Since Holly Bobbins came into my life it's fair to say that her loving paws have lead to me having a pretty smiley face every day and along with her best friend Petunia they keep me entertained on a daily basis.

Both Holly and Petunia are rescue dogs who now happily have amazing lives and they get to spend time together in a way that Beagles and Siberian Husky's don't usually in the wild.  I think often beagles aren't the biggest fans of Huskies but in Holly's case although she usually doesn't like bigger dogs she loves to meet other huskies if we're out for a walk, I guess it's because she thinks that they're all Petunia!!

Holly and Petunia running through the fields in Keswick

Last week we had a surprise arrival, if I'm honest I hadn't thought to do anything special for Holly on Valentines day on account of the fact that I just love her and give her everything she needs all of the time but then this amazing hamper turned up from a wonderful company called Best In Show and I wondered why I hadn't thought of that.  The truth be told there are so many occasions where I think I'd love to buy her a hamper (I love hampers, you know this by now) and Christmas, her birthday and even Easter is just around the corner, all great occasions to give the pets you love a treat! You don't have a dog, I hear you say, well would you believe they also do kitty hampers filled with delicious treats for your four pawed purring feline friends as well.  I just can't guarantee they'll show their excitement in the same way your dog will.  Holly got so excited at some of the treats she wagged her little tail off!

We were so overcome with excitement that we actually filmed our unboxing video straightaway!

This wonderful hamper would only cost £34.90 and it contained all manner of gourmet treats like some Venison treats, some delicious wheat free dental oaties, a pupbake and it even had a mug in for me which is just as well as I can tell you right now, no one has ever sent me a surprise valentine hamper and I think the chances of anyone sending me a surprise hamper at any time of the year are slim (I would graciously accept if anyone wants to do that).

We've had a lot of fun since then and I think with every day that passes Holly Bobbins thinks her celebrity status grows just that little bit further, if we're not careful she's going to think she's the dog equivalent of Mariah Carey and then we'll all be in trouble.

It's great to be a writer and photographer, to collaborate with lovely companies about products, travel destinations and fabulous events but when you get to share that with your beloved pet it's even better.

Holly loves the attention and the cuddles from children we meet when we're out, she does quite often get recognised locally and once it even happened in Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh, it's quite cool when you realise just how far a blog post can end up travelling.

To get your beloved pet the best hamper of goodies to make their tails wag  or to hear your beloved cat purring loudly as you present feline treats please pop across and speak to my lovely friends at Best In Show.

Dog friendly accommodation in Northumberland - Waterside Cottage, Alnmouth

On a dark, cold windy night just before my birthday, Holly Bobbins, Looby and I set off with our lovely friend Li and her daughter for a luxurious weekend getaway in beautiful Alnmouth on the rugged Northumberland Coastline.  I've always loved Alnmouth, it's my regular place to escape, to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, it may only be 45 minutes away from Newcastle but it feels like stepping into a different, calmer prettier world, even in winter.

Waterside Cottage is part of a trio of cottages, nestled on the banks of the estuary in Alnmouth, on a clear night it feels like you can see forever.  The dark skies play host to millions of stars light years away, the twinkling eyes looking down at you from the heavens in their masses, it's a stargazers paradise.  When we arrived and got out of the car I stopped, breathless at the sight of them all in the skies up above me.  

When you lead as busy a life as I do, escaping to the countryside as often as you possibly can is an absolute must to keep yourself sane!  I've said this before but single parenting, running a business and a menagerie is not at all for the faint hearted!

Now I may have made our trip sound like a tranquil haven from the madness of daily life but that's not to say that you can't be connected at waterside cottage because you can, all of your needs are catered for, Dishwasher, super fast wifi, huge digital tv, pretty much guaranteed to keep even the most monosyllabic youtube craving teenager happy.  Well that's if you choose to use all of the comforts you have surrounding, you could always ban tv and delve into the pile of games, a round of Monopoly anyone?  You could even tell your children you must go out because you haven't a clue what the wifi password is, just don't tell them I told you to do that ok?!

So that's the kids and you catered for but what about your four pawed friends?  I have to say that no one had more fun than my four pawed travel expert beagle Holly Bobbins, I think twice in the whole of the weekends she went on the lead because you're so safe and secluded there's just no need and of course, you all know Holly Bobbins likes the luxury life, well that's pretty much what she got at Waterside Cottage!

