Unique, quirky and full of love: a small business gift guide.

If a tree falls in the forest and there is no one around to hear it, does it make a sound? If you are a blogger who doesn't write a gift guide, are you even entitled to buy rose gold accessories?

Obviously, I'm joking, but having never written a gift guide in the 5 years that I've been blogging bar my annual charity guide (an updated version to follow shortly, don't worry) I felt that an essential tool in my blogging arsenal was lacking deployment.

A luxury stay at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, Singapore

When I had planned a few days in Singapore, I knew there were only two hotels that I wanted to stay in. They couldn't be more different in almost every way, and both of them fascinated me.

For my first night, the Marina Bay Sands Hotel called my name. The striking three tower edifice has 2,561 hotel rooms, a 120,000-square-metre (1,300,000 sq ft) convention-exhibition centre, the 74,000 m2 (800,000 sq ft) The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands mall, a museum, two large theatres, "celebrity chef" restaurants, two floating Crystal Pavilions, a skating rink, and the world's largest atrium. Crazy, no?

US Roadtrip Diary: A serving of Dallas glamour and cowboys

It really is true. Everything is bigger in Texas, from people’s hair to their pickup trucks.

If we're being totally honest we made our way across the northern section of the Louisiana/Texas border intent on uncovering a slice of JR Ewing's family home city - for you younguns, Dallas was an 80's TV show that even I was too young to watch, charting the wheelings and dirty dealings of a mega rich oil family in the world's first uber soap.

Chiswick House Chinese Lantern Festival - a magical mystery tour down the Silk Road

Something all of the long-term expat guidebooks don't tell you, is how one of the problems living in London is how simply much there is to do. Literally every night presents a cornucopia of options - shiny new restaurants to eat in, recently launched clubs to try out, established theatre performances to re-watch and the wonderfully terrible problem of decided whether to go back to an old favourite or try something untried. How do you pick what to do in London?

Hello FOMO my old friend.

On any given weeknight - let alone the offerings on the weekend - it's possible to spend a night at the opera, partake in a variety of art exhibitions, wander through museums, chortle in comedy clubs, pop to the cinema or sing along to a musical. It can be so overwelming that you miss things out due to sheer choice.

A surprise weekend in Gothenburg, Sweden

As a special birthday treat my lovely husband organised a secret city break that was only revealed to me at the airport as we walked up to the check-in desk. I knew we were going away somewhere and the weather was likely to be cool (allowing me to excitedly pack and dream) but every aspect of the trip was planned and researched in cryptic silence.

For a planner like me, it was exquisite torture.

10 destinations that Instagram has made me dream about

WARNING: POST CONTAINS WANDERLUST FUEL, TURQUOISE OCEANS AND SOME PRETTY AMAZING INSTAGRAMMERS

We've literally just got back from an incredible 2 weeks under azure skies that were alive with the sound of music, but already as the plane wheels are hitting tarmac (far before we've worked out the jetlag kinks) my mind is already wandering to our next destination.

I partially blame instagram.

It not only provides another addiction to the shoal of social media habits I've found myself with, but it also provides my wanderlust with fuel. Will our next crazy adventure be in the UK (if my husband has anything to do with it) or will it be shores farther afield (if I get my own way...) for more exotic mischief?

I also blame the travel team at traveloka who commissioned this bevy of travel jewels post as they wanted to share some of their good hotel deals in a few of the beautiful South East Asian nations they feature - somewhere we haven't really travelled extensively. Yet.

Where to stay in Munich: Grand Westin Munich Hotel Review

When we visited Munich, we very much scheduled where to stay around what we were doing. Our first hotel (we wouldn't usually move hotels, preferring to spend the time in a cafe or pub) was selected specifically for how close it was to the main train station (It was a nice enough hotel despite the Faulty Towers-esque lift that only stopped mid-storey so luggage was lugged up or down half a flight of stairs).

Being close to the München Hauptbahnhof meant we could delay getting out of bed as late as possible before boarding trains armed with plum pastries and coffee from one of the local bakeries. What we didn't count on would be discovering a street FULL of Turkish kebab shops (apparently the German version of burger joints) that we would end up in for at least two nights, hungry from the alpine air.

Disclaimer: We were invited guests of the Westin Grand Munich but all of my very many thoughts and excitement over storage spaces are very much my own...

But, our favourite stay of the holiday our 4-star superior hotel we left for the end. We intentionally planned the last few days for shorter trips, pottering around Munich to places we discovered (like the incredibly cool BMW museum), coffee with the lovely Linda and simply relaxing.

