Casa Bella’s Devil’s Dinner party’s naked truth
So, what do Devils, semi naked men and a lot of scandalous revelations all have in common?
Give up? Why, Casa Bella’s Devil’s Dinner Party of course!
Yes, it’s just a week after the event and my legs are only just recovering from the ordeal since what started out as a dinner party for friends turned into a major stage production, of the likes I haven’t produced in over a decade.
Casa Bella’s Devil’s Dinner Party, based on ITV Studio’s production for Sky Atlantic, featured a dinner party for friends and family but with a wicked twist; me as the devil asking some intimate, thought provoking and sometimes moral dilemma type questions. Each and every guest had a chance to sit in ‘the chair’ where a preprinted question on a card awaited them. The rest of the group had to correctly guess the answer based solely on what they knew or had learned about that person. Correctly guess the answer and they’d collectively add £10 for the ‘Devil’s Purse’ . The total amount accrued throughout the evening would then become the prize for the guest voted ‘most popular’ by all other guests. Needless to say that much was learned about all those convened!
As if the above above wasn’t sensational enough, I decided to go one step further for this event and actually hire a pair of topless waiters! My 
motivation (apart from the fact that I fancied a pair of good looking ‘devil’s helpers’ for the evening) was to see the look on the face of ours guests when the door was opened to them by a paragon of physical fitness minus his top! Of course, it had the desired effect and more. Even whilst ensconced in my room ( as the devil I was unable to consort with any of the guests on the evening), I could hear cries of surprise and sighs of approval. Although, what started out as just a bit of fun (and eye candy) turned into welcome helping hands. The boys were very professional and clearly had done this job many times before. They easily slipped into their roles as butlers for the evening, tendering to our guests, me and the dirty dishes in the kitchen! Hiring them (although I wasn’t sure at the time) was one of my best decisions, as the evening turned out to be quite hard to stage with an immense array of logistical actions; cards on stage, cards off, music on, music off, lights up, lights down, dishes in, dishes out, and so on! There’s no doubt that, for me, the evening went from dinner party to a stage production, and my legs certainly didn’t enjoy all the standing around, hence why I’d like to take a moment to express my deepest admiration and respect for all of you whose profession calls for much time on your feet!
That said, I am content that the evening appeared to be well received, with everybody getting into the spirit of things, to the point where, once started on a topic, not even the devil’s presence could stop the assembled guest’s debate, not even my deepest bellowing in my most guttural voice would scare them into silence (they obviously haven’t seen me angry). Secretly, I was happy; to me, there’s always been a certain sense of satisfaction at being the point of origin for a debate that really gets people talking, and when it includes the psychological element of getting to know each other then it’s even better.
I did miss not being able to mingle with friends/guests throughout the evening though. It was somewhat strange to see them all assembled but not be able to join them as me (for I was playing the role of Antonio, The Devil), at least not until the end of the evening when all questions were asked and the vote for ‘most popular guest’ had taken place.
Speaking of which, I was hoping that the results of the voting process this time might have turned out differently but, unsurprisingly, it did not, and I found myself recounting the voting forms but it was true; the guest voted ‘most popular’ and winner of the Devil’s purse (£50, out of a potential £130) was none other than my good friend, Mr Thomas Payne who took well to accentuating his everyday role of charmer and was quite blatantly seen ‘working’ the table throughout the evening. Tom’s charms were closely followed by friend and neighbour, Trevor Bartlett, who was second, and my lovely niece, Anna Pratt, who took 3rd place!
Although I guess the real drama of the evening came with my most poisonous question; one guest (in the actual words I used on the night) “like Judas in the garden of Gethsemane will turn traitor”, and indeed she did. My beloved Sandra Taylor-Wix was unlucky enough to select the ‘marked’ card which meant she had to publicly identify her most favourite and her least favourite guest of the evening. It was an agonising moment for Sandra who could feel the breath of the devil on her as she was pushed to make a decision. Eventually, she identified her close friend, my beloved sister, Francesca Marturano-Pratt as her least favourite guest (yes you can imagine how that went down) but Sandra had played a tactical move knowing that her good friend would forgive her (eventually) whilst somebody else (in the true spirit of the game) may have seen her ‘differently’. And so it was, by Sandra’s vote, Francesca became ineligible to win the Devil’s Purse. However, I wasn’t quite done with them yet. Before the night was over, the tables were turned again, when the devil (AKA me) gave Francesca a choice, I presented her with a sealed envelope, explaining that it contained a ‘gift’ or a ‘curse’. As the evicted guest, Francesca had a choice to take the envelope or pass it onto Sandra. Francesca chose to keep the envelope and naturally breathed a sigh of relief when it turned out to be a £20 Amazon gift voucher.
So, all’s well that ends well. Indeed, everybody appeared to have fun and, as always, love the food that was, this time, lovingly served by our 
topless butlers which, if Francesca has any say, will most likely make a reappearance at one of our next events, interestingly I believe it’s their ability to clear up and wash dishes and not their looks that may be her motivation. 