Big windows to watch the world out of, seagulls to try to sneak up on, long sandy beaches to run around, great dog friendly pubs like the Red Lion to have "scwumptious swossidges" and a big luxurious cottage to have the best naps in ever, yes that's one very happy travelling beagle, in fact, she gave the weekend 10 barks out of 10.

It was so lovely of Simone, the owner of the cottages to invite Holly and I to test out the cottages for her and even more lovely that I got to take along one of my very best friends, we had the most relaxing, restful weekends with way too much sticky toffee pudding, Prosecco and other foodie treats you only have on your birthday, suffice to say, even walking 7 miles every day and the waistline on my trousers felt just a little tighter on the journey home. 

If you'd like to book yourself a stay in one of Simones fabulous properties you can visit her owners direct page here, with accommodation starting at just over £100 per night you might just secure yourself the best value luxury cottages in the whole of Northumberland

Here's a few photographs from our wonderful weekend...

Holly Bobbins and I are always looking for more wonderful brands to collaborate with so if you fit the criteria please do get in touch.

Have you got plans for pancake day?

February has hit and I've already noticed my energy levels rising again, the days are visibly longer and when my alarm goes off in the morning I don't feel quite so exhausted although I am still hitting the snooze button.  Yesterday Holly and I had a huge stomp through the countryside with my lovely friend Harriet, it was a lovely Sunday off and the sunshine certainly warmed my soul!

Today was like a breath of spring air, whilst the rest of the country was hit by storm Imogen up in the north east it's been a pretty good day, I didn't quite achieve a long walk because Mondays are mostly manic but it gives me hope that later in the week I might be able to wander in the nearby woodlands noticing winters grip being beaten by the warmth of the coming spring.  Yes I know in reality we still have a way to go yet before the bunnies emerge and the chicks start to cheep their chirpy song but I can't bear to think that it's still likely to snow sometime soon.

Single parenting, winter, self employment, they're all a bit of a bumpy road and definitely not for the faint of heart, whilst I adore my job, I do sometimes think it might be nice to get paid in regular amounts on a monthly basis, luckily I also realise that me trapped behind a desk would be a pathway to my own madness, probably quite literally if I'm honest.  

I have so many plans for this year, I have the dreaded 3rd floor I want to decorate, I want Looby to have her wild flower meadow bedroom and I want every Monday to be open house, it's sort of come to pass that people just end up at my house on a Monday night for dinner and you know what, I love it, I cook simple healthy food that tastes good but contains lots of smart carbs and no refined sugar and everyone goes home happy.  I love having a houseful, I don't even mind the washing up (though I think the time has come to put a dishwasher on the top of my want list), I don't even mind that my children never like the same food and I have to cook at least 2 different meals.  I just love having a table full of chatter and laughter, food unites, it's where friendships are built and strengthened.

Tomorrow, I'm reminded is pancake day, I have a plan for this, 1 sitting of normal fat pancakes for my children (just don't tell them I'm using wholemeal flour) and after slimming world, 1 sitting of some healthier buckwheat protein pancakes with a ricotta and cheese filling for savoury and a strawberries and cream filling for pudding (well we all need a little treat). Happy kids and happy friends I hope.

I'm very excited about this week to come, my article in Cruise International will finally be published on Friday, yes in the shops, a real hold it in your hands magazine.  I've been published before, lots of times actually, my scrapbooking design team days lead to lots of publications but this will be photography and travel writing, something I've been working so hard towards, trying not to get too over excited but to keep having the passion to put myself out there.

This month marks my 10th year of blogging, I am someone who gets excited about a lot of things but sticking with them, well that's another thing indeed so to have before me 10 years of my life, it definitely deserves to be celebrated.  I want to do something special but I'm still not sure what, my lovely friend Laura from Sharpe Recruitment suggested that I should give away afternoon tea with me and you could ask me anything, now I'm not exactly Richard Branson but I guess I've picked up a lot of valuable stuff in 10 years so maybe, just maybe it's not the worst thing you could ever win.  I'd love to know what you think?  How would you mark 10 years of blogging?

