Rosie Corriette

Notes from a retired blogger

Tag: travel

  • Planning 2021 Travels

    Planning 2021 Travels

    You don’t need me to tell you that 2020 hasn’t been a good year for travel, truthfully it’s been a disaster. I never thought I’d not get on a plane for a full year but I hit the 12 month mark last week; whilst I’ve tried to put travel to the back of my mind my travel toiletries are starting to gather dust, never mind my passport.

    Whilst international travel is still uncertain, I’m looking into breaks within the UK for 2021 as something that can perhaps fill the travel bug within me until it’s both safe and viable to travel abroad. I have to confess that I’ve somewhat neglected exploring much of the UK up until now; I’m hoping that I’ll be able to enjoy a few city breaks – having visited Manchester a few times for work, I’d love to explore more or perhaps Oxford as I’m fascinated by it’s history and architecture. After not seeing so many friends during 2020, it would be great to think next year would be when we make time to catch up.

    It’s important that when I do finally dust off my suitcase, even the hand luggage one for a weekend break that I ensure it’s in line with national guidelines and respecting regional tiers and corresponding restrictions; it’s important now more than ever to follow public health advice. For the most up-to-date and accurate guidance visit gov.uk

    Boo’s made her feelings on where our first trip together should be: Abu Dhabi. It was our last holiday and it ticked all the boxes for multi-generatonal family fun as my Mum came with us, so who can blame her. We absolutely loved being so central – the view of the Grand Sheikh Zayed Mosque was up there with one of the best… ever.

    woman and child stood on beach staring at sunset over mosque

    So if you’ve found your mind wandering to warmer climates, sandy beaches and family memories know that you are very much not alone. We can’t wait to head to back to some of our favourite places and look forward to discovering new destinations; but for now I’m content with planning a mini-break a little closer to home. Let me know your favourite UK city breaks in the comments below…

    Disclosure: In collaboration with Hotels.com, but all views are my own

  • Dear Writing Mojo…

    Dear Writing Mojo…

    I’ve always been good with words – pick any of my school reports and I was ‘talkative’, ‘chatty’ heck my yearbook entry was ‘Most likely to… utilise elongated vocabulary’. The written word was always going to feature heavily in my adult life and I’ve taken great comfort in seeking a friend of a blank screen and blinking cursor but 2019 was the year that I lost my writing mojo and after an initial search and rescue it’s nowhere to be found.

    Even this post I’ve written out of sync, writing paragraphs and reordering at the end, editing as if I was a complete stranger. Maybe my style or perhaps just the process has changed?

    Is imposter syndrome creeping in? The solitary silence of working for myself making itself heard – who knows. The thoughts and ideas are most definitely there; my oral capacity hasn’t reduced and I maintain that my finest often come to me during a late-night shower. Yet when it comes to translating them onto the screen… nothing. It’s as is if my thoughts are somehow marooned on a desert island if only I was too.

    women standing on sandy beach at sunset with Shikh Zayd Mosque in Background

    The thing is I’ve always been my own boss in one way or another – yes I’ve had extended contracts but ultimately I always knew it was never permanent. My long term career has been transient and whilst suiting my home setup it’s perhaps time to revaluate how rewarding it is for me on a professional – and personal level. There’s no glass ceiling to break at home which I’ve come to learn is both a good and bad thing. I suppose it was always going to happen, mix writing: a truly creative process with deadlines and briefs and you’ll inevitably come to this junction. Maybe I need to write less for work in order for it to return. I’ve just read this last sentence back – this is a privilege anyone who has bills to pay simply can’t afford.

    Or is this a completely normal mid-career crisis I’m experiencing? A to-be-expected blip in the road. Despite being a writer of sorts from a young age I’ve never yearned to write a novel although like many others often felt I had a ‘book in me’; it was this train of thinking that had me believe I could escape a long-term bought of writers block.

    Perhaps I’ve simply grown up too much and in the process lost the space to write – the mundanity of everyday life filling up where once was the opportunity for ‘creative writing’ – remember when that was a whole thing. I’ve tried giving myself a break, trying to work through it – a quick fix hasn’t materialised as of yet and neither will it. It would appear I’m in it for the long haul, maybe 2020 is the year I rediscover my writing mojo. 

    So like a beloved old glove, a little worn around the edges but still so greatly valued and needed I hope you come back to me soon.