I, on the other hand, was glad for the help ‘back stage’ but most importantly that we managed to pull off yet another Casa Bella event, probably one of the most ambitious? And yes, I know that I say that most of the time but I guess that’s because each one brings its own challenges. This one, more so because I don’t believe buying a new company and trying to ‘stage’ a dinner party event are compatible. Indeed, I went into this party with some trepidation for I knew it had not received the same level of attention as most of the other dinner parties. I really struggled ‘learning my lines’, in fact, I would say that it would have been safer simply to edit my whole script and replace most words for that ever useful F one. God (or should that be my niece and my sister?) knows, I used it enough times during rehearsals.
There are way too many photos but if you’re interested in seeing more, then visit and LIKE Casa Bella’s Facebook page and, who knows, next time, it could be you!
Get paid for suggesting a winning company name!
Are you a visionary? A creative person? Or simply an ideas person?
Well, if you’re any of those, I know a company that might be interested in hearing from you. The company is looking to expand and is on the hunt for the ideal name with which to brand its new division, oh and they’re willing to pay for it!
All you need to do is come up with a name, it can be modern, ancient, Latin, Greek or even a winning acronym but it needs to evoke some if not all of the following keywords and inspire potential clients as well as its staff!
The keywords are:
- Technology
- Business Software
- Starting Anew
- Forward Thinking
- Professional
- Experienced
- Capable
- Fresh Approach
- In Safe Hands
- Powerful
- Masterful
- Insightful
- Leaders in their field
- Visionary
Failing that, if you think you simply have a ‘cool’ company name, send it over, who knows!
Get your thinking caps on. The company will pay you for the winning company name. However, it must also have an available domain (website name). Come up with a winning logo and you’ll double your fee. We’re talking hundreds here, not pounds and not thousands! 
Send your suggestions to the undersigned and I’ll be sure to steal them, I mean pass them on! Fear not, I don’t qualify to play this one. I’ll be sure to put your suggestions forward and will feedback to each and everyone.
So, what are you waiting for? It’s good money for an ounce of inventive creativity.
Suggestions must be received by the end of March 2012.
Good luck and happy creative!
Love or Loathe Valentines Day?
What does Valentines Day mean to you? Does it make you feel warm and fuzzy? Duty bound or blatant sour faced and cynical?
So, was Saint Valentines the saint of lurve? Well, not quite. February 14th was first known for honouring Martyrs, such as Saint Valentine, it is believed as far back as 496. Valentine’s day actually first became associated with ‘love’ in the middle ages when the tradition of ‘courtly love’ became, well, traditional. By the 15th century, it had evolved into the day when lovers expressed their love by presenting gifts, amongst other things, to their loved ones. 
Fast forward several centuries and not much has changed apart from the face that Valentines Day has evolved into a multi billion pound industry. Cards, confectionery, flowers, clean and filthy trips away, jewellery, fancy meals, cologne, perfume, gadgets….phew, I could go on for a while but you get my point. Not unlike Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Cat’s Day, Dog’s Day and every other ‘day’ you can think of, Valentine’s day is serious chi ching time for certain industries.
Of course this all sounds somewhat cynical but you can’t help but feel that this ‘day’ thing has been nurtured by global enterprise to give the economies of respective companies a quick commercial shot in the arm whilst applying the pressure to everyday folk who, in a materialistic world, feel obliged to part with their cash for fear of ‘upsetting’ somebody.
The stoical among us would say that such vacuous displays of affection do not define a relationship, and there is some truth to that argument as it’s synonymous with those that argue that any display of affection should be spontaneously felt as it is administered throughout the whole year and not solely when the calendar dictates. And who can argue with that? Would you much rather be showered with gifts on Valentines Day or would you settle for simply being treated with ‘right’ and with respect for the rest of the year.
The smug see today as an opportunity to troupe the colour red or, more specifically, to parade their latest offerings in an almost tribal display of prowess; behold my possessions! And I’m not talking about the gift itself but about the person from whom the gift originated, for this person is a conquest in itself and to exhibit such a conquest is not a practice exclusively reserved for Valentines Day. Then again, is it such a terrible practice? E.g. if that person had been single for a long time and now has found the partner of his or her dreams who treats them like proverbial royalty and makes them feel so special then why shouldn’t they crow about it? Surely they’ve earned the right to after wandering for what felt like centuries, as love destitutes, through a baron landscape of a single’s wilderness. Maybe.
So what about ‘the singles’? How are they fairing on the this day of red parades? Well, some worse than others these select few are subject to their own parade of shame, and it’s that of failure. Men are particularly susceptible to this; indeed to be a straight male and not have girly on your arm arm always prompts a few questions as well as a re-branding to gay, a playboy or sociopath. It couldn’t just be of course that this male simply enjoys being single and living his life as he chooses without the need to ‘check in’ with a significant other for now.
