Category: Travel and Lifestyle

Glasgow is renowned for its friendliness and has earned the title of one of the friendliest cities in the world. The friendliness of its residents has been acknowledged through various travel awards and surveys. While specific awards may vary, Glasgow consistently receives recognition for its warm and welcoming atmosphere, making it a visitor favourite. The city’s hospitality is often highlighted as a key factor in creating a positive and memorable visitor experience.

In October, my daughter and I embarked on a delightful adventure to the enchanting city of Edinburgh in October — a perfect haven for mid-lifers like me (but not my daughter!). Whether you’re planning a long weekend or a whole week, Edinburgh welcomes you with open arms. The city’s charm lies in its walkability and the well-connected bus routes, ensuring you won’t miss a beat.

In November 2023, my husband Tom and I embarked on our first-ever cruise with AmaWaterways, setting sail from Basel, Switzerland, with Amsterdam as our final destination. As self-proclaimed land lovers, the thought of a cruise with thousands of passengers had always been intimidating. But after experiencing a river cruise with AmaWaterways, we can confidently say that this is how cruising should be done as an introduction.

in:spa retreat, Chateau de Puissentut, France In September 2023, I was kindly invited to be a guest at one of the in:spa retreats at Chateau de Puissentut in Toulouse. I had been on two retreats before, so I kind of knew what to expect: good food, yoga, exercise, some downtime and all your day-to-day living is […]

Well, we’ve just returned from a week of beach hopping in northeast Sardinia, and oh my giddy gosh, the beaches are INSANELY beautiful. Nowhere I’ve been in Europe has come close to the glorious sparkling sand and sea.

The Beach Huts are located in Felpham, just outside Bogner Regis on the Sussex coast, and we drove to Worthing first to meet a friend I hadn’t seen for 40 years. If we had gone to Felpham directly from South West London, the drive would have taken 90 minutes. By train from London, Victoria, it’s also approximately 90 minutes.

We recently went on a beautiful eight-night and three-Greek island hop without our children. We are midlifers just enjoying time together, so this blog isn’t centred around family-friendly holidays or holidays with teenagers. All the Hellenes and other travellers we met were friendly, helpful and hospitable. Food plays a big part in our decision-making when we choose holiday destinations. We both love to eat and are up for trying most things, especially fish; we love to swim (in the sea) and walk; and have downtime to read and for Tom to sketch. I’m conscious that our holiday priorities may not be everyone else’s cup of tea.

My best friend Clare was up for it. We re-jigged our diaries, and then on Friday, 26 May 2023, we flew from London Gatwick to Palma. My friend Clare and I were still determining what to expect, although we follow The Body Camp on Instagram and had a good old nosy on their website and read the reviews. It’s safe to say that it was an utterly incredible experience on many levels and surpassed our expectations. So here’s my blog on my no-nonsense thoughts on my seven days away.

After reading ‘A Theatre for Dreamers’ by Polly Samson for book club, I knew I had to visit the island of Hydra as the book depicted the island most beautifully. Besides, I love some of Leonard Cohen’s songs. The island didn’t disappoint, and Hydra has my heart.

Embrace the vibrant atmosphere of Athens in April! From 9 to 19 degrees, our weather journey was unpredictable. But with a stroke of luck, sunshine blessed our days occasionally sprinkled with gentle rain.