Shady days of summer

I do love summer days and hot balmy nights. The smells of flora and fauna in the air, wearing little dresses and BBQs wafting over garden fences. Every day is filled with the promise of simple pleasures.

What to do in Banff, Canada part two...

Read about our first day here. The next morning, bright and early, we enjoyed coffee on our private balcony before we made our way down to breakfast, where our order was taken promptly, coffee was delivered hot and fresh, and the food smells wafted invitingly from the kitchen.

What to expect at 37 weeks pregnant: my pregnancy diary update

At 37 weeks you're considered full term, although some prefer to call it early term, but either way baby is fully ready to come into the world.

How to make the ultimate dinner party risotto...

When I recently visited the Malton Food Festival I had the pleasure of watching some top chefs making their favourite dishes...

My top 5 independent shops to visit in Beverley...

When you pick a town to visit for the day or weekend, I generally look for a few things... good places to eat are essential, some nice sights to visit and it's also a bonus if there are some shops which offer a flavour of the town and offer something different to other places.

A sac de triomphe: the ultimate take anywhere bag

These beautiful heady days of summer provide so much opportunity to get outdoors and explore and I'd been looking for a Mary Poppin's style practical but stylish bag for a while to take with me when I get in these wanderlust fuelled, adventure seeking frames of mind...

What to expect when celebrating Summer Solstice at Stonehenge...

I've been fortunate to visit this fantastic piece of history twice now, including a recent trip, but the first time was a pretty different experience...being the flower child I am, I had always wanted to visit on the Summer Solstice and when I heard that each June 21st, on the solstice, the monument is still opened up to pagans, worshippers, revellers and curious bystanders to celebrate the longest day in the calendar year and watch the sun rise, I had to go along to take part.