THE MAX FACTOR
An anticipated peaceful Christmas at home is invaded by Russians, but rises to the occasion and finds an island paradise a world away
WHAT A FANTASTIC year 2010 was. Looking back, it was filled with opportunity and adventure that took me to the four corners of the globe. Naturally, there’s always a price to pay, so by the time December rolled around, I was pretty exhausted and in sore need of some R&R.
Of course, when it comes to rest, there’s no place like home. So as the year wound up, I fled from freezing London, where I’d been performing, to my home in Los Angeles to take refuge and enjoy a quiet Christmas holiday. However, as is often the case, the best-laid plans don’t work out the way we envisage them and, as it transpired, my peace was about to be shattered. But shattered in the most wonderful of ways: four beautiful and very blonde Russian female friends flew over from Moscow to visit me for the holidays.
So, what I’d planned as a low-key, solitary Christmas ended up being a two-week rave. Plus, I had a never-ending stream of work to complete before the year’s end; so while the women explored the City of Angels by day, I remained home, frantically trying to wrap up my commitments. Each day they’d return at sunset, always a magical time in LA, having purchased an incredible array of zany costumes and fancy-dress outfits. And so for the remainder of the evening, we’d boogie the night away as I stationed myself at my home DJ booth, testing out all my latest tunes for my very appreciative and highly colourful audience.
Naturally, I was saddened when duty finally called and dragged me away for my final pre-New Year’s Eve gig. Having said that, my laments didn’t last too long as my engagement was on the stunning island of Phuket to play at the legendary Amanpuri. For years I’d heard my friends talk about this magnificent resort, so my expectations were understandably high. Having said that, nothing could have prepared me for the beauty and purity of this idyllic and unique place.
And nothing could have prepared me for the amount of familiar faces I encountered upon arrival, even though my host and dear friend, Ajai Zecha, whose wedding I’d had the honour of playing at, did everything possible to keep my performance a secret until the night. To my great amusement, he’d even checked me in at the resort under the pseudonym “John Smith.”
Of course, it’s often hard to keep a secret. Word got out prior to my arrival anyway – and by the time of the party a great many of our friends knew I’d arrived. But this did nothing to hamper our enjoyment of the evening, which, thanks to our host and the blinding set that I played, turned out to be memorable. So I had the good fortune to see in the New Year at an incredible resort surrounded by dear friends from all over the world, culminating in us staying up to watch the first sunrise of 2011.
All in all, I couldn’t have hoped for a better year’s end – and I toasted a new one filled with excitement and anticipation for all the adventures that await in the weeks and months ahead.
