2018 TRAVEL PLANS AND A NEW YEAR REQUEST
My 2018 travel plans are non-existent. Yes, you read that right. The Anna-planner has no travel plans for the new year. It’s the same way we started 2017. And we liked that so much we’ve taken the same approach again to this new year. Having no real plans has given me time to think…
View PostTURNING 30 DAYS OF ANNUAL LEAVE INTO 12 ADVENTURES
A funny old year of travel 2017 turned out to be. We started it with no plans and 30 days of annual leave apiece but still managed to take 12 trips! And have plenty of time off over Christmas too. Bear in mind that’s alongside our full time jobs, which are pretty big…
View PostHIKING MADEIRA: AWE-INSPIRING PICO RUIVO
When we flew into Funchal there were some stunning mountains poking out of the fluffy clouds. Spectacular. I have only seen cloud inversion once before, and so this sight was magical. I studied meteorology at school and university, so to see it ‘in action’ was pretty special. One of those peaks I saw…
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 PostCHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVITIES
This Christmas is our first in our new home. I cannot begin to explain how excited we are. I would love it to snow, but perhaps that’s a tad optimistic! We have a ‘Christmas on the farm’ advent calendar from Playmobil to celebrate country life! And all the various village events are in…
View PostMONTHLY MEANDERINGS: NOVEMBER
November was a busy month. Busy at work, at home, at play. They are the good months. Plenty of ups and downs but more good despite some real annoyance. At work With a lot of holiday to use in December I needed to do everything that is important in November. Tricky. A few…
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 PostCornish walks: Porthgwarra to Nanjizal
The coastline of Cornwall is a complete set of footpaths. So there is no shortage of stunning walks. Each time we visit Cornwall we find a new one – normally one that has been mentioned years ago by my Grandpa or parents. This time, with a windy north-easterly wind forecast, we headed for the south…
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 PostLife’s little luxuries: taking a simple timeout
In the search for the perfect hotel, winter sunshine and glamorous flights it is easy to forget about life’s little luxuries. The things that actually matter. How lucky are we to have what we have? And to already live a life we love. We don’t need to scour the globe for a paradise, there’s…
View PostThe journey: enjoy the A to B
The journey is as important as the destination! Although perhaps getting up at 6am 5 days a week isn’t the best example of such a journey! Why is it so tough? Despite all the practice. Yet set the alarm for 5am to go on holiday and we leap out of bed before it…
View PostMonthly Meanderings: September & October
Two months at once because not much happened in September! A month always dominated by work! Very little time for much else! October more than made up for that, although a lot of that was work too! This year it was a case of ‘hi September’ and ‘oh, hi winter’… Literally overnight. Perhaps I…
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 PostMe and my: travel companions
We all have them. Our unflinchingly supportive travel companions! Going everywhere with us, putting up with endless traipsing around… Cardigan, scarf, umbrella and lactofree milk portions… It isn’t just me is it (awkward silence…)? Because travel has so many different types I had a think about what travel companions are steadfastly with me…
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 PostCountry life ❤️ city work
This summer because of country life, we have not travelled as much as usual. Being blissfully holed up in our new home in the country meant we didn’t want to. We just booked our December getaway and I said to Mr P (only half-joking) that I wasn’t sure I wanted to be away…
View PostMy Travel Bucketlist with the Travel Name Game
Hands up anyone who has a travel bucketlist? We all do don’t we! I try to keep mine written down to not lose track. But it keeps changing. Pinterest must take a lot of the blame – it’s basically a photo scrolling wish list that updates by the second… My travel list on there…
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 PostMonthly Meaderings: August
August was a full of fun month! At times it was chilly, so we were justified in lighting the fire at home! That novelty hasn’t worn off yet! Then at times it was simply glorious! And the bank holiday – good grief, we were blessed! Bathed in sunshine, Hampshire and the Costa del Solent…
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 PostPink sand paradise: Elafonisi, Crete
[parallax-scroll id=”6416″] For our trip to Crete I did very little research. We only booked the flights 10 days before we flew, joining friends in a villa in the hills above Chania. Our plans were to relax: spun out from work and moving house. The little trip to Tallinn in April was feeling a…
View PostMonthly Meanderings: July
[parallax-scroll id=”6418″] July was about being thoroughly British and enjoying life in the village. And cows, but I will come back to them! Oh, and rain – it just didn’t seem to stop! Let me tell you, one doesn’t move to the country for a quiet life. But for community! And by that…
View PostTravel fears and scares
[parallax-scroll id=”6421″] What scares you when you travel they asked? It would have been easier to ask what doesn’t… But that wouldn’t make much of a blog post! Most things can worry or scare me! At home I hate the dark and being home alone. I sail yet I hate the water! I…
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