Your money goes a long way in Vietnam – making it a great choice for anyone wanting to experience its buzzing cities, tropical beaches, compelling history, and natural beauty without maxing out the credit card. Brits are among a handful of nationalities entitled to a free tourist visa on arrival for visits of up to…
Leisure
My trip to Tokyo’s famous Ghibli museum!
In February, my new husband and I made a long anticipated trip to Japan for our honeymoon. There were so many things that I desperately wanted to see and do. We managed a number of them, but the trip would not have been complete had we not visited the Ghibli museum in Mitaka, Tokyo. If you…
Japan and the super Shinkansen railway
Having parents who divorced in my early childhood, I think it’s fair to say that I have experienced an on-again, off-again relationship with trains. From the days of getting on at York, off at Stevenage, on at King’s Cross, off at York, much of my travel experience as a youngster was viewed from out of…
Cut price Easter eggs: a cracking deal or a road to childhood obesity?
It’s almost that time of year again. Easter. There’s no getting away from it. It seems that as soon as the Santas retreated, and the sugary hearts fell off the supermarket shelves, the chocolate eggs sprung up sporting numerous ‘3 for £10’ offers, and ‘Just £1!’ deals. For the most part, I move through the…
My trip to Fox Village, Japan
From hedgehog cafes, to islands literally full of cats and rabbits that will chase you to be fed, there are many places in Japan that will make you squeal at just how darn cute they are! One of those places is Fox Village in Shiroishi, Miyagi prefecture. During my ten day (eight, actually, if you…
Let’s talk about new car tax
Buying a brand new car is possibly one of the most expensive purchases you’ll make. It requires a lot of leg work, planning, and research. Economy, aesthetics, performance, size… there’s lots to consider. I’ve had my car for four years, and my little Toyota Aygo was perfect for when I was a nervy new driver –…
Long haul flights: it’s the little things
Having recently been to Japan, I experienced my first long-haul flight in almost a decade. As you might expect, the flight was one of the lesser enjoyable aspects of an otherwise amazing trip. However, as this was the first time I’d ever made such a long trip (14 hours on a plane – hurrah!) without…
Networking: make it a breeze (and not tumbleweed)
For the girl who started youth theatre because she was acutely shy, networking as an adult actress 18 years later can be the stuff of nightmares. It’s something I have tended to avoid in the past, but I made the decision a couple of months ago that this avoidance was holding me back. I will…
Pod hotels: a sensible convenience or an idea from a dystopian novel?
I recently went travelling across central and (slightly) northern Japan with my new husband. I must confess, as someone who had not been out of the United Kingdom for around six years (not for lack of wanting to, but rather for lack of the funds), I am not a seasoned traveller. All the previous country hopping…
Wedding cakes: slice the price
I mentioned recently that the cost of a good old wedding in the UK averaged out at just over £20k back in 2016 which, when you think about it, is an absolutely crazy price to pay for what is, at most, a weekend of celebrations. Back when we were shopping around for cakes, I contacted…