10 reasons to love February

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Last month I wrote my 10 reasons to love January list and I thought I would continue it as a monthly series, I can't believe it's February, for me it's the real start of the year, if I'm honest, nothing really happens in January, I'm too busy hiding away from the dark and cold and winter but February sees the return of light in the mornings and the evenings once again begin to stretch their light filled arms embracing us with just a tease of a cuddle that spring is somewhere waiting around the corner. Here's my 10 definitive reasons to love February...

1. If January is a month of beginnings the theme of February has to be about love, now it may not be that you are in a relationship but this doesn't have to mean that you don't have love in your life, in February it's great to remind yourself just how much you love and are loved, what form that takes and who it's with is entirely up to you but I for one have never felt as loved in my life as I have since I adopted Holly Bobbins, my crazy beagle companion never fails to give the best cuddles and as she nestles her head in my lap I know that she's telling me just how much she loves me.
2. Whilst we're on the theme of love why don't we all send a valentines card this year, just as gifting should always be about the giving and not the receiving why not send a card to a friend or child or even your pet telling them just how much you love them and how important they are to you. It doesn't have to be a full on declaration of love but it's always likely to make them smile.
3. If you are of course loved up and in a relationship don't forget that it's the 29th of February this year, this day in fable and legend means for one day only ladies everywhere get the choice to propose to their beaus and should they refuse (how very dare they?) they must buy them 4 dresses, now I'm not one for collecting dresses but it's a good excuse to update your wardrobe!
4. As we return to lighter days and nights it's a great opportunity to start welcoming in spring. My console table in my hallway gets more springlike every week as the seasons start to change and the availability of spring flowers becomes more readily available.  You don't have to spend excessive amounts on floral treats though, I find that even Lidl and Aldi have a great assortment of fresh flowers which change on a weekly basis, I've just taken out a subscription to Bloom and Wild, a monthly box of flowers I get to have a faff with, that alone makes me feel joyous.
5. Have you noticed that the shops are full of heart shapes?  Someone once told me that if they could put a name to my decorating style it would be love and it's true, I have hearts everywhere and little signs with cute quotes which make me happy so it's always a great excuse to pick up new heart shaped delights.
6. February weather on a good day can be sunny and lovely and it's great month to get outdoors, to feel some sunshine on your face, to go an extra mile or to walk somewhere you've never been before, go search for snowdrops or early daffodils, finding outdoor patches of loveliness is a great way to warm the soul.
7. Whilst there are days of spring and warmth and sunshine February is the month we are most likely to have snow days so if those magical snowflakes do start to fall get out there, build snowmen, drink hot chocolate and embrace the joy of winter whilst it lasts.
8. February I find is the last month for a while that I'll feel like burning candles, it's a funny thing but I've noticed I rarely burn candles between March - September but during Autumn and Winter I adore the soft warm light and the heady scent of loveliness that you only get from a candle.
9. The light in February whilst still quite low has a lovely soft glow perfect for photography so what are you waiting for pull on those wooly jumpers and book yourself a family photo shoot, it's the quieter lull of my year so you might not have to wait 3 months for a weekend date, Indoor sessions are cosy and intimate, outdoor sessions lead to rosy cheeks and sunny smiles so to book your session just drop me an email and we'll set that up!
10. I don't know about you but February makes me want to get more organised, this week I've just treat myself to Spark Joy, An Illustrated Guide to the Japanese Art of Tidying and I'm hoping it's going to change my life, it's a really pretty hard backed book I know that and even holding it makes me feel better, it promises to revolutionise my life and that's not a bad thing!

The meaning of life - It's 42!

According to The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy the meaning of life is 42, being that I reach that on Monday I'm crossing my fingers and toes that is actually true.

41 for me was a bit of a weird age, it started off quite badly as I remember it but then it just got better and better until I found myself having the most fun I have ever had.  

In work I've photographed portraits and great travel destinations, beautiful weddings and I've written about some of the most glorious places in the country and Europe, I visited 5 countries in 4 days, went on my first cruise, holidayed for a week in Edinburgh and reviewed some of the loveliest dog friendly places in the country with Holly Bobbins my chief doggy travel expert.

41 was the age I went to my first ball and the age I really learned to appreciate the friendships you have with women, it's been the age of actually letting people in my home, I never thought I would see the day I actually let a TV crew into my living room, I think I got 10 bonus brave points for that one.