    My ability to chat has shown no signs of slowing down – if you’re not already why not follow me on Instagram for daily stories I like to think I offer an eclectic mix of travel, beauty and rambling thoughts of a freelancer; it’s a modern-day smoothie without the bits

  • Family Friendly Long Haul Economy With Gulf Air | AD

    For our most recent multi-generational trip we headed to Abu Dhabi and were invited to review Gulf Air from London via Bahrain to Abu Dhabi. Gulf Air is the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain and was founded in 1950, making it one of the oldest airlines in the region and it synonymous with Middle Eastern hospitality. This was the first multi-generational long haul trip we’d taken so it was great to know we were in experienced, safe hands – I’ll be doing two separate posts on our Falcon Gold experience and multigenerational travel with Gulf Air.

    Long haul travel with children – get it right and it can be one of the best things you can do as a family; miss the mark and it’ll have you tearing your hair out before the seatbelt sign is off. Middle Eastern carriers have for a long time been the front runners when it comes to giving great service.

    Travel with Gulf Air requires an onward connection to your final destination in the Kingdom of Bahrain; transiting with children has its good and bad points but it all comes down to how comfortable you feel travelling and how well your experience is. I’m a big advocate for factoring ground time if you’re anticipating long flight being a challenge  – it’s definitely something to consider. The transit times can be as short as jumping off, grabbing a snack stretching your legs and marvelling at a few runway take-offs before it’s time to head to the gate or you can schedule a stopover in Bahrain for a night of two. Bahrain airport is compact and easy to navigate, they have a new terminal set to open later this month which looks from plans a great upgrade.

    Sky Nannies are where Gulf Air really come into their own when travelling with small children. On every long haul flight, there is a member of cabin crew dedicated to young travellers. The Sky Nanny service for the youngest of flyers begins at the gate where they can meet you and help you board the plane, which when I remember travelling with Boo on my own when she was one would have been a huge help, an experienced extra pair of hands when travelling with children are always welcome.

    All flights from London to Bahrain with Gulf Air are on the Boeing 787-Dreamliner and having flown on these a number of times I do have to say that when it comes to travelling with children they possess this magic about them that just seems to work (the part-time av geek knows it’s not ‘magic’ but instead a myriad of contributing factors).

    Boo wasted no time in checking out the in-flight entertainment; I was impressed and she loved ‘Just for Kids’ section perfect for letting them have free reign without having to approve everything they want to watch. In case you were wondering Boo settled on Aladdin on both the outbound and inbound making it now 5 times she’s watched it, just to be sure she hadn’t missed a millisecond!

    Whilst Boo is that bit older and doesn’t need much in the way of help it was great that her food was served first and without me having to ask; meaning that I could ensure she’d eaten enough and settle her for the night before it was my turn for dinner. It may seem like such a small thing but it’s the small touches and attention to detail that makes a big difference when traveling with children – Gulf Air don’t just think about children, they get children and it shows.

    Boo being 8 means she’s at that funny age where she thinks she’s far too old for things like a children’s meal but when it arrived she was glad that I’d pre ordered her one (remember like all other airlines, you need to pre-book a children’s’ meal as you would any other special dietary requirements at least 24 hours before you travel, they don’t just assume because of the child ticket). I think Gulf Air’s children’s’ meal has to be up there with one of the best in-flight meals Boo’s ever had: a mixture of great tasting, well cooked chicken that I would genuinely eaten (and did steal a cheeky mouthful of… all in the name of work!) and branded snacks that are perfect for little hands, and for saving for later on throughout the flight.

    As Gulf Air is a full-service carrier – meaning that they provide food and drink appropriate to the timing and duration on all flights I wanted to share the ‘snack’ that Boo was served on our 40-minute flight from Bahrain to Abu Dhabi – the same level of presentation and care and great value. It’s these touchpoints that make Gulf Air work for families. And she now has a renewed love for Kit-Kats, winner!

    Boo’s meal was being cleared as ours was being served and it meant that whilst I was a real life pillow for her, I did get to enjoy my delicious dinner of kebabs – a first at 39,000ft in peace. Night flights will always be my preferred choice, going to sleep in the clouds over Europe and waking up as the sun rises over Arabia is the stuff of dreams…  literally. The seat for economy class was surprisingly comfortable.

    Gulf Air’s long haul economy offering is not just family-friendly it has families at the heart of it and it shows not just in the service they offer but how you feel throughout your journey with them – they’re an obvious choice to trust to look after you and your family and my own regret is that we didn’t schedule a stopover in the Kingdom of Bahrain to explore – oh well, there’s always next time.

    We were guests of Gulf Air for the purpose of reviewing their family-friendly offering

  • A Weekend In The Lake District With Sally’s Cottages

    A Weekend In The Lake District With Sally’s Cottages

    Our blogger retreats have become something of a tradition, twice a year we gather for a couple of days of rest, regrouping and a lot of laughing. This time we headed right to the top of the Lake District. We were invited by Sally’s Cottages to stay at Croft House in Loweswater. Sally’s Cottages is an award-winning local family run holiday cottage letting agency in Keswick with over 480 self-catering holiday cottages in the Lake District and Cumbria.