Not unlike Christmas and New Years, Valentines Day has the unique way of making some singles feel rotten about themselves and their lives. The reality is singles are much better off than many who are in a stagnant relationship (some of them ardent red paraders) that died many months if not years before but they simply don’t have the guts and, often, the opportunity to leave. By guts, I mean they’re terrified of wandering the aforementioned wilderness, terrified of being alone, and have settled with the idea that it’s better to be with somebody than with nobody.
Really? 
Is this how you want to spend the rest of your life? Stuck in something, whatever that may be, than nothing? This is your life, every second you wish away, every moment that you waste on something that gives you nothing is a waste of your time on this earth. Surely you’re worth much more than that, aren’t you? The same is of those who are ‘trapped’ in a property investment or to a relationship for the sake of somebody else , whether that be their partner or indeed their children. If our society has taught us anything, it’s that children live a much healthier life with parents are who relatively content with their existence yet separated than with those that spend the majority of their time together squabbling over the ridiculous.
Whatever your relationship status on this Valentines Day remember one thing; relationships, like the tide, come and go. What remains are the humans who are true to you, be it family, your best friends or indeed your life partner of many years. The humans who, no matter what, stick with you through the good times and the bad, for rich and for poor, in sickness and in health. And no, that phrase doesn’t apply exclusively to husbands and wives but to all of those who prove to be our source of strength even in the most darkest of times. It’s these people who are the true riches of your life, not the material or even the carnal pleasures you’ve amassed along the way.
Love is not one person but it is your life; the air you breath, the colours you see, and that ability to look back at your short existence on this earth and LOVE what you see.
Happy Valentines Day.
Living with the devil; a true story of narcissism
” Those suffering from narcissism will often show signs of excessive (often erotic) interest in themselves. Does this sound like somebody you know or knew?”
We’ve all experienced bad relationships, and it doesn’t matter whether these are personal or professional, the net result is the same; emotional turmoil. I’m no exception. A few years ago, a personal six year relationship came to an abrupt and traumatic end.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it recession…
It’s here!
The snow and me of course… bet I can guess which one you’re most excited about!
There’s just something about the snow isn’t there that brings out the child in us? What’s that all about? For most of us, not trapped in it one way or another, waking up to a blanket of snow has a unique way of making us smile. It’s like a long lost friend; who can only visit every once in a while and can’t stay, or like a cold baptism, cleansing away all the grime of everyday life with its white, virginal goodness. Or is it simply because it reminds of when we were young, carefree and fearless. Whatever your reason, enjoy our new visitor for he won’t be staying long.
So, it’s been a while… have you missed me? 
I apologise for my absence but it’s been a busy two weeks, I don’t think my eyes have left my laptop screen. Ever since buying CGA and becoming Managing Director two weeks ago, life has been a relentless series of meetings and late nights (and by late I mean early mornings). CGA has just launched a new website (what? you haven’t seen it? Check it out here) but I think, thank God, that things may be starting to ease up as far as getting some of the urgent formalities signed off. Now, I can turn my attention to actually running the business, oh and Casa Bella’s Devil’s Dinner party which is in just two weeks! Follow the latest developments on that on our Facebook page here.
Considering the above, I haven’t actually had much time to watch the news but I’m sure I caught a segment telling me that we’re on the brink of another recession. Another one? Really? I didn’t even notice we’d emerged from the one that’s been lingering, like a bad smell, for the past two years. What is it with the news and the perpetual tales of misery anyway? In fact television newscasters must be the only personalities in history that start off a sentence with “good evening” and then proceed to tell you why it isn’t!
I guess you can’t really blame them because if it wasn’t a constant stream of misery, the cynics would probably bitch that the news is just gooey diatribe, not so dissimilar to soap operas, or is that Saturday night programming? I forget.
The reality is that no matter what you’re fed by the news, by your family or anybody in your circle of acquaintances, life is ultimately about what you make of it (and yes, I know that sounds like the aforementioned gooey trite stuff but it’s true). We all have ups and downs, good times, bad times, bliss and worry but it’s how we deal with it that counts. Yes, we’re in a recession, so what? It’ll just mean we’ll have to tighten our belts yet another notch, constantly talking about it won’t change a thing… if anything, the perpetual scaremongering is only going to force us further into the abyss as terrified consumers will try to cling onto their reserves of cash for even longer.
Actions speak louder than words. Talk is cheap and all that. We can’t influence the theory, we can only work on the facts which roughly translates to there’s nothing constructive in worrying about something that may not happen, and if it has happened then it’s how we deal with it that really will make the difference.
In the meantime, let’s all just make the most of what we have… like our long lost friend who has finally decided to pay us a visit. Now’s the time to make the most of him before he melts away and is here no longer.
Have a great Sunday!