Our favourite places to eat in Budapest

Climbing the hills (top tip: avoid the furnicular, the hour long queue isn't worth it), wandering through twisting lanes and floating in the thermal spas will definitely make you hungry in Hungary. (sorrynotsorry). In a similar vein to Berlin and Prague, I just assumed tables would be laden with dumpling studded hearty goulashes laced with paprika - perfect for winters of ice skating from one side of the Danube to the other - tankards of beer and stuffed cabbage leaves that comfort your heart somehow.

So over our 3 day girl's weekend in Budapest with very little planning on my part, and a fair amount more on Sam's part (that went slightly awry on Sunday with may of the restaurants sadly closing too early) we enjoyed a real variety of ice cream places that we stumbled upon - a mixure of quirky buildings, delicious ingredients and fascinating stories.

10 reasons you should go on a luxurious girls weekend to Budapest

I've wanted to visit Budapest for years. (I even have blog proof here in my 2015 and 2016 travel wishlist posts) but it wasn't until the mutter of a boys weekend reached my ears, freeing me to sneak away for an indulgent girly weekend with the lovely Sam (of Globetrotter Postcards fame). We met for brunch, as all good plans should begin, and within a couple hours of Google image searching and flight comparisons, we cut our wishlist down from about 18 cities to two serious contenders, and hearts over heads we went Budapest for the win.

Straddling the Danube, the towns of Buda, Pest and Óbuda merged in the Nineteenth Century to form the capital city of Hungary. With over a thousand years of history separately, the cities coped through much turmoil, and the Magyar people emerged with a lightness of spirit that echoes through the streets. Now often known for the litany of stag parties, as the Paris of East or the Pearl of the Danube, Budapest is a city that we fell in love with. At one point I think I even grandly declared it my favourite city break ever - you can simply spa and sup, or get all culture vulture, or mixture of everything thing you love the best.

An unexpected journey to Colchester - June #travellinkup

After a morning of passing wizard exams*, I was intending to spend a leisurely afternoon on my own with my book in hand, snuggled in a nice nearby London coffee shop. But, unable to choose where to go, I had found myself staring at the train departure boards of Liverpool Street Station and buying a ticket almost all the way to the East Coast of England.

This isn’t a normal person behaviour, I know, but the combination of a sunny afternoon and a terrible case of wanderlust in my soul, Colchester - the oldest town in England - was selected almost at random based on having a castle, length of train journey and fascinating history.

Friday figments and photos: Oops I did it again

In the famous lyrics of Britney Spears;

You see my problem is this / I'm dreaming away
Wishing that heroes, they truly exist / I cry, watching the days
Can't you see I'm a fool in so many ways

But to lose all my senses / That is just so typically me
Baby, oh

Well, that and I got rather too carried away with the fun of blogging, and let drift my favourite section of the blogosphere - remembering to journal life as it comes.

Emma's Guide to HMS Belfast

I've never been much of a girlie girl - I'm more likely to be researching beautiful churches rather than how good the shopping is in new places (in fact shopping has never been something I enjoy, except those afternoons where we stop for a tipple and don't go back into the chaos) - but even I was slightly unsure about visiting HMS Belfast, the last surviving British WWII warship.

Moored permanently outside near Tower Bridge, aside from having one of the best views in London, the HMS Belfast is an amazing floating museum - a water based branch of the Imperial War Museum. (On a side note, my nephews stayed here on a school trip and I was much put out as we did such boring stuff as kids)

Dubai and Abu Dhabi - 10 experiences you must have!

Since we've been to Dubai, almost every person I've met who asked me about our trip tips their head slightly and says "huh, I've never thought of going there. Not for any particular reason it just didn’t appeal”. We were honestly the same, but after a few transits through the airport on the way to New Zealand, and spotting a full-size camel in amongst the duty free shelves of perfume my curiosity was piqued (a fake camel that is!).

(Sidenote: this breaking up of travel posts over a series of weekends makes it feel like they’ll never end, but has certainly brought some winter sun reminiscing to my dreary January/February/March.)

We enjoyed our tourist version of the two UAE city states we visited, much to our surprise. Dubai seems to be very much a love it or hate it destination - and having gone without any expectations in the middle of the UAE winter, we were pleasantly surprised. In fact, we loved it.

Friday figments and photos - the globetrotting festive edition

The last month has been wonderful. Full of chaos, sunshine, excitement, watching the rain from a comfy seat, Christmas Jumpers, making friends with camels called Sheila, too much cake, skyscrapers, wild dolphins, champagne, cheese and crackers on the beach, a family wedding and so many more memories.

