Where we go and what we see
My husband has long been accused of “marrying out”. By this, his friends mean that he, a proud Scot, married a girl from London, with an English accent which seems stronger (and posher) each time I visit Scotland. An English … Continued
‘I hear it’s a bit grim,’ my Glaswegian friend told me when I said that we were planning a trip to Tobermory (better known as Balamory, setting for the eponymous children’s TV series) on the Isle of Mull in the … Continued
Hämeensilta bridge, photographed by Petri Kivinen My daughter’s cheeks had never looked quite so rosy. But then again, never before had she tried out a sauna. In Britain, six year olds aren’t encouraged to do such things. In Finland, where there’s … Continued
My son loved throwing pebbles into the sea For some time I’ve had a hankering to take my family to Ireland, but somehow it never happened. I imagined beautiful scenery, friendly people and a relaxed, peaceful, atmosphere, where my children … Continued
There’s something utterly fabulous about castles. Perhaps it’s the unique combination of history, mystery and sheer grandeur. Or perhaps it’s simply the turrets – they always do it for me. So I’m delighted that my children seem to have caught … Continued
It was during our first evening at Calcot Manor that I felt a strange sensation. As I racked my brain to work out what it was, I realised that, although faintly recognisable, it wasn’t something that I’d experienced for a … Continued
What could be better than throwing back the curtains and looking directly onto a gloriously sandy beach? For my four-year-old daughter, the simple answer (when you discount ice cream, chocolate and strawberry yoghurt) is nothing. For her, Poole was the … Continued
The last time I went to Wales I was 12 years old and it rained every day. It’s hardly surprising then that I didn’t return to the land of the valleys for another two decades. Now, however, I’ve become a … Continued
When I was a child, we spent a week in Devon each year. I grew up with scones and clotted cream, glorious sandy beaches and green fields. They were great times but, as I got older, holidaying in the UK … Continued
A long, long time ago we had one baby and my dream was to go to a luxury family hotel and have some rest. It didn’t quite work out the way I had hoped – but that was her fault, … Continued