There's a comfort and knowledge that comes with age, especially as a woman I think, society places so many pressures upon us, the ways we should look and feel and think and we're judged on every little thing, I think somewhat we still have a long way to go to be seen truly as equals but we're breaking through glass ceilings every day and whilst there's still a long way to go I'm glad I've had my time on earth when I have.

I'm having a weekend in a luxury cottage this weekend, part travel assignment and part rest and relax with my gorgeous friend Li who I don't see enough of since she moved away from Newcastle, along with our wonderful daughters I think we're going to have a lot of fun and a stress free time.  What's even better is that Holly Bobbins will also be there assessing the dog friendliness of the property, I'm already pretty sure we're going to be delighted with what we find.

Monday is my birthday and I'm going out to dinner with some of my favourite people, a tale of 11 invade As You Like It will be a definite tale to tell next week.

I'm working on plans for the things I want to achieve this year, I have some travel assignments I'm working on at the moment, trips which are sure to be exciting and I can't wait to share those with you, I'm in the process of arranging Barcelona at the moment, we're just working on which dates are going to be best.

One final thing to look forward to is the fact that it's February next week, spring is on the way, I like to count down to spring as often as possible because I loathe winter so much, I'm already noticing that it's getting lighter in the mornings and it's getting dark just a little later in the evening, the promise of lighter, warmer, brighter days to come. Lets all celebrate the fact that we've now made it through January, Payday for most of the known world tomorrow and then you can all get on with planning lovely spring photo shoots or Mothers Day presents or Easter or making the final arrangements for weddings, I still have availability for 3 more weddings this year, I won't be taking on anymore once I have those final 3 so if you are still looking for your wedding photographer then get in touch!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone, I might still be hiding under a duvet but at least I can poke my head out thinking about the promise of spring to come!

10 weekends away to take in 2016

The steps which lead from the sea up to the Castell Bellver, Palma De Mallorca

In case anyone hasn't noticed, it's still January (how can that even be, hasn't it been January for 43 days already?) and it's dark, raining and spring still seems too far away to start getting excited about, or is it?  While the days are dark and staying under blankets planning my next adventure I've found myself amidst travel brochures, guides and internet articles trying to plan 10 weekend breaks away this year.  Whilst it's my year of adventure I'm going to make sure I have at least 10 short breaks away as well as a couple of weeks during school holidays.  It's not that hard to achieve as long as I work like a trojan during all of the other times and some of them will come about as a natural consequence to writing about travel.  I might just mention that I have a travel assignment next weekend to stay in a luxury cottage in Alnmouth and even though I don't expect it to be tropical temperatures a trip to Alnmouth in Northumberland is always delightful whatever time of year it is.

