My love affair with London
“When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.” So wrote the 18th century essayist and poet Samuel Johnson. He could easily have…
Chatting to the Chelsea Pensioners
Killing time sometimes leads to wonderful discoveries while travelling. On a stopover in London earlier this year, I had allowed myself extra time to find an…
Chilling out and chasing history at medieval Chateau de Chillon
Everybody loves a knight in shining armour. I didn’t find one in Switzerland, but I did see some beautiful bronze suits of armour at Château de…
All the fun of a funicular
“What’s a funicular?” The question surprised me, coming from someone who has travelled quite a lot. I was talking about travelling on one in Switzerland, but…
Time to write again
Time poor. It’s a popular phrase these days, and not one I’m keen on, but I think it describes pretty well my silence for a few…
In praise of the humble bicycle
“After a wobbly start and a few close encounters with brick walls, we rode through Hoi An to the countryside,” writes my daughter, holidaying in Vietnam.…
Buying into the ‘burqa’ debate
At the back of my wardrobe, in a place that no-one ever sees, hangs a shiny voluminous black cloak. It’s an abaya – or what many…
Insider guide to Basel
Hotel inspections are a part of life for travel writers. Despite the fact that we are staying in a hotel, it is almost certain that we’ll…
Missing out on the Miners Memorial
The outback New South Wales town of Broken Hill is famous for its mining history. Generations of men have toiled to bring the region’s rich lode…
Swell Sculpture Festival 2014
As if sand and sea are not enough to restore the soul at any time, each year I love to head to the Gold Coast for…
A Glass Half Full 