September fun and frolics
After a crazy August, September arrived quietly and that was just fine… It felt like Autumn arrived overnight from August to September. I love those lovely chilly sunny morning walks to the station and leaves falling from the trees, or the morning runs round the park. I don’t however remember from this time…
View PostHappy and healthy without holiday
You know the seemingly bleak time when no trips are planned, it feels like summer is over, you don’t see much daylight and work is crazy and the mania just.doesn’t.stop? That’s right now! I’ve read enough articles about how people that take regular holidays are happier and healthier and I agree with every…
View PostLazing in the Languedoc
What a gorgeous lazy time we had in the Languedoc, the benefit of doing no research… Aside from booking the hotel, all I knew was that Carcassonne was nearish to where we were going and that it’s a board game. So un-thorough was my research that a few days before we arrived I had to email the…
View Post6 things to do in Stockholm
Stockholm is less than 2 hours flying from Heathrow and perfect for a summer city break. A maritime city full of gorgeous architecture, flat for exploring and if you can stay a little longer there’s 24,000 islands in the archipelago to explore. We visited over the August bank holiday weekend, and I took advantage…
View PostHoliday Blues? Let’s fix that…
So Mr P is a blogger too…. Just occasionally, for work. The content of this particular post is holiday related so he’s letting me share it from his LinkedIn page here on my own Penelope & Parker! I hope you enjoy a foray into the other half of the blog (that normally takes the photos)…
View PostMemorable moments – dairyfree dining
Food used to be really simple – see food, eat it. I like pretty much anything apart from bananas or when the fish comes with its eyes and tail intact on the plate… We have dined at some incredible places over the years (we still do)! But these days it is a little…
View PostAugust fun and frolics
August was a blink and miss it month… Long hours at work but thankfully many hours at play as well, making the most of the summer months, ahead of what will be a stressful Autumn… A couple of days sailing at Cowes Week with work – bumping into old friends, making new ones and…
View PostInns and cottages for a perfect staycation
One thing I adore about the UK is the plethora of great little inns and cottages on offer. If you want to get off the beaten track and find something a little different when it comes to luxury you’ll find it. The luxury of privacy, space and charming hosts. Here are a few…
View PostLearning from travel: doing as I say
Any day away from home on an adventure or indeed when travelling with work is a learning day – whether taking in the culture, learning phrases in the local language, trying some new food or finding out something of the history of a place. I have already shared the life lessons I’ve learnt…
View PostJuly fun and frolics
July was one of those months that just – didn’t – stop… Silly hours at work and working whilst taking “holiday” (good in some ways as that means more holiday still to take…) then weekends crammed full too and the odd half day here and there. September and October at work are going…
View PostKota Porthleven – tasty artistry
When one finds a restaurant that impresses, it is always risky to go back – will it be as good? Riskier still to take ones parents for a special treat. So we arrived with crossed fingers whether it would be as good as remembered. Well – Kota delivered and gets a gold star, it was…
View PostTickled tastebuds at The Palomar
The Palomar really did tickle our tastebuds! If you have been under a rock or hibernating recently you won’t have noticed that we went to Israel in May and loved it – the place, the culture, the people and the food… For everyone else, you know already! Imagine our delight when we ate…
View PostFeels like home
Home is where my heart is – I love my home (although I’m desperately seeking a double-fronted like below), I love my friends and tribe, I love life and the privileges it affords me and I love my little piece of England, I even love my job. Home is all of that to…
View PostJune fun and frolics
Apart from June appearing to mark the return of winter at times – back in woolly winter tights, coats and heating on one moment then summer a moment later – it was rather a lovely month! We were still on a high from our amazing trip to Israel but there was other stuff…
View PostWeekend in Milan and Como
When I was travelling too much with work, Mr P always used to ask when he could join me for the weekend. I always deferred as I wanted to get home from a trip as soon as I could. Then he started travelling an incredible amount with work and so started asking me when…
View PostJerusalem & the Dead Sea: Israel day trips
No trip to Israel could be complete without visiting Jerusalem and the Dead Sea? I think it is fair to say doing it in a day is a bit of a mission (for the driver that is – thank you) but oh so worth it! We had a marvellous trip, we were missing…
View PostRosh Hanikra & Akko – Israel day trips
Israel spoils you for culture, history and day trip options – there is an incredible amount to see and so we took a road trip up from Tel Aviv to Rosh Hanikra and Akko/Acre in the north of the country. Israel has some rather exciting borders to the north – both are pretty…
View PostTel Aviv – vibrancy and culture
Visiting friends in Tel Aviv, the city was a perfect base and where British Airways handily deposited us in comfort. I had two favourite cities – Singapore and Washington. I now have three – TLV has vibrancy and culture like Singers, cleanliness and safety like DC and a big dollop of South Beach to make…
View PostBeyond expectations in Israel
We were able to conclude within about half a day (I exaggerate, 2 hours tops…) of being in Israel that we were really glad to have ignored the UK press and any raised eyebrows. As much as I said to people ‘it’s safer than Paris/Brussels/London’, at the back of my mind I did wonder but thankfully…
View PostMay fun and frolics
May marked the arrival of summer, we skipped spring it would seem and went straight into warmer weather. Not of course for the first May bank holiday – for that we still had frosty mornings and the need for multiple layers of merino if braving the outside! For the second one, for the…
View PostA taste of Israel
Israel should be at the top of any foodie’s travel plans – the food is incredible, I am licking my lips remembering! Flavoursome, fresh, varied and interesting, everything was delicious and actually we ate so much it could have been an official food tour! Here’s to friends with good taste! As a dairy-free diner,…
View PostI’m a bookworm…
I love reading and once I’m into a book I find it hard to put it down and hate it when a really good book finishes. Often when I am busy with work I forget just how relaxing it is to spend half an hour before bedtime reading, or a little bit of…
View PostTime for a drink?
Being totally honest, in my thirties my favourite place for a drink would be at home or in my own back garden, or perhaps on a picnic in the New Forest, or on a yacht. The novelty of finding a cava that is named ‘Anna’ is yet to wear off – and I…
View Post11 favourite dinners out
We eat out when we can – at weekends, on holiday, with work – and have enjoyed some splendid meals, whether they be gourmet, gastro or just good quality fast food. So rather than give you a summary of my favourite place for a burger (Chalk Valley or Brewhouse & Kitchen in Southampton) or…
View PostTravel blogger problems
As someone paid to solve problems, I raised a wry smile writing this post – my blogger problems have been the same for the years I’ve had my little corner of the t’interweb and I just haven’t done a thing about them, and have no plans to either! I guess that is the fun…
View Post