The small sign flashed at me as I manoeuvred the bend; Wine shop 3/4 mile. Rain had given way to a clear sky and a glimpse of the sea over the fields. Intrigued and wondering how a wine shop ended up in a narrow Devon lane, I drove on towards Stoke Fleming, making a mental note to find out more. Halfway down the hill from Stoke Fleming to Blackpool Sands, where the road joins the pavement, I stopped to admire…
A working holiday is a great way to get to know a place, have fun, earn money and travel at the same time. Unlike a whistle stop tour of a place or a couple of days overnight in a destination, a working holiday gives you a different perspective of the place you are staying in. As well as getting to live like a local and experiencing the area in an authentic way, rather than rushing around trying to cram in…
A weekend at an eco-camping retreat This summer I went to Tiverton for a weekend of eco-camping in Devon at Coombe Farm. Never having visited an eco-camping retreat in the UK before, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Narrow country lanes led us to the entrance of Combe Farm and a spectacular view across the countryside. From there, a steep hill took us down to a parking area where we were able to park and forget about the car for…
What is a Beets n Roots breakfast? I was really excited to be invited for breakfast at Beets n Roots with the Bristol Bloggers and Influencers group. I’m a great fan of eating chemical-free food, so a visit to a café that’s organic for one of my favourite meals of the day promised to be a real treat. After a bit of research I discovered that Beets n Roots is a vegetarian and vegan café. I wasn’t really sure what…
Elena’s Paella Having not eaten paella for a while, I was really pleased to discover Ele’s Little Kitchen at the first ever South Glos Food and Drink Festival this weekend. Ele – short for Elena- is from Murcia in Spain and uses authentic Spanish ingredients such as pimentón (paprika)in her paella. I was hoping to try the seafood version, but unfortunately, it had all sold out. So, I ordered the chicken one and watched Elena cooking it in the sunshine….
Chocolate, the perfect business As I sip my spicy hot chocolate, the flavour hits the tip of my tongue. Cinnamon, cloves, chilli and star anise. It’s warm, exotic and luxurious. Just like hot chocolate should be. I stir my chocolate and think of Nicola Eaton. When anyone mentions living the ideal life and having the dream job to Nicola, she shrugs and smiles to herself. She considers she already has her ideal lifestyle. “I don’t need to go up Everest. I’m very…