There’s nothing like a cat to make me fall in love with a place. I’ve met some lovely people and pets on my travels, but it’s the cats that evoke the strongest emotional trigger in my heart. It’s always been the same, ever since childhood when we had a cat at home. I adore their personality, their independence, their cute…
Read More
Cats abroad – my favourite travel buddies
Twwedyk – the amazing world of unknown unknowns
It may sound like somewhere out of Harry Potter or Iceland. It’s neither. But it could have been, because like Hogwarts or the Sagas, Twwedyk is a place of exciting possibilities. Visit on a good day and you’ll be inspired, motivated and ready for your next journey. You’ll depart feeling more forgiving and less judgmental. You’ll give people the benefit…
Read More
Panamá – 8 tempting reasons to visit
A small country linking 2 great oceans, Panamá offers something for everyone. Most people have heard of the canal, which must be one of the most amazing feats of engineering in the world. But there are also over 1400 palm-fringed islands, idyllic beaches, incredible marine biodiversity, a lively capital city and amazing wildlife in the mountains and cloud forests. Whether…
Read More
6 awesome things to do in Wimbledon other than tennis
There may be no tennis championships in SW19 this year, but don’t despair. There are lots of awesome things to do in Wimbledon other than tennis. I know this because I lived there for around 20 years on and off, the longest I’ve ever lived anywhere. I loved it. It’s a country village within a city. NOTE: please check that…
Read More
New Zealand English – my hilarious learning journey
‘Everything different and yet the same’. This is how Brits often describe their experience of New Zealand. When it comes to the English language, I’d put it the other way round – everything the same, and yet different. We speak the same language, but with different accents, intonations, expressions and vocabulary. These differences have led me to make various bloopers…
Read More
Barnard Castle – worth a 260-mile drive from London
This attractive market town in north east England is a sight for sore eyes. It’s situated in the lush green countryside of Teesdale, County Durham, just north of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Barnard Castle town has soft grey stone buildings which add to its charm – weavers’ cottages, farmhouses, shops and former wool and carpet mills. The clear waters…
Read More