Here's 10 other trips I want to take this year - 

1. Barcelona, the beautiful city of Barcelona was where I disembarked from my European cruise on the Norwegian Epic and so all I got to see were the outskirts as we drove from the ship to the airport, it's a city I've read so much about at the climate is generally kind for most of the year, flights are reasonable and quick all year around the promise of so much art, culture and the magnificence of Gaudi's architecture mean I have this as my number 1 destination I want to visit in 2016.
2. Rome, similarly this was the place I embarked upon the Norwegian Epic so I didn't get to see any of the city itself.  They say no one can quite believe their eyes when they come out of the metro to be confronted with the Colosseum right there in front of them almost in the centre of the historic city, I want to make sure I have some time to live like the Italians do, If Pisa was anything to go off I am sure I will fall head over heels in love with Rome.
3. Florence, it's noted as one of the safest cities in Europe which means I won't mind too much if I have to go on my own, on the day I went to Pisa I could have taken a bus to Florence but the temptation of climbing the leaning tower of Pisa was just too much and so I feel I must visit Florence for nowhere on earth is home to quite as much art and beauty as the beloved Italian city of Florence.
4. Palma de Mallorca, I've spent just a few hours in this stylish city, the main port of the spanish island of Mallorca, it seems like art and culture were nestled together with sunshine and beaches and stylish marinas, perfect for that weekend getaway with the girls.
5. Dorset, it's not all far flung adventures on aeroplanes, there are many destinations I'd love to visit with Holly Bobbins, you know she loves the train, it may take a couple of days to get to one of England's most beautiful counties with Holly in toe but I have a feeling it's a dog walkers paradise.  I know when we had holidays in Somerset we nearly made it to Dorset but not quite so I've been meaning to go ever since.
6. Brighton, I'm already in the early stages of formulating plans for a road trip to Brighton with my lovely friend Harriet, neither of us have been and it's actually quicker to drive to Brighton than it is to drive to London because it's one straight road and I've always felt that the laid back, cosmopolitan green city by the sea would be somewhere I'd fit in perfectly.
7. Bamburgh, just a little further up the coast from Alnmouth is the beautiful little village of Bamburgh, it's the perfect dog friendly place I can get to easily on the bus with Holly during spring or summer thanks to the wonder of the Arriva Max X18 service I can go the scenic coastal route with a beagle at my side and a spring in my step.
8. Keswick was once named as Britain's most dog friendly town so I think it's only right that Holly Bobbins go and investigate, there are a wealth of hotels, shops and places to eat where you can take your dog but it's 4 years now since they held the official title so it's time for H.B Bobbins serious travel investigation, and yes there will be Barks out of 10
9. Amsterdam, the last time I was in Amsterdam I was young and foolish and 24, lets just say I didn't see as much culture as I would have liked so this year I am on a mission to go back there, especially now that I have been through Schipol and know it's probably the best airport for shopping in Europe!  Or, I might even take an Amsterdam mini cruise from North Shields with Abigail, although you don't get a lot of time in this amazing dutch city there's probably enough time to soak up some culture, visit the Anne Frank house and hopefully take a trip on a boat around the canal, you know I love a boat trip.
10. Eurodisney, so Looby is 12 now, she still loves Disney (as do I at the age of nearly 42) but I feel that we must do Disney whilst it's still magical and before she becomes a jaded teenager with Kevin the teenager style strops (they've already begun people, take cover), I know it's gaudy and commercialised and it's not the place to visit if you're on a diet but I think Looby and I could have the best weekend ever at Eurodisney and with the Eurostar being cheap if you book in advance I think this Parisian treat is within our grasp and you never know we might even get to see some of Paris whilst we're there.

So there you go, some dog friendly, some child friendly, some full of culture and some you just want to go to if you want a good time, I'd love to hear your top tips for places and you want to visit in the next 12 months, maybe we could even go on an adventure together!

Snow, Holly Bobbins and Seasonally Affective Disorder

I've had seasonally affective disorder for as long as I can remember but in the last 10 years of being a photographer and self employed I find it's the only month of the year when I want to hide myself away and hibernate until spring.  I've found throughout the years that I have formulated various coping strategies ranging from actually hiding way like a hermit until the light improved to going out as much as humanly possible, I bet you can guess which worked best.

I recorded a video out there yesterday morning in the snowy sub zero temperatures but I would have had to walk Holly Bobbins anyway and I wanted to embrace the snow, feel some light on my face and get my circulation going.

This is the start of my weekly vlogs and I hope that you'll tune in either here or over on my YouTube channel

Obviously as we get further on I hope that my videos will improve but at the same time I think I just want to keep it as one woman sharing her thoughts on life, love and everything in between, it's the same as my blog really but now you'll be able to see me a little more.

The best thing about my job and my life as it is now is the travel element, I'm due to go away to a luxury cottage for a weekend in Alnmouth on a travel assignment at the end of January and I can't wait to share that with you in photos, in writing and also in video.  I've recorded video snippets throughout the last 10 years, my favourites are the ones of the girls growing up, especially the ones of Looby in our living room when she was a tiny dot, I did those with my first ever video enabled camera, it wasn't even a DSLR, it was a Fuji bridge camera which was terribly heavy and really not very good, I only had it for about 6 or so months before getting my very first DSLR, a Canon 350D, fond memories...

When I think about the way I live my life now I notice the one big change that brought about so many other little changes, it wasn't becoming a single parent in so much as it was about becoming myself and the arrival of a certain 4 pawed arooing beagle by the name of Holly Bobbins, I love my dog, she truly healed me in many ways than one, she saw inside my heart and reached into my soul and embraced every inch of her human mummy.  I will never stop being grateful for her love.

I still have seasonally affective disorder now but I have great friends who come over and with whom I go out with and I go out and make my legs work and my heart pump when I walk Holly in the park, sometimes I even get that winter sunshine on my face and I can feel it tingling in my soul promising me that one day soon the warmth of spring will return once more and I'll feel on top of the world.