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From Derbyshire to Scotland and Back Again – in a Van
A 7 day itinerary that isn’t the North Coast 500. I can hardly believe it’s been over a year since we packed up a campervan and set off on an unforgettable adventure through Scotland. Exploring the rugged, untamed beauty of Scotland’s winding roads, towering mountains, and rocky harbours had long been a dream of mine, and in 2023, we finally made it happen—dog and all. Gwen, our beloved rescue pup, joined us for this epic journey, adding her own unique challenges and joys to the experience. Months of meticulous planning went into crafting our itinerary. I poured over maps, purchased lots of guides, compiled PDFs, scribbled notes, and bookmarked countless…
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Book Releases I’m Excited to Read in 2025
I can’t believe how quickly 2024 flew by—anyone else feel like it was over in the blink of an eye? But here we are, at the start of a brand-new year, and I’m already eagerly planning my 2025 reading list. As always, there’s no shortage of exciting releases to look forward to, and I’ve pulled together a selection of the books I’m most thrilled to dive into this year. Of course, this isn’t an exhaustive list, and let’s be honest—my ever-growing TBR pile (looking at you, 100 unread books on my shelves!) means I may not get to them all. But hey, that’s half the fun, right? Here are 25…
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Making a Festive Breakfast Board
I absolutely love creating beautiful food boards—whether it’s a classic cheese platter, a ploughman’s spread, or a spooky-themed snack board. I love bringing them to life with vibrant colours and creative arrangements. With the festive season right around the corner, I thought it was the perfect time to share my simple, no-cook festive board idea with you! There’s no recipe, as it’s all about the assemble. My breakfast board fed 6, and here’s what it included: 8 x croissants (I warmed these up in the oven, but you can have them cold if preferred)6 x American PancakesSmoked Salmon served in a small bowlParma hamChorizo slicesCream CheeseBlueberriesRaspberriesCranberriesPurple GrapesPretzelsChocolate Gold CoinsLuxury yogurts…
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Recipe: Orange & Walnut Autumnal Chocolate Bark
Autumn is hands down my favorite season for cozy, comforting food. Amidst the hearty stews, fluffy dumplings, and steaming bowls of carrot soup, I love indulging in a sweet treat now and then. Last year, I stumbled upon chocolate bark, and after a few trial-and-error experiments, I’ve perfected a combination that’s just right. Let me introduce you to my latest creation: a delightful blend of orange, walnut, and rich chocolate, perfect for those crisp fall days. This chocolate bark recipe is SO EASY to make and ready in no time! Orange & Walnut Chocolate Bark Recipe Ingredients:2x Terry’s Chocolate OrangesZest from 1 orangeHandful of WalnutsSea Salt to season Method:Step 1.…
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Our Home.
What Does Home Mean To You? “Our Home” was this year’s global theme for Refugee Week, held from June 17th to 23rd. Through my involvement with a local book festival, I had the honour of participating in Hello Derby: A Festival of Welcome, hosted by Derby Museums. At our stand, we posed a simple yet profound question to attendees: “What does home mean to you?” Using postcards as their canvas, residents, refugees, organisations, friends, and creatives from across Derbyshire poured their thoughts and emotions onto paper. Over 100 postcards were filled with heartfelt reflections, stories, drawings, and scribbles—each offering a unique and personal perspective on what “home” means. I was…
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A Foodies Guide to Las Palmas, de Gran Canaria
One of the absolute delights of any holiday for me is indulging in the local cuisine! I thrive on sampling new dishes, discovering unique flavours, and hunting down the best dining spots. Join me as I take you through my favourite foodie destinations in Las Palmas! During my 5-day stay in Las Palmas, despite enjoying breakfast at the hotel each morning, we explored a wide array of lunch and dinner venues. This list includes everything from renowned Canarian dishes and affordable eats to more upscale dining experiences. You’ll also find some irresistible treats, market delicacies, beachside favourites, and of course, the ever-popular tapas! 1. Restaurant El Deseo I chose El…
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Why You Should Visit Las Palmas, de Gran Canaria
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria offers a mesmerising blend of charming cobbled streets in the historic old town, stunning sandy beaches, and delectable cuisine, ensuring a delightful experience for every traveler. With an abundance of sights to explore and activities to enjoy, this vibrant city stands out as a perfect holiday destination. In early June, I set off for Las Palmas with my bright yellow suitcase packed full of my favorite dresses, suncream, and flip-flops, eagerly anticipating the warm weather and the adventures that lay ahead. This was my first beach holiday in nearly six years, and I couldn’t wait to indulge in tapas, swim in the sea, and explore…
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The Lincolnshire Soundscape
I have been delivering community soundscape workshops for several years. These can take on different forms, but for the most part they’re experimental and encourage participants to think about / explore the sound of their community and ‘home’ I ran a workshop recently where members of the Lincolnshire community were invited to Lincoln Arts Centre to attend a soundscape workshop with myself and colleague Dylan Roys (lecturer in radio and sound). We began the workshop with a discussion about sound, place, community and home and what our community sounded like to use. This encouraged a really thoughtful and engaging discussion around how Lincolnshire has a very natural sound associated with…
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Home from Home
I have volunteered for various communities radio stations alongside being employed in the media and creative industries. I have a huge personal interest in folk music, and attend lots of folk and acoustic events in my hometown. I love folk music for the community spirit, the coming together in the local pub, the shared tales and stories, and absolute buzz that comes with the songs. Woven into the fabric of folk music lies a tapestry of folklore, where songs intricately thread stories and narratives handed down across generations. Serving as a portal into the cultural legacy of a community, these musical expressions offer glimpses into their values, customs, and belief…
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The Big Draw – Sound Art
The Big Draw is the world’s largest drawing festival. The Festival is made up of a collection of thousands of creative events, activities, and workshops across the globe run by organisations big and small; from individuals to entire cities! As part of the Big Draw myself and colleague Sam Shipley delivered sound art workshops to 30 schoolchildren and young adults at the University of Lincoln. The participants got to learn about sound art, experimental sound and soundscapes, as well as contribute towards a radio broadcast for local station Siren Radio. I planned, delivered and edited the audio alongside Sam, and it was great to be a part of such a…
