CAPTURING THE PERFECT BABY PHOTO
We were invited to this baby photo shoot which included a complimentary printed image. Hands up if you are one of those mothers that takes all the pictures of your baby, every day?.. I suspect I’m not alone in that habit!? Our babies grow and change so quickly that each and every smile…
View PostUK SWIMWEAR: BEACH WARDROBE STAPLES
When you go on holiday with a baby there’s a lot of luggage… A hold bag full of his clothes and nappies… A hand luggage case with things that might be needed for the flight… Another hand luggage case full of milk and food (picked up at Boots airside)… A pushchair… A baby…
View PostFAMILY HOLIDAY AT RIXOS SAADIYAT ISLAND ABU DHABI
Rixos Saadiyat Island decisively changed my mind about all inclusive holidays… Since a less than luxury all inclusive break in Barbados many years ago the thought of staying in another all inclusive sprawling resort hadn’t been front of mind… Thankfully there’s a new breed of all inclusive: or as Rixos promote their luxury…
View PostA NIGHT IN LONDON – WITH A BABY
Roll the clock back six months and we’d stay in London every few weeks. A date night supper somewhere fancy and then we would use up a few accumulating hotel points for a free stay, to avoid our commute! Now however… A night in London is a holiday! Not necessarily relaxing. But a…
View PostSWAPPING SUITS FOR ACTIVEWEAR WITH UK LINGERIE
Swapping my job in the city for an even busier job as mummy meant a sea change in what I wear. No more pencil skirts, fitted dresses and high heels on a weekday and pretty little dresses or my trusty Levi’s at the weekend… No. That’s all packed away in boxes in the…
View PostTHE BABYMOON – TRIED AND TESTED
The babymoon – it’s fair to say we took a few… Not just the “last jam before the pram” before the arrival, but at regular intervals through 9 months of growing the baby. Our choices were around Baby P and to be sure I got the relaxing and de-stressing breaks I needed to…
View PostCHARMING COTSWOLDS STAY AT THE LYGON ARMS
We’ve been lucky enough to stay at the Chewton Glen and Cliveden House a number of times. There are few teams and hotels that know hospitality better. I have for a long time been wary of what’s on offer hotel-wise in the Cotswolds as much of it looks a bit like Little London.…
View PostBELA VISTA HOTEL RESTAURANT AND SPA, THE ALGARVE
When I stumbled across the Bela Vista hotel whilst hunting for special places to stay in the Algarve, I saw photos of the most incredible hexagonal stained glass bathroom. I didn’t quite make the booking on just the basis of this one room but it was a factor… As was the dreamy pool! Quite…
View PostVILACAMPINA GUESTHOUSE, THE ALGARVE
The symmetrical white-washed moorish architecture and the lone tall palm tree. The remote rural location. The simple and peaceful blue and white pool. Vilacampina has you at hello. It’s a dreamy contemporary villa, the kind you wish someone in the family owned outright! But with the benefits of a hotel thrown in. The perfect…
View PostP&P RECOMMENDED: LONDON HOTEL DIRECTORY
If we stay in London then it’s normally got something to do with work. Or to break up the commuting week. As stays are mainly for work they err on the practical and functional side of things. Sometimes though, we make a London date night of it and have been working our way around…
View PostAN INTIMATE SUPPER AT EVELYN’S TABLE
When you find a food style you enjoy… Stick to it. We were taken to Machneyuda when we were in Jerusalem. And to our delight, there’s a growing list of restaurants in London run by the same group. I’m pleased to say we have now enjoyed them all. Each slightly different, but all…
View PostP&P RECOMMENDED: OUR HOTEL DIRECTORY
It is fair to say I can be fussy when it comes to choosing a hotel. Which does mean if we have stayed somewhere we liked, then it comes recommended! Way back in 2015 there was a travel link-up theme about places we can’t get out of our head. In 2015 I picked 6…
View PostRELAXED WEEKENDING AT TIMBRELL’S YARD
We booked our stay at Timbrell’s Yard after I made a shock discovery… Mr P was away for over half of February with work and he also had a ski holiday and weekend in Cape Town squeezed in. In a very first world way, with no trips planned, I was feeling hard done…
