Home in Time for Tea

"I'm not buying anything - I'm just going to look" I announced to Jess as we sat Googling pictures of Marrakech's endless souks and planning our impending trip with a frenzy of excitement. "I've got nowhere to put anything anyway - my house is full..." I added, as my friend turned her attention back to the description of the traditional labyrinthine markets we were so intent on visiting. "I'm taking an empty suitcase. I'm serious! I'm stocking up - I won't be happy unless I've got to buy at least one more house to put all my lucky finds in..." she replied. Accompanied by my mum and my shopping-hating husband, Jess and I made our way across the Djemma El Fna, let loose in the hubbub. After a delicious fresh orange juice for 50p at a stand in the square, we headed into the narrow and bustling alleys beyond. In our first shop, we were immediately pounced upon , with all the 'ah, suits you lady'...

        A labyrinthine expedition into the souk markets of Marrakech's old town had us re-emerging into the daylight clutching armfuls of Eastern treasures, blinking and squinting into the sun. I couldn't have been happier, and I even couldn't wait to get home to accommodate my new found delights, but we had a whole travel adventure ahead of us to enjoy first.. Hotel Pullman Palmeraie We stayed at 5 star hotel Pullman Palmeraie, in the peaceful Palmerie area outside the city, which smells of rosebuds on arrival, and is set in the most beautiful exotic gardens. Scarves on sale in one of the many souks As we got deeper and deeper into the souk markets, bargaining and haggling became more and more addictive and fun. Prices that are 'impossible' suddenly become possible with a casual sweep of the hand and a warm exchange, and the regular offerings of items like rusty taps when we originally v...

  Clean and pristine, Oslo is a city with wealth and beauty as well as a thriving art and scene, and fascinating history . Polished neo-classical buildings grace the spotless streets, contrasting beautifully with pockets of tall glassy and ultra-chic architecture.  With one of the strongest economies in the world most things don’t  come cheap, however things are not always as expensive as you might think, and this wealth and fortune makes Oslo (and Norway in general) a very special travel destination with extremely high standards to enjoy in all aspects of a visit. Being surrounded by unspoilt hills, lakes and forest, the great outdoors is always within reach, and is greatly appreciated. People living in Oslo respect the countryside enormously and simply love to enjoy the wonderfully fresh air; skiing in winter, hiking in summer, and eating and drinking al fresco in the city in up-and-coming Aker Brygge all year round no matter what the weather. Vik...

Living in a quaint yet atomspheric English market town has so many perks, and I just love making the most of Stamford's unbelievable array of quality restaurants... Even if we do have fish fingers queueing up in the freezer to be eaten at home. The George of Stamford is a well-renowned, traditional and historic hotel with two beautiful restaurants for fine-dining, and a gorgeous cosy bar with a large open fire in the winter.    The Garden Room Restaurant at The George The Garden Room's relaxed and informal, yet still elegant environment is a total favourite when Richard and I feel we have something to celebrate . Lushious plants and colourful orchids fill the rooms, with beautiful mirrors and floral artwork all around. Following our exciting skiing trip to Alsace, my mum gave us a voucher for the Garden Room - to thank us (aww). So we headed off to another excellent experience at this wonderful, quality restaurant (plus I...

Colmar Old Town After a number of holidays skiing in the French Vosges, I still haven't managed to stop myself reaching for my camera at every opportunity... Conveniently sat in the passenger seat driving through a quaint mountain village, or wandering past the gorgeous colourful little beamed buildings of Strasbourg or Colmar, my camera finds its way into my hands and starts clicking away in every direction. The stunning towns and villages in this part of the world really are reminiscent of perfect model villages, or historic film sets,  with the added bonus of sumptuous patisseries, biscuiteries and boulangeries literally on every street corner - and no starbucks! Traditional Winstub Restaurant - Colmar Colmar Old Town Alsace has a complex and interesting history, with parts of it having belonged in Germany and France intermittently throughout the last few centuries. The traditional food and drink of the region reflects this, for e...