    Croft House is a barn conversion that comfortably sleeps 12 – I had a double room to myself and this like the rest of the house I would describe as rustic cosy. Its lack of luxury makes it suited to large family gatherings and the ideal base for exploring the Lake District. The large living space upstairs (it’s an upside down house) was the perfect space with its massive table for our first-night catch up which consisted of a Mexican feast and a raucous as ever game of Cards Against Humanity.

    Thank you to Donna for the above snaps

    The kitchen is compact but more than adequate for our needs and the rolltop bath downstairs made for an indulgent afternoon soak. One point to remember is that towels aren’t provided so you’ll need to bring your own (that included hand towels) and is something to consider when packing – also slippers are a must so add those to the list.

    Sally's Cottages in the Lake District

    As one who’s not too keen on venturing even further from the equator it was a long old way from London. Yet just like out time in the Highlands it felt like we’re in another part of the world. Croft House revels in its remote location and it has some amazing perks: 3 miles from Loweswater, 4 miles from the pub and peace and quiet for as far as the eye can see and the ear can hear.

    Sally's Cottages in the Lake District

    The scenery in the Lake District is absolutely stunning and even had an urban jungle dweller like myself speechless – I studied Wordsworth for two years during my A-Levels and as cheesy at it sounds it’s not hard to see why he favoured the Lake District as the perfect backdrop to write.

    Sally's Cottages in the Lake District Sally's Cottages in the Lake District

    Here’s photographic proof of me mingling with the local wildlife… jokes aside the fresh air and breathtaking beauty of the Lake District is good for the soul.Sally's Cottages in the Lake District

    Coming together was good for all of us and I love any excuse to spend time with Donna, one of my best friends and all from blogging

    Blogger Retreat at Sally's Cottages in the Lake District

    Our weekend in the Lake District with Sally’s Cottages was wonderful – with both old and new faces I left happy and rested and looking forward to our next weekend away…

    Sally's Cottages in the Lake District

    I’ve been asked by Yellow Zebra Safaris to describe my perfect holiday as part of their blogger competition. The truth is I just can’t – From the American Dream with Boo, to a multigenerational holiday to Crete not forgetting our adventures in Athens and the joy of taking to the high seas with a Cruise; we’ve been fortunate to explore so much of the world but there’s always so much more to explore. When I was a child there were two holidays that were up there on the dream list: The Pyramids of Giza and an African bush safari. Having visited Egypt nearly a decade ago and fulfilling one of my travel dreams I’d love to take Boo on a safari and to share how single parent travel doesn’t exclude any destinations or experiences. To answer Yellow Zebra Safari’s question:

    Disclosure: We were hosted by Sally’s Cottages for our stay at Croft House.

  • Acting Your Shoe Size with Royal Caribbean

    Acting Your Shoe Size with Royal Caribbean

    Anyone who knows me knows that I laugh. A lot. Apart from when I’m crying about the cold – which reminds me it’s time to book our next adventure! But according to research carried out by Royal Caribbean it would appear that I’m in the minority as one in five adults laugh twice a day or less.

    I’ve been lucky enough to spend time aboard both the Oasis of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas and I’m pretty convinced that there’s no better place for adults to act their shoes size than on board one of Royal Caribbean’s amazing ships. From the minute you step onboard it’s as if all your adult worries simply disappear; from the most genuinely helpful crew members to THE comfiest bed you’ll ever sleep in, everything is about giving you the tools to have the best. holiday and make the most wonderful memories with your family – which after all is what holidays for me are all about. I’ve been fortunate enough to meet with Stuart Levin the Managing Director, UK and Ireland, Royal Caribbean and can vouch for him living his aim of ‘blowing the doors off sensible’ I defy anyone to step onboard one of their ships and not have a wow moment.

    Royal-Caribbean-Act-your-Shoe-Size
    Just a few playful moments from when we sailed with Royal Caribbean on Anthem of the Seas!

    As much as I’d like to spend all my time on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, the reality is that midweek ‘eurgh’ can easily set in as a parent, and it’s easy to forget just how important play is and even more so when we take time out of day, get down to their level play with our children.

    I love how Royal Caribbean along with Playful Being have come up with a bunch of tips including putting your shoe size hat on: and saying a simple yes, rather than the ‘yes, but’ we are all too familiar with.

    Royal-Carribbean-Act-Your-Shoe-Size

    Life as adults can be a pretty serious affair but for me, one of the greatest joys of having Boo is the playfulness and being present in the moment; from blowing raspberries on her tummy to running round the house with colanders on our heads, every memory is a gift.