This post is by my daughter, Izzy, who went Interrailing two years ago. It was the first time that she’d travelled abroad without an adult and I was a bit fretty about it, but it was a great experience for her. I wrote a post about how I felt when she left: What to do when your teen goes travelling for the first time. […]
10 easy ways to use less plastic and help save the world
Plastic is an endlessly versatile and useful product. It’s found all over the place, from supermarket carrier bags and food packaging to contact lenses and clothing. But the cost of our dependence on plastic is huge. Millions of tons of plastic waste end up in our seas every year, and it can be fatal to […]
On feeling trapped by motherhood
At the moment, I feel trapped by motherhood. This may surprise you, as my kids are both teenagers, and it’s generally accepted that the baby years are the hardest. But I really didn’t feel like this when my two were tiny. I love my kids unconditionally and would – literally – die for them. Becoming […]
7 great outdoor activities in the New Forest
If you’d like to have an outdoor adventure in the UK, the New Forest makes an excellent destination, as I found out on a trip there in January. The New Forest is a ruggedly peaceful National Park and you can reach it in just 90 minutes from London by train. Protected since William the Conqueror […]
8 reasons to visit Australia
Australia has always been on my travel bucket list, but it’s so very far away from the UK that I’ve not made it there yet. Australia is a continent as well as a country, and offers a myriad of marvellous experiences for travellers. Flight Centre have asked me to write about some of the many […]
The best London Gatwick Airport hotels
The top airport hotels offer a combination of comfort and convenience, and they can best provide that if they’re actually AT the airport. For me, the most important feature of an airport hotel is the ease with which you can walk from it to the departure gate when you’re half asleep. I’m not interested in […]
Winnie-the-Pooh exhibition, V&A, London
My nineteen year-old daughter and I popped in to London’s V&A last week to see Winnie-the-Pooh: Exploring a Classic. We’re both lifelong admirers of the famous bear and his friends, and have spent many happy hours exploring Ashdown Forest (for more on Ashdown Forest, read my post How to visit the places in the Winnie-the-Pooh […]
The one where I decide to apply for Italian citizenship
This week I started the process of applying for Italian citizenship and passports for me and for our two children. I’m sharing my experience here in case it’s helpful to you. But please bear in mind that I have no expertise in this area, and I’m not in any way telling you how to do […]
10 useful travel gift ideas
If you’re looking for gift inspiration for someone who likes travelling, I have some ideas for you. Cashmere poncho A soft warm poncho is a very useful thing when you’re travelling. You can use it as a scarf, blanket or pillow on your journey and also as an extra layer if you’re chilly but don’t […]
The Westin Resort, Costa Navarino review
As I watch the dogs run around in the early morning sun I think how happy and healthy they seem. I’m at Costa Navarino, a luxury resort in Greece. When I learnt that they take in injured and very young stray dogs, care for them and try to find them new homes, I asked if […]
