A NIGHT IN LONDON – WITH A BABY

A 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…

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THE BABYMOON – TRIED AND TESTED

THE 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…

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CHARMING COTSWOLDS STAY AT THE LYGON ARMS

CHARMING 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.…

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P&P RECOMMENDED: LONDON HOTEL DIRECTORY

P&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…

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AN INTIMATE SUPPER AT EVELYN’S TABLE

AN 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…

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P&P RECOMMENDED: OUR HOTEL DIRECTORY

P&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…

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RELAXED WEEKENDING AT TIMBRELL’S YARD

RELAXED 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…

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A QUIET WEEKEND IN CORNWALL TO REMEMBER

A QUIET WEEKEND IN CORNWALL TO REMEMBER

Sometimes all anyone needs is a weekend away, in Cornwall. Away from the chores, the need to do a food shop, catch up on work or (heaven forbid) do anything strenuous. A weekend away in a nice place that isn’t home. No 3G, no TV, just some fresh air and sea views. Time…

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THE MAGICAL NORTH COAST OF CORNWALL

THE MAGICAL NORTH COAST OF CORNWALL

The north coast of Cornwall is magical. Especially the bits that few visitors find! Ask many where to go on the north coast of Cornwall and you’d oft hear Padstow, Rock, ‘The Scarlet’, Bude top of the list… Charming yes, But there is so much more. And it’s truly Cornish… Let me share…

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Cornish walks: Porthgwarra to Nanjizal

Cornish 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…

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A treehouse retreat: elegance and luxury at the Chewton Glen

A 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…

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Astor Grill at Cliveden House

Astor 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?…

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Spring walk: the Purbeck coast

Spring walk: the Purbeck coast

It had been far too long since my last visit to the Purbeck coast in Dorset! Perhaps 1996-ish for my Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s award… Which was also the time I route-planned us along an electricity pylon rather than a bridleway! The Easter weekend gave us the chance to go and explore and we…

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Spring walk: South Downs lambs and bluebells

Spring walk: South Downs lambs and bluebells

A little spring walk in the South Downs turned into the sort of walk that would leave a bluebell-hunter or cute animal lover very fulfilled! I am neither, but I was ‘full of the joys’… We stumbled across this walk thanks to two things. Firstly we had lunch booked with friends at The Bluebell…

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A magical return to Cliveden House

A magical return to Cliveden House

Given the opportunity, I would live at Cliveden every weekend! It’s captivating.   And it is easily understood why Cliveden is repeatedly in the chocolates at luxury award ceremonies… There aren’t many places which have been restored so attentively and can offer guests the chance to stay in such a historical and grand location,…

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The Kitchen at the Chewton Glen

The Kitchen at the Chewton Glen

Visits to the Chewton Glen are always a resounding success.  Being invited to dine at ‘The Kitchen’ on its opening night was definitely that.  The Kitchen is a new adventure for the Chewton Glen.  An exciting and informal one. We loved the hotel as it was – the quintessentially english luxuriousness.  It’s somewhere we love to celebrate…

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Chewton Glen – a luxury weekend escape

Chewton Glen – a luxury weekend escape

This fabulous hotel is where my love affair with luxury began.  So we return to visit the Chewton Glen like an old friend on special occasions!  In February, in between our birthday’s, we scheduled a staycation as a little treat.  We really couldn’t have planned the timing better around all things work and life…

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A weekend in the Cotswolds

A weekend in the Cotswolds

Last year between May in Tel Aviv and India in December, we didn’t really take much time off work. We did manage to balance the work mania with the odd long weekend in France, Stockholm and Italy.  In November we fitted in another of these. This time a weekend staycation in the Cotswolds…

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My Cornwall Directory

My Cornwall Directory

I’ve been visiting west Cornwall a few times a year for longer than I remember.  My Gran lives there and we head down for long weekends with my parents or by ourselves to explore a little more.  Cornwall seems to be growing in popularity and it seemed like a very good time to…

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Inns and cottages for a perfect staycation

Inns 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…

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Gormley at Winchester Cathedral

Gormley at Winchester Cathedral

Over Easter we took in a bit of culture.  Years back the Gormley human sculptures were lurking on rooftops across London and I loved them (after the initial panic when they first arrived that there were ‘jumpers’ all over London), in fact there is still one right outside our office!  When I heard…

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Mottisfont National Trust

Mottisfont National Trust

As they say, every day is a learning day and that was certainly the case at Mottisfont on Good Friday.  The first learning was that this was ‘the’ place to be on Good Friday, who knew!… It was queueing for entry at 10am opening time, this being the first warm and sunny day…

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I’d like an Easter staycation please

I’d like an Easter staycation please

Easter is sneaking up out of nowhere and we have NO plans!  This is incredible – not only does that never happen but it is oh so very exciting to have no plans.  March has been crazy busy (more soon) and after Easter I have a big deadline (may impact on one day…

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Wander-full Wales Weekend

Wander-full Wales Weekend

Wales in winter?  Yes.  The UK is great all year round – and our weekend in Wales in February lays proof to that.  Chilly, yes, and a risk of rain and wind, but look at the picture above.  As one of my friends that lives near here said when she saw the photo,…

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Recharging in Cornwall

Recharging in Cornwall

After a busy few months at work (and Mr P working hard to beat my business airmiles haul) we were unreasonably excited about two nights away – together – in Cornwall.  Surprisingly it is only our second trip down there this year – we were well overdue some cornish charm and R&R. It was…

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