Travel times

On the eve of my husband heading off on a European tour, I'm thinking about some of my favourite places that we've visited over the years; the kind of places that you see briefly and earmark for further exploration at a later date, when time isn't an issue and you're not working; the lovely pockets of the world that you might not have otherwise have had the chance, or even the inclination, to visit. We've certainly had a mixture of destinations on our list!

Here's a few that spring to mind. There are so many more, but these deserve a mention:

1.  Amsterdam

This is no doubt a very popular, and perhaps a not very inspired choice; however, we had the pleasure of some time off in this amazing city, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. It was more approachable than London, less snooty than Paris; it was colourful, enticing and vibrant. I loved the waterways, the bicycles, the light; and there is so much to do and see, we will have to go back in order to carry on our adventure!

2. Zagreb

A few years ago, we found our favourite pizza place in Europe. It was in a basement, down a little side street, and we happened across it quite by chance, on a quiet amble around a city. Rome? Florence? Even Chicago? No, Zagreb. And not only was it the best, it was also the most affordable. Splendid. It was a sad moment when we headed back to that same street just last year, only to find the place closed and barred; it had ceased trading, and we were devastated. Zagreb is a gem, if a slightly scruffy one. The buildings are beautiful, and the streets are inviting, but the place has a distinct edge. The people are kind, and the glut of old cars kept my husband happy!

3. Aspen

Sometimes you visit a place that is just so clean and lovely, you can't quite believe it's actually real and not a figment of your imagination. Aspen is one of those places. A rare and interesting town, with air that is crisp, fresh and thin (I always get out of breath that far above sea level!), where the sky looks like it is in high definition, and the mountains beckon, even when it is the middle of summer. The colours are intense, the sunshine is potent and the muffins are sensational. This was the view from our hotel room, and we didn't even have to pay any extra..

4. Chicago

I promise this photo hasn't been doctored!! The river really was green. We had a show in Chicago that fell on St. Patrick's Day last year, hence the green river. I absolutely love the Windy City. Cupcakes, the river, the atmosphere, the buildings…so much history, so much buzz. The music scene is fantastic, and the  route along highway next to the water as you come into the city is one of the best taxi rides I've ever taken (or should I say 'cab' ride?!) 

Do you have a favourite place? I'd love to know.

Making the most of it

I hope you've had a fantastic Monday. It's incredible how quickly this month has flown by - I always think that about September, my favourite month. For me it never feels long enough! 

I thought I'd share a few of my photographs from last week, it has been a whirlwind. The photo above was from my flight to Russia on Wednesday, as we jetted off to Moscow for one show at the Crocus City Hall on Thursday evening. It was great to be back on the stage after a nine-month break! I was nervous, but really enjoyed myself - I don't know about you, but it appears that there is some truth in the phrase 'a change is as good as a rest'! 

After arriving back home on Friday evening, I continued with something new - running. I have only recently started to run three times a week, and still very much a beginner. This was my view though; I do live in a pretty place!

It was a gorgeous autumn day, and I felt quite exhilarated after jogging (slowly!) along this path!

One last picture, that I took today on the beach at Whitby, one of my husband and I's favourite places to visit. We are making the most of our time together before he heads off on tour on Wednesday, trying to fit in as much fun as we can whilst the weather is still nice and we're in the same country..

What have you been up to this week? Have you cleared your head by the coast, or been jet setting to somewhere exciting? What's your exercise regime? I'd love to know.

Here's a few things to keep you going:

A gorgeous bag that I'm coveting.

A wonderfully kitsch retro shop I found today.

A delicious warming autumn risotto recipe, tried and tested and gobbled up by myself and a friend!! Perfect for those slightly cooler evenings, when it's a bit moody outside.

And one more…a fantastic look at some of the most amazing abandoned places on earth in photographs. A friend gave me the link to this, and it's quite brilliant.

See you soon!

A breath of sea air

This is one of my favourite photographs that I have taken on tour over the years. This was actually taken in Oslo, Norway, looking out from the harbour a few years ago now, but it's one of the pictures that sums up how being by the sea makes me feel - AMAZING. I just love being at the seaside, and today I got an unexpected trip to the coast with my husband. What a treat! It was a beautiful day and we went for a lovely long walk, the crisp sea air refreshing, the wind in our hair and the sun on our backs. Delicious.

I have so many photographs of the sea. The views never fail to make me feel warm inside, and I'm filled with wonder at the sheer size of some of the bodies of water around the world. The feeling of space, clarity and raw nature is just superb. I can clear my head, blow away any lingering cobwebs, and  just breathe.

After the intensity of the weekend, it was a welcome afternoon. Grabbing a little bit of early autumn, while the sun is still warm and the cooling breeze doesn't seep into your bones but merely nudges you into wearing a light coat, is pure bliss. 

Autumn is my favourite season. What's yours? I'd love to know.

A Hampshire party gig

I'm sorry I couldn't write yesterday. I had a big gig to do, which was a very exciting (if slightly nerve-wracking!) prospect. It was thrilling for me actually, as I hadn't sung 'properly' for several months, and I had been getting over one of those change-of-season colds that seem to get people at this time of year so my voice was a little fragile. 

