Words won't do justice to what we experienced last night. A huge dinner in the most remote place up a mountain overlooking the most beautiful view I ever have seen. I can't explain the feelings, the emotions, the taste of the simple and delicious food, the light, the music of the clappers singing, … [Read more...]

Harps has been a little hesitant swimming here. If the water is a little rough she finds an excuse not to get in. If it's too deep, or rocky, or cold, or warm. You get the picture. But occasionally, if the stars align, and the conditions are perfect she gets in a swim. Yesterday afternoon was one … [Read more...]

Last night we had our first "official" birthday celebration as almost all of the guests (bar 3) have arrived from all the various corners of the world. It was a BBQ dinner on the terrace on the loveliest of warm evenings. Can we talk about the 22kg's of meat that we ate? (not sure if we ate ALL but … [Read more...]

Yesterday afternoon we all headed just 30km's away to Korcula for a day trip with our big group (the Griswalds eat your heart out). The weather was a little dark and stormy before clearing up for the most beautiful afternoon. It's so funny in a big group but just so wonderful too - there's always … [Read more...]

We arrived in Split yesterday afternoon to perfect sunshine and warmth. We were met down at the ferry wharf by all of my sister in laws family - a perfect welcome to this beautiful small area of the island of Korcula. We're in Prigradica where my sister in law's family live. We're staying in the … [Read more...]

Well here we are at the end of 2 weeks of amazing travel. 1300 miles driven. 158 ice creams consumed. A few fights in the car. Many tears from little people. Many tears of happiness from this big person. SO much laughter. Pavements walked. Photos taken. Castles seen. Gardens admired. Memories made … [Read more...]

The thing that has been most surprising, and the most delightful this trip has been the 'happy accident'. These are the things that you just happen upon - whether it's by sheer luck or happenstance. There's been a couple of things that have helped along us get to these along the way, but again just … [Read more...]

A lovely reader of mine wrote a comment on one of my posts from the last few days about "thin places". She explained that there are certain places in the world where the distance between earth and 'heaven' are thin...there's almost no space between the two. I looked it up, and it's a celtic thing. I … [Read more...]

The clan Donald (Macdonalds that we are) established itself on Skye in the 15th century occupying castles a few miles from here and at Duntulm in the north (where we visited yesterday). From the 1650's they started to stay just down here in a version of this castle, until 1790 when a new mansion … [Read more...]

We travelled from Loch Ness across to Skye yesterday afternoon and boy did this country open up. HUGE mountains that rise up from the road that travels through it. I had my heart in my mouth, tears spilling down. It was just so beautiful. And here we are, seeing it, doing it, driving it, IN IT. We … [Read more...]

You know when you plan a holiday, you kind of imagine days? You day dream them when you are tired and cranky and dealing with the same old stuff, you think about them when you are stressed out from working towards them, you fantasise about them playing out scenes in your head from what you have seem … [Read more...]

Given our short stay here in Edinburgh (just 2 days) we had to pick and choose what we wanted to see and thanks to many recommendations from readers we were given a heads up about the FREE Museum walking distance from our apartment - perfect for kids for a few hours: The National Museum of Scotland. … [Read more...]

Today my 4 year old daughter who usually complains about having to walk to the bathroom for a bath because it's too far walked up a bloody mountain! I never thought that she would do it, but you know what? She put her little head down and led the way for hours up to the very tippy top of Arthur's … [Read more...]

We got the train to Edinburgh this morning from Kings Cross - the most delightful train trip over 4 hours. If you pony up for the first class tickets you can get free wifi, endless amounts of food and drink (helpful with small people) and the friendliest staff I'd come across. Throw in a table for … [Read more...]

Whilst I am on the train from London to Edinburgh with access to free wifi and kids quiet for the minute, I thought that I would share some of the learnings from our flight over here. Australia is a LONG way away. That's the first thing I learnt. That and a whole lot of other stuff. Now, I haven't … [Read more...]