On our Highlights of Northern Spain tour, we drive past the turn off to Guernica and many guests ask if we're stopping there. The fact that so many had heard of Guernica at first surprised me and then made me think that I really should visit and learn a little more about what actually happened there. 

A few days free in Bilbao. I had already added Guernica to the list, but while working out how to get there, I spotted this amazing piece of coastline with a Hermita sitting prettily on the top. It's come to more recent fame thanks to Game of Thrones. San Juan de Gaztelugatxe gave life to Rocadragon (dragonstone), the fortress of the Targaryen house. I've never watched GoT, so that means absolutely nothing to me, but the place looked impressive. 

With my 2nd tour of 2026 having been postponed, but already having plans and tickets to Bilbao, I decided to go anyway and explore a bit more of this fabulous city. It was also great catching up with Portuguese/Dutch Liz (who I met in South Africa). 

On a dark and stormy night many, many years ago a baby girl was born, not in a manger, but in a hospital bed in a small town named Reading in the borough in Berkshire. Today, it is Berkshire's largest town, with a total population of around 355,600. To be honest, I'm not sure if it was a small town back then, but on that October day, it's population increased by 1. And that 1 was me. 

Ah to go back 40 years and resist the urge to pluck those random eyebrow hairs. Whilst I never went the Pammy Anderson super skinny brow, some plucking was definitely carried out. 

I've visited Paris a few times, the last being long, long ago. So when the opportunity rose to visit again and catch up with the Old Duck, and with a Eurostar ticket in my hot little hand, off I went. Apart from eating lots of croissants, cheese and drinking wine, I didn't have many must-do's on my list. The catacombs which I've never been to are currently closed, so one thing I wanted to do was a cruise on the Seine along the Canal Saint-Martin. 

An underwater train. The whole concept is a little mind-blowing when you think about it. But then again, we drive through some pretty impressive mountain tunnels and the Vasco de Gama bridge looks like it's just hanging there in mid air. Ships - huge mini cities just bobbing around in the water. And planes? Metal tubes speeding through the air? Yes, transport has come a long way and it's impressive.  

Another unexpected tick off the list - I must go out with Marivi and Rob more often! After what turned into a rather long drive to get the 3km from Twickenham (and hot off the heels of getting a tick by visiting Eel Pie Island) to Richmond (we were rather daft to not realise that 82,000 mad rugby fans were on their way to watch England play Ireland in a Rugby 6 Nations match at Twickenham Stadium), we finally met up with Silvia (who had by all accounts, had her own dilemmas. in arriving). Mission accomplished. Can I write without (brackets)? Obs not.

While living in London, I heard about this place and decided I had to visit. The problem is, Eel Pie Island is a private island accessible only via a footbridge, and is only open to visitors a few day throughout the year.  The island got its name from the pies baked using locally caught eels and served by the island’s residents to passing river traders - sounds delicious. Or not. Sounds more like a place invented by a slightly nutty children’s book author who got distracted halfway through lunch.

Another quick and easy tick off the list. One of the things I've missed about living in Australia, is the great Asian food that you can find everywhere. Staying near Clayton, I'd wander up to the library and pass by Banh Mi Bakery and Cafe. There would be a short line. Tradies, students, locals all patiently waiting for one of those orange bags to be filled with lunch. And on four separate occasions, I joined them. The bread roll was crusty, the pate/butter ratio perfect, some carrots and cucumber to add crunch, onion, hoisin, chillies and of course chunks of juicy roast pork along with crackle. Divine. Oh once, I really mixed things up and went the roast chicken, because I can be reckless sometimes.  

This was an easy tick off the list. I'd seen this place pop up on my feed and I happened to be going to Chaddy to buy a new suitcase. Perfect opportunity. Firstly, what is a Japanese Pancake and how is it different to a bog standard pancake? Also known as soufflé pancakes, they're all about the height and fluffiness darling!

Another one of those "lived in Melbourne for ages and never got around to it" things. So when Andrea invited me to spend her birthday with her at the Peninsula Hot Springs in Fingal, I gladly accepted. Our very special dine and bathe package meant swanning around in the adults only Spa Dreaming Centre area. White robes on, white robes off, the robe‑wearing wanderers looked like a cult of extremely cosy ghosts.