“Here’s the key to your room, number 1001.” “The carpet will be spotlessly clean then,” I whispered to Dougie, remembering the brand of stain remover I’ve got in the cupboard back home. Unfortunately, we...
Mum’s Gone to Japan: Kobe
After six nights in Tokyo and four nights in Hiroshima, our Rugby World Cup trip itinerary moved on to Kobe. Our team, Scotland, already bruised by their battering from Ireland in Yokohama, would be...
Mum’s Gone To Japan: Miyajima Island
If you’re looking for a day trip that involves as many forms of transport as possible, try this jaunt we took from Hiroshima to Miyajima island in Japan. We took a plane from...
Mum’s Gone To Japan: Finding peace in Hiroshima
At 8.15 am on 6 August 1945, an atomic bomb, code-name ‘Little Boy’, was detonated above the city of Hiroshima in Japan. The explosion caused thousands of deaths on impact and thousands more in...
Mum’s Gone To Japan: Things to do in Tokyo
A bucket list trip? Yes. A retirement present from my husband to himself? Absolutely. This was always going to be the trip of a lifetime. A holiday in Japan coinciding with the 2019 Rugby...
Cobh Heritage Centre and Titanic Experience
If you’re ever in Ireland and planning to visit Cobh, let me give you a tip. It’s pronounced ‘cove’ not ‘cobb’. A big thank you to the woman at Cork station who sold us...
Ayscoughfee Hall Cafe has the recipe for success
If you live in Spalding, or visit as a tourist, you’re bound to make a beeline for Ayscoughfee Hall. It dates from the mid-15th century and is a Grade I listed building. Whilst the...
A city break in Cork at Christmas
In the run up to Christmas last year we took a trip to York. It was fabulous: a Christmas market, lovely hotel, lots of shopping and eating: an ideal way to prepare for the...