Category: Travel

Plan . Dream . Discover

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It’s cold , damp and dark outside . We’ve been told to expect Thundersnow. I’m not exactly sure what that is but it sounds fun and very dramatic!

I’m sat drinking copious amounts of coffee while dreaming of far off shores. Imaging the sun beating down on my back (of course I’d be wearing spf 50) of lounging around pools and exploring new playgrounds.

I’ve been really lucky that within my 46 years I have visited some beautiful places. Its well documented that at 17 years old I spent 6 glorious weeks island hopping around Greece with my best friend. If you don’t know… where have you been?!

Just Karen and I with a back pack each . Not a hair dryer in sight. We sailed, worked, partied, slept rough and even met Judith Chalmers who was filming ‘Wish you were here’ It was maybe the most fun 6 weeks of my life.

Greece aside I thought I’d share with you my 3 favourite places that  I have had the pleasure to visit to date followed by my  dream destinations. We should all have a dream, something to aspire too …and what better way to while away a moody grim January afternoon ?

Lets escape if only in my memories for a little while… Continue reading →

Massages and relaxation at Moddershall Oak Spa …

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I don’t think it could honestly have come at a better time.

Liz’s fibromyalgia had been particularly bad. Although  her symptoms mean that her body hurts constantly apparently it had been a lot worse than usual. Last week was a killer by all accounts.

And me ….

I recon I was only a couple of days off being whisked away to the funny farm… courtesy of the ‘turps’ mishap on my face only last week and the never-ending house sagar, which is a case of 2 steps forward, 3 steps back

The only 2 things that saved my sanity were:

1.) The installation of my new cooker. Its been a while . 8 months if we are counting. Grilled asparagus you were worth waiting for .

2.) A spa day at Moddershall Oaks !

We were invited to spend a day at the spa, which included drinks on arrival, full use of the spa, including a limited edition massage of our choice and a 2-course lunch.

Having visited once before we were both extremely excited about the prospect of spending some time there. It really is beautiful.

We arrived just after 9.00am which had meant a rather early Sunday morning start for us both. It’s approximately a 2 hour drive from Sheffield to Staffordshire. Poor Liz had to drive even further from Wakefield!

It was well worth it.

Dairy Lea dippers and ‘chit chat’ saw us through.

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On arrival along with a fresh glass of orange juice we were handed our schedule which detailed massage and lunch times  and a menu so we could pre-order lunch. Continue reading →

The end … Marbella Diaries 

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So as with most good things they come and go far too quickly for my liking.

I had been looking forward to my weekend in Marbella with the ladies for what seemed like forever and it was over in a flash … just like that !

So how did we spend our last day?

Having not really left the villa during the day to explore , we decided today was the day we would venture out to Orange Square in Marbella’s Old Town.

I had heard reports it was amazing and very beautiful.

Having only had a few hours sleep, hung over but feeling surprisingly chirpy , 6 of the 10 booked taxis for 11.00am.

We had strict instructions from Leigh ( who decided to have a lazy day around the pool) that we had to be back at 5.00pm.

We had no idea why but promised we would be.

Old Town Marbella was approximately a 20 minute taxi drive from the villa and cost €24 (about £20.00) which between a few of you doesn’t break the bank.

By golly was it worth it  … when we eventually found her.

Head upwards towards the mountains , not towards the sea like we did initially !

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Marbella Diaries – Day 2

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One by one we  started re-surfacing from our beds. We made our way down to the terrace in various states of ‘bed-head’ to enjoy our breakfast alfresco.

Isn’t that one of the best things you can do …eat and drink in the sunshine, without fear of sudden rain?

I love England but the weather … crikey it’s enough to make you want to pack your bags and never come back. Could do better!

Oh and I officially make THE best coffee ( if I say so myself)

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coffee and THAT view

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Marbella Diary Day 1 – the villa and first night out.

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Hola,

Somebody once said that “the best therapy is time spent laughing with great friends” I’ve just had 4 days ‘therapy’ and it’s done me the world of good.

By golly have we laughed…

and then some.

We’ve partied (a lot) and for want of a better word I’m back home and I’m bloody knackered. Rolling in at 6 in the morning was bad enough in my twenties,  at 45 it’s a killer but worth the tired, fuzzy head.

As my mum often says …”your a long time dead. Why sleep when you can dance?”

Why not indeed mum….

So what was the occasion?

We flew out to Spain  to join Leigh in celebrating her 50th . This was actually back in May (little details – long story)

We booked a plush villa in the hills above Marbella for the weekend so we could all be together.

Let me introduce you to our home for 4 luxurious days … Continue reading →

Marbs … the final countdown!

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So it’s almost here…

Yes Marbella which I’ve been whittering on about for the past few months is finally happening next week! 

Eekkk. *does a little happy dance*

As if you didn’t realise I’m blinking excited.

Below is the villa we’ve rented.

That sunbed is whispering “Tracey jump on “ The pool is whispering ” jump in“

As there are 11 of us we tend to try and hire places rather than book lot’s of hotel rooms – it’s much more sociable.


I honestly don’t know what I’ll talk about when I get back home.

Perhaps I need to book another holiday ?

*hint hint boyfriend * Continue reading →

Memories of Lanzarote. Part One

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I made it. Hungover and tired but I’m here in the not so sunny Lanzarote. 

I’ve so far had to buy a jumper! Yes a woolly blinking poncho style jumper. It’s never been off my back , the wind is soooo chilly. Mr Sun is being awfully shy and has only popped out for a few hours; teased us and then disappeared again. 

I’m currently sporting shorts, the jumper and goosebumps on my lily white legs . Do you think it might catch on?? 

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Christmas Lurgy, Exploding Ovens and Thieving Seagulls

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Ok, so I realise I am a little late in writing this post but with all the joys of Christmas and New Year, I really haven’t had chance to get around to it. Well, I say joys but in reality that consisted of snot (and the entire Kleenex factory), uncontrollable coughs, sleep deprivation and just to top it off an oven that blew up ‘mid Christmas dinner!!’

Luckily for us (not the turkey or the cow), the meats were cooked to perfection just as we heard the bang. I was not quite so lucky and although alcohol lubricated some parts and numbed others, it did nothing to cure my overall condition and I suspect may have helped to prolong my symptoms. I did keep trying though.

Having had enough of Christmas and the whole ‘feed a cold, starve a fever’ (I was feeding my cold for England), we decided that a trip to the coast to blow away the cobwebs was needed as was a long stroll to burn off the excesses. I say we decided…I decided!! I’m sure my other half would have preferred to be on the golf course. However with the promise of fish and chips he was converted…no trip to the English seaside is complete without eating fish and chips out of the paper outside in the cold and wind. It’s tradition.

So off we set on our road trip over North Yorkshire’s finest, The Fylingdales. It had snowed a couple of days before and the remnants still lingered over the moors. The scenery was stunning.

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