Rosie Corriette

Notes from a retired blogger

Author: Rosie

  • Addison Lee | The Smart Start To Stress Free Travels

    Addison Lee | The Smart Start To Stress Free Travels

    As a travel blogger, I’m super fortunate to live 30 minutes away from Gatwick and an hour from Heathrow – making the logistics of heading off on holiday and press trips that bit easier. Before having Boo I would always use public transport to travel to the airport. With motherhood came an avalanche of ‘stuff’ that meant that public transport as a single parent with a small child just didn’t physically work so along came the pick up and drop off with a cab. My latest trip to Tunisia and whilst there is an airport bus that runs from my village to Heathrow, Addison Lee, London’s premier private hire invited me to sit back and relax for the journey to the airport and for my return a week later.

    Addison Lee have never claimed to be the cheapest private hire cab in London, preferring to wear the crown ‘the best in London’ – free 4G Wi-Fi and phone chargers in all cars meaning topped up phones, tablets and laptops so if like me on this trip I was keen to get ahead with work this was a great ‘bonus’ time where I could sit back, trust the driver to know which way they were going and answer some e-mails and also enjoy a few minutes of quiet, ahead of what was set to be a an amazing yet hectic trip. For families, Addison Lee are the smart family choice.

    #londondrives

    My car for the journey to the airport arrived on time, with a driver who helped with my suitcase and had me at the airport in no time… perfect. My return journey was booked for the standard 30 minutes after my flight was due to arrive, however knowing that I had luggage, I ammeded the booking for 45 minutes and after a brilliant but long week the name board held by the Addison Lee driver was a welcome sight as I came through to arrivals.

    Yes I may be an independent traveller – who needs plans when you land in a foreign city when you have a Google translate eh; but it’s the little luxuries when it comes to travel especially family travel like Addison Lee that means you can begin and end your travel stress free and with a smile on your face. Leaving you

    Disclosure: I received a complimentary return journey with Addison Lee.

  • Escaping The Heathrow Hustle with Plaza Premium Lounge Terminal 4

    Escaping The Heathrow Hustle with Plaza Premium Lounge Terminal 4

    We all know that airport lounges are an oasis of calm in the noisy concrete jungle of airports – and I like to think that I’m slowly but surely working my way through the independent offerings. I was invited to the Plaza Premium Lounge at Heathrow Terminal 4 Departures before my flight to Tunisia with Tunisair. The lounge pass gave me just over three hours which is a generous amount and means once you allow time to head to the gate, you’ve still got a sizeable amount of time to sit back and relax.

    After passing through security you’ll find the lounge by following signs on your left. As soon as you enter you’re greeted with a calm and relaxed reception with staff who make the booking in process seamless and really seem to care about you. To your left is a fully stocked bar (hello Campari and tonic) and to your left is the buffet, soft and hot drink station within the main lounge with a mixture of table and chairs and lounge seating.

    Plaza-Premium-Lounge-Heathrow

    I indulged in a few Campari and tonics and was mindful that I was due to eat dinner on the plane so unfortunately couldn’t take full advantage of the buffet but I did sample a small bowl of the chicken curry which was delicious, worthy of a Brick Lane curry house. I found the staff throughout the my time in the lounge friendly and polite. Another big plus for me was that the tables were constantly being cleared avoiding that awful plate build up that is common in other lounges.

    The lounge outlook is that of the three boarding gates so whilst it doesn’t offer views of the runway it’s a quiet backwater of the airport that meant I could catch up with some work in peace plus not feel too many gazing eyes upon me as I squeezed in a quick FaceTime date with Boo.

    Showers are available and I managed to catch a glimpse of one, it had all the amenities needed plus luxe looking towels.

    Alas my time was up and as I headed to the gate, I grabbed a complimentary Vogue and The Times on Saturday and as I buckled up I felt ever so slightly smug for my deliciously tranquil start to my Tunisian adventures thanks to some me time in the Plaza Premium Lounge.

    Access to the Plaza Premium Lounge at Heathrow Terminal 4 Departures starts at £35.

    Disclosure: I received complimentary access to the Plaza Premium Lounge at Heathrow Terminal 4 Departures.

