I like October. I like the golden hues, the pumpkin-spiced everything’s, the chilly starts, the jumpers. What I don’t like is the rain. Crikey, have we had rain? For the first two weeks, it rained cats and dogs. I love that saying. It does make me laugh. I imagine little fluffy cats and wet-nosed dogsRead more
Any preconceived ideas about Naples you might have about it feeling seedy and dangerous you can forget. Yes, there is graffiti, yes it is a little grubby and rundown in places but nothing like how it seems to be portrayed in the media. In fact, for me, the graffiti added to the cities charm. ThinkRead more
What can I say about Vietri Sul Mare, the gateway to the Amalfi Coast? I can start by saying this quaint small town has everything you need if like me you aren’t a party animal. If you like fresh local produce cooked beautifully, a nice glass or two of wine, scrumptious patisserie and a (daily)Read more
I shall always remember the words of a vineyard tour guide at Sharpham Vineyard in Devon, England. He said, “you never find an ugly vineyard”. Oh, how right he was. Le Vigne Di Raito on the outskirts of Vietri Sul Mare on the Amalfi Coast has to stand out as one of the most picturesqueRead more
Certainly a highlight from my recent holiday to the Amalfi Coast was my afternoon in Ravello. A beautiful town way up in the hills overlooking Minori and the azure sea below. Ravello has a strong heritage in the arts and is known by many as ‘The City of Music’. It has a strong and vibrantRead more
I am a recent convert to St Ives after my first visit a year or so ago. Having grown up in the Southwest I find it somewhat remarkable that I hadn’t visited before then. This trip at the beginning of December rekindled my love of the place. Admittedly I have only ever visited out ofRead more
After spending the best part of 5 days in Cefalù, Steve and I made our way via our hire car to Catania. What a difference in location. Cefalù in its medieval magnificence with manicured gardens and clean streets was the polar opposite of the graffitied walls and grubby looking exterior of Catania. We arrived earlyRead more
A couple of years ago I was lucky enough to be invited on a press trip to Cefalù with my sister Estella. She was writing a piece for a magazine. The foodie, blogger and a explorer in me couldn’t resist the invite. So Sicily became our home from home for a long weekend with MassimoRead more
A year or so ago I went on a wine tasting and vineyard tour of Sharpham Vineyard in Devon and our guide said: “you never find an ugly vineyard”. How true his words have been. Abbazia Santa Anastasia is no different. Once an abbey, Abbazia Santa Anastasia is nestled high up in the Madonie MountainsRead more
Nestled on the banks of the River Dart, Sharpham Vineyard is one string to the Sharpham Trusts bow. Another being a heard of red tractor assured Jersey cows that produce the most outstanding cheeses that fit so well with the individual character of Sharpham’s award winning wines. Alongside this, and in the main house designedRead more