Category: Travel

Life, Thoughts, Travel

A career break

by wattleandashLeave a Comment on A career break
A career break

It’s been close to five months since stopped working as a journalist.  Taking a break 10 years into my career so I could move to England was once of the scariest decisions I think I’ve made.  I had a good job that paid well, worked with a wonderful team and enjoyed what I did. Why leave all of that?

Laptop and video camera set up on a desk.
On the road reporting: a temporary desk at the Deniliquin Police Station, NSW Australia.

I was never one of those kids who dreamed of being a reporter, I sort fell into journalism. My year 11 English teacher had suggested I investigate a degree in journalism.  It seemed interesting so I applied and got accepted into my university of choice to study for a Bachelor of Journalism. It was only perhaps half way through my first year of that degree that I knew that I’d made the right decision. I got such a buzz from writing under deadline.  Researching, interviewing and penning stories gave me a thrill like I’d never experienced before.

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Everyday life, Travel

An English wedding

by wattleandash2 Comments on An English wedding
An English wedding

I had the privlege of attending my first English wedding at the weekend.  Adam’s mum got remarried and it so lovely to be a part of the celebrations.

Whenever I think about an English wedding, it’s always Four Weddings and Funeral that comes to mind.  Historic stone churches, top hats and tails and a young Hugh Grant.  This wedding was a little different.  There was no church, no men in fancy hats (but there were a few ladies in fabulous fascinators!) and no Hugh.  It was refreshingly real.

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Thoughts, Travel

The new European holiday

by wattleandash2 Comments on The new European holiday
The new European holiday

I can remember quite a few years ago getting totally engrossed in the Facebook photo album of a university acquaintance who was living and working in London.  There were dozens of pictures of holidays abroad in exotic European locations and I admit, I was a little envious.

Years later and a post a move to the U.K. myself, I’m beginning to understand how she was doing it: there are relatively small distances you have to travel to reach Europe and a highly competitive budget airline industry. It totally makes sense, if you’re smart with your money you can travel, and travel often.

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Everyday life, Travel

The dressing table

by wattleandashLeave a Comment on The dressing table
The dressing table

Oh what a difference a week can make.  Last week Adam and I were sipping sangria under sunny blue skies in Gibraltar.  Over the weekend we’ve watched flurries of snow showers from our kitchen window, whilst warming our hands on big mugs of coffee.

It still seems a bit magical to me that you can wake up one morning and have one type of weather, jump on a plane or train or in a car, and suddenly be in a place completely opposite to where you were.  It’s why I guess so many people get wanderlust.

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Travel

A postcard from Gibraltar

by wattleandash1 Comment on A postcard from Gibraltar
A postcard from Gibraltar

If you’re looking for somewhere sunny, with amazing views and a mix of English, Spanish and north African cultures, Gibraltar could be the place for you.

Adam and I have just returned from a three day, two night stay in the British Overseas Territory.  We went on a whim swayed by cheap flights and a few people did raise their eyebrows at our plans. Gibraltar, at the tip of the Iberian Peninsula, has a bit of a reputation as being a jaded 1970s family resort destination. Sure it’s still full of English tourists, but if you dig a little deeper and take the time to learn a little about this city and its incredible history, you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised.

Colourful houses line the shores of Catalan Bay in Gibraltar.

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Everyday life, Travel

On a cool, bright day

by wattleandash2 Comments on On a cool, bright day
On a cool, bright day

It’s been grey and drizzly over the last few weeks but on Saturday the sun finally came out and stuck around all day! It was the perfect way to start a long weekend. Adam and I are currently in Gibraltar (more on that later this week!), but is there anything better than a bright, cool winter’s day? The clouds, haze and woodsmoke from cosy fireplaces gets swept away to reveal a landscape in muted but rich colour.

Frost burnt ferns and long grass on top of the Malvern Hills. Continue reading “On a cool, bright day” →

Style, Travel

The suitcase guide: Gibraltar

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The suitcase guide: Gibraltar

A couple of weeks ago Adam and I sat aside a few days in February for a mini-break. Our first getaway in the Lake District (read about it here and here) seemed a distant memory and we were itching to go exploring again.

Due to only having three days spare we decided a city break was the best option.  We found super cheap flights to Gibraltar (£35 return!) and booked an Airbnb apartment right in the city centre.

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Thoughts, Travel

The fabulous baker boy

by wattleandash1 Comment on The fabulous baker boy
The fabulous baker boy

Adam celebrated a birthday over weekend so we’ve spent the last few days stretching out festivities, instead of trying to cram it all into one 24 hour period.

As I wrote out a soppy card for him last week, I began to think about how interesting it’s been seeing Adam back in his ‘native territory’ over the last few months.  Most people who travel (including Adam) will happily tell you the experience is life changing.  The person you were when you left isn’t always the same as when you return.

Adam baking bread.
The baker boy in action.

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Thoughts, Travel

Finding your groove

by wattleandashLeave a Comment on Finding your groove
Finding your groove

When you move to a new place it takes time to settle in.  You don’t instantly know where the best place is to do grocery shopping or buy a nice coffee, but after a little while you start to find your way around.  Things that previously seemed challenging or that made you second-glance or stare in awe, suddenly become normal.

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Everyday life, Local sights, Travel

It’s all in the name

by wattleandashLeave a Comment on It’s all in the name
It’s all in the name

When I worked as a journalist in south-western New South Wales one of my favourite things to do while driving long, straight roads for hours at a time was to look out for the names of farms. The name seemed to the give the property a personality and I liked the concept of the land almost becoming a member of the family.

Santa Clause mannequin sitting beside a property name sign in western New South Wales, Australia
A festive property sign west of Hay, NSW, Australia.

What I’ve found in England and particularly Malvern, is that names aren’t just reserved for farms.  Many suburban houses have names, often dating back centuries.  Houses are sometimes named after the family that originally lived in the home or the surrounding landscape.  I also love that mail is addressed to the house name. It isn’t 16 Smith Street, rather ‘Valley View Cottage’, 16 Smith Street.  Perhaps it’s the daydreamer in me, but I just think that’s utterly delightful.

There are so many different types of name plaques too: painted ceramic slabs adorning house fronts, wrought iron signs on gates, wooden plaques, sandstone etchings or sometimes the name’s just simply painted on the side of the house.

I’ve always wanted to live in a house that has a name. The house Adam and I are living in does – so it’s a bit of a dream come true! Our downstairs neighbours even have a beautifully painted watercolour of the original house before it was split into three separate apartments.

I’ve been lucky enough to do a bit of travel, but I must admit I’ve never really noticed en masse houses with names anywhere except the U.K. Does your house have a name? What is it, and do you know the story behind it?!