shout to make the car go faster and show a green sign to make it turn right and a red sign to make it go left.

Finally, we saw The Stig driving a Lotus Exige and a 3D helicopter which was trying to shoot the car.

It was very cooool.

Billy

Photos of our office exterior: New Delhi

I love going to India. So much to see. Totally new experiences. But such a contrast - very rich immediately alongside very poor. Sometimes it's all a bit overwhelming -- a shock to all of the senses.

These pictures are of the approach into our offices in New Delhi (we're above where it says FMCC in the top picture). On the immediate pathway into the offices, one has to pass several shanty huts. By no means the poorest dwellings in India - but enough of a contrast to make you think.

M

Proud owner of a 'Rob and Nick Carter'

Years ago, I bought a photograph from a-then budding new artist called Rob Carter. (X-ray seahorse). Specialising in 'painting with light', since then, Rob and his wife Nick have become quite famous artists - collected by all sorts of folks (Elton John; Matthew Williamson etc) ... and now us!

I saw one of R&N's spiral light artworks in a Cork Street gallery about 4 years ago and hankered after one ever since -- but they were well out of my price range. Sadly thanks to the recession and the weak pound, they're a bit more affordable these days.

After a bit of negotiation (thanks to Asia for those newly acquired skills), I managed to acquire one -- 'Colour Changing Spiral' (2005)' -- flown in via TNT from the UK, it arrived this week in a HUGE packing crate .... weighing 750kg, the poor delivery guy had to single handedly lift (drag!) it up the 6 flights of stairs (60 steps) to our apartment. Charged us an extra $200 (£18) for that! Well-earned in my book -- took him 35 mins!

The boys enjoyed killing the oceans of bubble wrap and were not really interested in the picture!

Rob and Nick Carter work together to create what they describe as ‘images without cameras and paintings without brushes’, their stunning abstract images result from their method of working, the image is gradually created in complete darkness by applying increments of light directly to sensitised paper. Each artwork is the result of hours of painstaking labour and is entirely unique. The vibrant, high gloss colours and pop sensibility provoke an immediate visual response from the viewer - a roller coaster ride for the eye and perception.

Private collectors include Elton John, David and Victoria Beckham, Simon Fuller, Philip Treacy and Mathew Williamson, and their work is in the corporate collections of many large companies including The Virgin Group, Sainsbury’s PLC, Absolut Vodka and Reuters.

During negotiations with the gallery, I took a punt at writing to the artists about the picture and the longevity of the cibachrome it's printed on. To my surprise (and delight), Rob wrote back to me ... said he remembered the image and it was a good one and that it should last for a long time. He also invited me to visit their studio in Acton when we're next back in the UK. Finally, he sent me a copy of his book: 'Travelling Still'. What a great guy!

So, next time I get some spare cash, I'll fork out on 'Hong Kong II' in the Travelling Still series.

M

Seahorse image: Getty

I thought this image was faked when I first saw it. But no. Amazing!

(Photo: Reuters)

The feet of monk Hua Chi are seen close to the footprints made by him by praying at the same spot for decades at a monastery near Tongren, Qinghai province. Before sunrise, he arrives at the temple steps, placing his feet onto the footprints as he bends down to kowtow a few thousand times.

M