  • Discover Tunisia | A flying start with Tunis Air and Ramada Plaza Tunis

    Discover Tunisia | A flying start with Tunis Air and Ramada Plaza Tunis

    Packing for Tunisia I knew it was going to be a hectic week: four hotels, hundreds of miles and discovering everything and more that Tunisia has to offer – ending the fly and flop only offering. Travelling so much means that the first twelve hours sets the tone for a trip aka the flight and first impressions of the hotel.

    I flew with Tunis Air from London Heathrow; the Tunisian national carrier and currently the only airline that flies direct from London to Tunisia with a daily flight that is shared throughout the week between Heathrow and Gatwick. Surprisingly, Tunis Air is an all service flight operator meaning that even on a short haul flight (London to Tunis-Carthage airport has a flight time of 2hours and 45minutes) you can expect a three course meal with complimentary hot drinks, soft drinks and alcohol (Tunis Air are only a dry airline during Ramadan).

    Tunis-Air-Discover-Tunisia

    I’ve eaten my fair share of in-flight meals and they’re all pretty formulaic, the Tunis Air meal whilst not the most appetising looks wise was one of the best meals I’ve eaten in the clouds. Starting off with a traditional Tunisian salad with Tuna – this was the beginning of my discovery that Tunisia are big on tuna – followed by a chicken with a sultana and almond couscous dish, it was so flavoursome and well put together and most definitely an authentic teaser of the cuisine that awaits when you land. For dessert it was a type of almond cake and whilst I don’t know exactly what it was, it was just as delicious.

    Tunis-Air-Discover-Tunisia

    Tunis-Air-Discover-Tunisia

    The cabin itself is undeniably a little tired to say the least but the doesn’t detract from the great level of service and I would happily fly with them again. Having flown with a number of Arabic and Middle Eastern airlines I would say that they are on par with the Egypt Air offering and is perfectly placed to serve the London – Tunis route.

    Once landed it was time to seek out my travel companions for the week: Cate and Nick – we were then made our way through passport control which whilst slightly hectic, wasn’t that dissimilar to a UK border during the summer holidays. It was now nearly 10pm and time to discover our first hotel. As it turns out the Ramada Plaza Tunis would be our home for a total of three nights (our first, sixth and seventh). Again the hotel at first seemed a little tired although perfectly nice and the staff were really accommodating. It’s also worth noting that the security both at the gate of the hotel and the entrance is a welcome reassuring visible sign that Tunisia are taking the safety of it’s visitors seriously.

    Data roaming is prohibitively expensive if using a UK mobile so it was great to be greeted with wifi giving good internet coverage throughout the hotel including rooms. The Ramada has a great spa (completely with obligatory North African Hammam) which I vow to make use of next time. Me and Cate also discovered a sheesh tea room within the hotel which served authentic tea and who’s snug set up was a welcome retreat after dinner.

    Ramada-Plaza-Tunisia-Discover-Tunisia

    Ramada-Plaza-Tunisia-Discover-Tunisia

    Watching the sunrise over the gulf of Tunis on the first morning was so still yet breathtaking; unfortunately I didn’t discover the private beach until we returned to the Ramada Plaza for the final two nights of the trip – and the rather friendly wildlife! It’s the perfect slice of calm in what’s a vibrant and fast paced gateway to Tunisia; with a local fisherman or wandering procession of animals the only interruption.

    Ramada-Plaza-Tunisia-Discover-Tunisia

    Ramada-Plaza-Tunisia-Discover-Tunisia

    Ramada-Plaza-Tunisia-Discover-Tunisia

    Ramada-Plaza-Tunisia-Discover-Tunisia

    The Ramada Plaza and Air Tunis were an authentic and telling introduction to my time in Tunisia: tired from a bygone era but more than making up for it with an abundance of attentive and genuine service.

    Disclosure: I was a guest of the Tunisian National Tourism Office for the duration of my stay in Tunisia.