The band that I was performing with were brilliant - full of energy, musically spot on and great fun - and the venue for the party was simply stunning. Even the rain held off, so everybody had a whale of a time!

I was nervous. Gosh, I was nervous! I didn't manage much dinner, even though it was a very tasty steak and chips, and I was shaking significantly before I started the first song, but it all went with a bang, and people were showing their magnificent dancing skills on the dance floor..

I have always had issues with anxiety, and I had two different types appear over the last couple of days;  the first being the rush of adrenaline before the gig, and the other being the fear that grips me sometimes when I have to take the Tube across London. I am the person that grips the handrail of the escalator with white knuckles and remains frozen to the spot until they reach the platform; the person that flushes red and gets far too hot on the packed train, even if it's a mild day; the person that has to take deep breaths, and talk to themselves really quietly to keep an aura of calm. I have unfortunately had a couple of panic attacks whilst on escalators and on Tube platforms in the past, and it's hard to dismiss those feelings of dread and panic when I step onto an escalator, especially the ones that appear to be taking you down into the centre of the earth. Covent Garden, I'm talking about you.

However, I prevailed, and made it onto a train home today, really happy with last night's performance and in time to watch the first episode of the new series of Downton Abbey with a glass of wine. Super.

What do you do to relieve tension and anxiety? I'd love to know.

September sunshine

It's been absolutely boiling in London today. Positively summery, with people joyfully treading the streets in sandals and sunglasses, little boys in swimming trunks paddling in the fountains outside The Grain Store eatery near Kings Cross, couples sitting together by the canal relaxing. The pace was still London, but with a slight swagger; a sense of ease, perhaps. I possibly would have enjoyed the glorious rays a little more if I hadn't been wearing my beaten up leather jacket and brand new brogues in preparation for autumn. However, the idea of a day or two in London fills me with as much dread as it does excitement, so the sunshine definitely was a bonus!

So thank you, September. Thank you for being one of the best months of the year; unassuming, beautifully lit and often quite a stealthy slip into autumn. Your sunshine has lifted my spirit and warmed my cockles today.

Did you get the lovely rays elsewhere? I'd love to know.

A space of your own

Recently, I've been attempting to find - well, make - a space for myself in our house where I can work. Somewhere I can retreat to, a comfortable, inspiring and atmospherically lit corner that provides a haven for productivity. As my touring job took me away from home so often, the room I had earmarked for transformation had been filled with boxes, a load of stuff gathering dust, and I would poke my head around the door, sigh and retreat quickly. It had become a place I retreated FROM, not TO, and that has had to change.

Above is a picture of a work-in-progress. It is sort of nicely lit, and my piano is now accessible and has an appropriately themed blanket on its stool. I even have a mood board, being filled with ideas for my novel, and I have a coaster for my tea mug. The rest of the room is still a disaster, but I'll get there, with some fresh paint, a fixed-up window (one of the panes is broken, and the frame is rotting; I daren't open it in case it falls out) and an old, squishy armchair, inherited from my mum and dad, which will eventually take pride of place as my reading/dreaming/inventing chair. 

It got me thinking about other writers and their writing spaces. Where do they sit to come up with their fabulous ideas, their characters, their take on life? So I had a look for some answers.

I was thrilled to find some brilliant articles online. Apparently dear Jane Austen, when she was allowed 'private time' in the household, sat next to the barely-used front door as she had no room of her own, wrote on the tiniest twelve-sided table ever, and a creaking swing door would warn her of incoming visitors; Roald Dahl had a shed in his garden which he kitted out as a writing studio, an old wing-backed chair with part of the back burrowed out for comfort surrounded by memorabilia, and a sleeping bag for when he got cold; and Kate Mosse has a study with deep red walls, an old childhood bookcase and bits and pieces from her children in a bowl on the desk. 

It appears that everyone has to find their own place to let their mind be free, and I love that. 

What does your favourite space look like? I'd love to know.

(Ooh, and if you'd like to see the articles I found, go to portraits of the spaces where authors create).

"What's Your Dream?"

I have sat for nearly two days debating, procrastinating and attempting to plan what to say in My First Blog Post, and came up with everything and nothing. I have been reading several fantastic blogs recently and I find them inspiring, visual and joyful, so maybe that should be my new blog mantra.

So here is a simple start for a brand new way forward. A career leap, a life being lived, a woman with loves and fears and dreams, like so many others. 

I have stepped away from a life I knew into something almost completely unknown. Brave? I like to think so, although I know many people, especially strong, confident women, who I'd say are far braver than I. Reckless? Quite possibly, but honestly, how fun is that? How will you know unless you try? 

So I'll end my first post with one of my favourite quotes, from a writer I love:

“Hearts may break, but hearts are the toughest of muscles, able to pump for a lifetime, seventy times a minute, and scarcely falter along the way. Even dreams, the most delicate and intangible of things, can prove remarkably difficult to kill.” 

― Neil Gaiman, Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders

What's your dream? I'd love to know.