LivingwithKids

What does being a responsible tourist mean to you? Obviously we all know we should take only pictures and leave only footprints in the sand... and if you’re flying you might be ‘offsetting’ your airmiles.

Virgin Holidays have just launched their Human Nature Collection, offering holidays ranging from volunteering projects and eco-friendly safaris to stays in small, specially selected hotels. The collection is all about balancing unforgettable experiences with more responsible travel choices, and the holidays directly benefit the local community or contribute to conservation.

I think it’s a pretty good concept and it’s certainly given me food for thought – I’m all in favour of educating our children to be responsible tourists, too. Let me know your views.

In just one week's time I'll be jetting off to Florida with five other mummy bloggers. There's nothing like the thought of exposing your body to strangers to frighten you into dieting and so that's what I've been doing, since April.

 

This morning I jumped on the scales and saw numbers I haven't seen in over two years. I can't tell you how good that feels. I still have a way to go, but I'm determined to keep on with it. I've found my diet easy to stick to and when I've had a 'bad' day or snacking setbacks I haven't let it hold me back - instead I've treated the following day as a fresh start. I've also been doing more exercise (well, walking. I haven't joined a gym, or anything.) And gratifyingly, my combats are now so loose they fall off when I walk up the stairs.

Of course I'm not saying nothing tastes as good as skinny feels. I still love chocolate and cheese. But to paraphrase Joey Tribbiani, my clothes fit a little better, I have more energy and I'm definitely feeling more confident about going on that beach.

OK to appreciate this post you need to click here for the song that goes with it. These photos were taken in Waikiki, Hawaii, one of my favourite places in the world. Whenever I’m feeling stressed I think about the colour of the sea and the sound of the waves...

...and the beautiful pinky gold sunsets. And nothing, not even the noise of squabbling/whining/barking (that’s the dog, mostly) can spoil it. Where do you drift away to when you want to escape from it all?

*This post is my entry to this week’s Gallery.

You wouldn't believe how much persuasion this photo took. Bribery was involved (several Swiss Francs), and of course the shades stayed on. As you can see, we're on top of a mountain in Switzerland and my heart was in my mouth the whole time (that's not much of a safety barrier, is it?!) But I love this picture because if you look closely you can see a smile on my boy's face. Just a slight one, but it's there.

*This is an entry to the Gallery. For more examples, and to find out how you can join in, click here.

Sometimes you're having a very ordinary day and the most extraordinary thing can happen. Like when an email popped into my inbox a few weeks ago asking if I would like to go on a trip to Orlando with five other mummy bloggers. My first reaction was 'Florida! OMG' because we really didn't get much sun last year and I'm in desperate need of a tan. And when I saw the invite included a trip to Discovery Cove, somewhere I've always wanted to go, well of course I said yes.

But then I started to feel afraid. I've never met any of these women before. What if they don't like me? How will my family cope without me? Will they remember to feed themselves? Will they remember to turn off the oven when they've finished cooking? Will they break the dishwasher? Will I feel guilty that I'm going on such an amazing trip without them? Will the puppy pine?

I've always been one to rise to challenges and meet them head on. And I know that Mummy Me Time is incredibly important for our wellbeing - and to be honest, I haven't had much of it for quite a while.

So I'm ignoring the fears, and I'm doing it anyway. I'm really looking forward to meeting Erica, Jo, English Mum, Laura and Linda, and I'm ridiculously excited about going to SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Aquatica and of course Discovery Cove.

I won't be riding the big rollercoasters - but this trip will be an adventure for me, all the same.

With Valentine's Day less than a week away, the National Trust have put together a list of some of the most romantic places in Britain. They include the beautiful Giant's Causeway and Lyme Park, famous as the setting for that lake scene from Pride and Prejudice.

It's got me thinking about my own favourite romantic places. In Britain I'd probably say St Ives. Further afield - well the beaches of the Caribbean are of course incredibly romantic, ditto California, but Kualoa Ranch in Hawaii, the backdrop for Lost, is one of the most breathtaking places I've been to, and it's no surprise that so many couples choose to get married there. It's simply stunning, particularly at sunset.

My ultimate romantic place though has to be Villa del Balbianello on Lake Como. It was used to great effect in Casino Royale and um.. Star Wars Episode II and it's almost laughably romantic, with idyllic terraces everywhere offering incredible vistas of the Lake.

Where are your favourite romantic places? I'd love to know.