We skipped away to New Zealand (well, I say skipped, but it involved an 8-hour flight to Dubai, a 15-hour flight to Brisbane that should have been 13 which is bad enough, a much delayed 3.5 hour flight to Auckland and an urgent call over an airport tannoy which was pointlessly stressful) but upon landing it was worth every second.

Friday figments and photos: Time

“Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.”
― Marthe Troly-Curtin

 

 “Books have a unique way of stopping time in a particular moment and saying: Let’s not forget this.”
― Dave Eggers

Bordeaux, a surprisingly beautiful city break

Within 24 hours of arrriving in Bordeaux I declared to the world that I wasn’t returning to my beloved London, but staying forever to bask in the southern climes of France. I even announced it via a variety of social media, both personal and blog related – and we all know that’s a seriously serious statement.

It captured my easy heart in a big way. Winding medieval streets, beautiful sunsets, quirky history, #pawned pavements, bouquet filled stems of wine, friendly locals, terracotta rooftops; all the things. Aaaand then I realised that I would have to learn French, and being somewhat language discombobulated (it's a real thing - learning English-English vs. Kiwi-English still confounds me some days) I knew it couldn't ever happen.

But, I'm getting ahead of myself. We had 72 hours in which to wander, no plans, a few recommendations, a couple of hotels booked and an appetitite for joie de vivre.

10 things I have to do in Autumn

Autumn - Fall, Oсень, Herbst, Automne or Jesień - is unconditionally my favourite season of the year. Rust-hued leaves twirling to the ground, blue skies with a crisp feel to the air and the best excuse to lay a crackling fire. Spring is a welcome relief to winter, but festooned with allergy causing pollen; summer is normally disappointing or hot and smelly, and winter is icy. Nah. Autumn all the way.

 

Being a list junkie, there are a few things I have to tick off each time autumn rolls around.

1. Wander through a park and stampede through a pile of autumnal leaves. (Instagram proof is optional, though entirely irresistable)

A surprise September trip to Broadstairs seaside..

A couple of Saturdays ago I found myself at a loss. I was home doing boring things chores whilst the September sun was gloriously full. We had no real plans, a proper cozy weekend in, watching Downton Abbey, baking and lounging around in our PJs. Half an hour later, Mr Kiwi was in a car on his way up North to Great Grimsby with his brother for a family birthday (I opted to not go because I didn't want to spread my plague symptoms any further around) and the weather forecast said clear, blue sunshine on Sunday.

I was at a crossroads. Continue in the same vein of Saturday, or run away. So run away it was. With some frenetic Googling of 'best beaches near London' (don't laugh they are real), a few stressed messages to said husband to ensure I wasn't planning on going to a seaside gangland and a train ticket later I was outta there. Well, after a good night's sleep any way.

I hopped out of bed, grabbed my beach skirt with glee (in late September no less!), packed my book and vaulted out of the house. It takes 1hr 20 to train from St Pancras Station to Broadstairs (or Margate) so I sat back, relaxed and made sure I had a coffee in hand. Before long, the chalky cliffs of the Dover coast came into view, and then the sea started to sparkle through my window.

Traipsing around London's National Gallery of Art

It's easy to take a city for granted. Heck, in the lull between arriving excitedly in the land of tea and scones and blogging taking over my life, London just became somewhere for commuting through. It's easy for the gloss to wear off, and for you to walk past bastions of history with less than a glance.

On the other hand, once you rekindle that feeling it means you really get to savour a city - take the National Gallery for instance. A grand dame of the London museum and galleries scene, I've popped in once or twice over the years to admire the priceless artworks I had studied second hand via glossy bookpages in New Zealand. The idea that you can simply wander into a beautiful building and study these paintings for hours, for free, still fires my expat heart. What's more, you can delve a little deeper into the history, the stories and the setting for these priceless studies of social history.

How to survive without a smartphone.

With my aforementioned device of all-encompassing life throwing a fit in the cobbled Streets of France last weekend, a week without the world and technology at my pocket has been an interesting exercise of modern life.

Think about it, how long ago was it since you referred to that little black box in your pocket. Hours? Minutes? Seconds? In fact, are you reading this on your phone? See what I mean? I’ve come to realise just how this has taken over my life.

It starts with a series of electronic tones urging me to crack my eyelids open in the morning - several rounds of them if I’m being honest. Then a quick morning peruse of social media and a few cheeky blogposts over breakfast cereal and coffee. Another alarm warns me to leave the house for the commute ahead (accompanied by few giggles at the “Danger Will Robertson, Danger Will Robertson” panic spirit that keeps me organised) where I spend the time dodging internet blackspots and the occasional armpit.