  • Making The Art of Decluttering Pay with eBay | AD

    Making The Art of Decluttering Pay with eBay | AD

    I like to play the minimalist game twice a year – not only does it feel good, it also helps to rid your house of all the outgrown, unwanted stuff that somehow manages to find it’s way into every nook and cranny of the house, meaning I have to scour the rooms for an instagrammable corner – admit it, you’ve done the same!

    eBay set me the challenge to list two items via the app on my phone to discover how quick and easy it is to sell unwanted items through the app hassle free. I took the challenge to heart and as I write this, I’ve listed over fifteen items for sale, with all but one selling, which are the Chanel sunglasses which are on a buy it now and have just under two weeks left. I had planned to share a snap of all the items I listed, but this is all I have left: the Chanel sunglasses from above and two other items that are waiting to be shipped. Never has a lacking photo been such a source of satisfaction…

    selling-unwanted-baby-clothes-with-eBay

    I’ll admit that this was more of a rediscovery than a completely new territory for me – I was an avid eBay-er when Boo was a baby, but somehow it dropped off my delcuttering radar. The app makes is so much easier than I remembered; I found that the average time from snapping a few shots to the listing going live was three minutes and once an item is sold, it couldn’t be easier with notifications for payment, shipping details all handily popping up on your phone.

    One of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt with my rekindled love affair with eBay is that there really is a buyer for absolutely everything you have in the sell on pile. And after listing fifteen items, I’m coming away with the mantra that designer buys are no longer a splurge because they have great resale value of eBay… Mummy and Boo fashionista winner!

    Disclaimer: I am a member of the Mumsnet Bloggers Panel, a group of parent bloggers who have volunteered to review products, services, events and brands for Mumsnet. I have not paid for the product or to attend an event. I have editorial control and retain full editorial integrity. [I have received a voucher as a token of thanks for this post].

  • Alternative Style Tips for Your Home

    Alternative Style Tips for Your Home

    If you’re looking for a regular décor style then you’ll find yourself quickly inundated with suggestions, tips and ideas – but what if you want something individual and alternative? You might find that it’s harder to get ideas, and without seeing the results people find it hard to visualise your ideas. Reading this article will give you an idea of the extent to which your plans fit into the below alternative styles; industrial, gothic and bohemian.

    Photo-by-Breather-on-Unsplash

    Industrial
    An industrial design means as much bare wood and metal as your home has to offer. Any exposed pipes and ugly radiators should be polished up and possibly taken back down to bare metal to become features in your home. Get cooking equipment with stainless steel faces, and take that carpet up. This is a great style if you’re trying to have a minimalist approach to your home as well, since any pictures will look out of place and too much non-functional equipment and ornaments will sink this look. If you have any brick walls then these can become feature walls, and any bright colours should be repainted in plainer tones.

    Gothic
    It’s quite rare to see a genuinely gothic home these days, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t work. You just have to remember that gothic refers to a sociocultural phase of history – and it has nothing to do with vampires! So, if you’re going gothic, you should know that this means grandeur and drama. Loose the sculls and the vials of false blood. Black, steel, brick and copper colours and patterns will help to bring this out, and with this look you can go all out with ornaments and paintings – think feathers and crests and sculptures and animal shapes. Book cases bring in a nice element of drama, and if you’re lucky enough to have a stone floor you should release it from whatever covering it has, because even if your feet do get a little cold at times this will bring out the beautiful and antiquated ideas of luxury that you’re chasing.

    Bohemian
    Embrace whatever you find relaxing and interesting. This is the style for those with the wide, odd and sometimes eccentric tastes. Plants and interesting ornaments can hang down from the ceiling, or even just loose ropes, or curtains to divide spaces. You might want to take advantage of this outside the home too – this could mean exotic plants, wind powered models, and you can even search Water Garden for a way to make your pond an interesting and attention-grabbing feature of your home. To get the best out of a bohemian look, you need colour and fulness in every corner of your home that you can see. Each centimetre should be visually exciting. There are no rules; so, think rugs, of all kind of thickness and pattern, think jewels and beads, think oranges and blues, or any contrasting colours. When it comes to fabrics, you should favour natural materials, but don’t worry about the occasional frayed edge. The trick to an artistic bohemian approach is to have as much busyness in your décor as you can, without making the room look too messy or disorientating, so look at a few attempts online before you do it yourself.

    Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.