View PostSUBLIME STAY AT QUINTA DA CASA BRANCA
Arrival at Quinta da Casa Branca is at the highest point within the grounds and there is immediate wow factor. Just metres from the city hubbub, yet shielded from the noise and urban surroundings. All you can see (and smell) are the beautiful tropical gardens and the manor house in its perfectly romantic setting.…
View PostBOTANICAL STAY AT QUINTA JARDINS DO LAGO
A quinta is a Portuguese country estate, typically on the outskirts of town. Inside the walls you find a manor house at the centre, surrounded by beautiful gardens and either a wine or banana plantation for good measure. Space and tranquility in a city. What better place for a boutique hotel. Exactly the…
View PostWinchester Dining: Club Epicure
The concept of a supper club is entirely new to me. As (let’s be honest these days) is going out on a work night! So it was quite the occasion last week when we trundled off to a private home in Winchester for our very first supper club. Let me introduce Club Epicure,…
View PostA treehouse retreat: elegance and luxury at the Chewton Glen
“It’s definitely a treehouse” Mr P squeaked at me last Friday! Since the opening in 2012, I have been lusting after a stay. The Chewton Glen has long been our favourite place to squirrel away near home for some quality RnR. But we have never stayed in the trees. Until now! I didn’t…
View PostAmberlair: world’s first crowdfunded boutique hotel
We all know that I love a boutique hotel… But how about one where the target customer is involved in its design and funding… Enter Amberlair! An inspired idea – the world’s first crowdfunded boutique hotel! Can you imagine just how perfect and truly boutique a hotel designed by boutique lovers could be? The…
View PostAstor Grill at Cliveden House
Where has the time gone since we were special guests at Cliveden House? Somehow I neglected to write my post about the charming Astor Grill. It’s one of those places that I wish was just at the end of my road at home. Maybe just a little bit further away, for a nice stroll through the countryside?…
View PostAirbnb in Greece: a Crete retreat
We almost didn’t go to Greece this summer. We had toyed with the idea a while ago. But it was too hard to choose the island, expensive flights, a plethora of accommodation choices… It was in the too difficult category. Then a friend mentioned he had booked an enormous villa and they had plenty of…
View Post10 things: to eat in London
My travel style is discreet and homely. It follows that my food taste would be similar. Working in London, on and off for ten years and more solidly over the last theee, has been a fun foodie discovery. There is such a choice and something for all tastes. Hidden amongst the big brand…
View PostBritish Airways: fasten your seatbelts for turbulence
[parallax-scroll id=”6432″] I’ve always flown British Airways. They’ve always had the best choice of routes out of the UK. Until recently they were genuinely good too. I’ve sat next to royalty before, it wasn’t just my view! These days I’d almost happily take the gimmicks of Virgin Upper or the lack of a…
View PostThe Telegraaf Hotel: a boutique stay in Tallinn
[parallax-scroll id=”6422″] When we visited Tallinn in April we were rather impressed! A gorgeous medieval town unspoilt by tourism and some excellent places to stay! The Telegraaf was our base. It is a boutique hotel located on the edge of the old town. When we stayed it was part of Small Luxury Hotels. It’s now…
View PostLisbon city retreat: Palacio Ramalhete
We arrived at our Lisbon palacio at 12.01. I know this because I glanced at my watch. The sun was ‘past the yard arm’ and I gladly accepted a welcome glass of bubbles. It was pouring with rain outside, this was the bottled sunshine for the day. Our room at Palacio Ramalhete wasn’t…
View PostBoutique seaside stay: Villa Cascais
We flew to Lisbon, straight from a busy week at work in need of a chilled few days. In fact Mr P met me at the airport having just flown in from Sweden, so it was nice just to see him! Perfect timing – so jetset, meeting in the lounge ? BA in…
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