Call me ceramically challenged As a mother and son activity goes, a pottery workshop is a winning idea for a rainy afternoon. Matthew is top of his class at art, and I am top of the class at art in my head. And we are in Dali country, in La Bisbal D’Emporda, a region of [...]

Is Catalan food the best in the world? There are many reasons you should visit the Costa Brava. But ultimately there is only one. The best restaurant in the world. It seems that unless you are an internationally recognized food critic, there’s little chance of getting a table this summer. But don’t panic, you won’t [...]

Raindrops on trailers and toddlers in mittens It’s a long time since I pulled a toddler in a trailer up a hill, but the sensation hasn’t changed. It’s just as painful a business as ever, both mentally and physically. The only difference is it’s not my kid in the trailer today; it’s my 3 year [...]

Och Aye the Pool. A taste of summer at Gourock I’m up to my neck in hot water. Hot salty water. Floating effortlessly under a summer sky. It’s a perfect Sunday morning and I am floating free; free as the gulls above as they drift upon the sea breeze. Welcome, dear reader, to the Lido [...]

10 great reasons to visit Blackpool It’s a bucket and spade. It’s fish and chips on a tray. It’s a slow waltz to a Wurlitzer. It’s bingo in your B&B. It’s a glitterball on a neon prom. Blackpool is a holiday resort that knows what it is, and delivers what it promises on budget. And [...]

A country of many moustaches What to pack for a Spanish holiday? Bucket and spade? Suncream? Trashy novel? Well I’m off to Spain this week and I’m packing a moustache. Yes, I know, it’s more common to defoliate before than take extra facial hair with you, but I’m off to the home of Salvador Dali… [...]

Is your family divided on how much fun you find a theme park? Would you choose  a gentle spin on a carousel over those stomach twisting, mind bending, gravity defying drops from the sky that your kids favour? Or is it you that has a crush on the coasters? Perhaps you should get yourselves down [...]

Adventures for Men: One to One Father Son Adventures A new business venture is setting out to transform the relationships of fathers and sons. Using the Scottish outdoors as a playground, Adventures for Men will give lads and dads the encouragement and space to get to know each other better and build the foundations for [...]

Bike, bus, boot or banger: 4 great ways to see Berlin For me, one of the joys of a city break is ditching the car. And in Europe, where parking charges can be astronomical, and traffic terrifying, I wouldn’t dream of taking my own vehicle. While doing without a car can feel like you’ve lost an arm [...]

Reykjavik Children’s Cultural Festival 2013 What’s your view on culture for kids? A waste of time? A developmental priority? A welcome distraction from online gaming? In Iceland, it’s highly valued. So much so that they’ve hooked one of their annual city festivals onto it.  As the third Reykjavik Children’s Cultural Festival kicks off again this [...]