12th January 2018 A cruise to the Amazon was Susan’s Christmas present. Sadly, from the 28th of December onwards, both Sue and I became very unwell, and on the 3rd of January, we had no choice but to cancel the trip after Sue’s GP strongly advised against travelling. In truth, we had resigned ourselves to… Continue Reading

28th December 2017 Sarah seemed to have weathered the worst after her spell in hospital, while Sue appeared to have turned a corner once the antibiotics started to work their magic. We’d kept the rest of the family at bay to avoid exchanging any more bugs, or, worse, making the poorly even more ill. Fortunately,… Continue Reading

17th December 2017 Why is it that the month before Christmas always brings with it a wave of bugs, infections, and NHS shortages, along with the usual horror stories? This year has been no different, though I suppose I can be blamed for kicking off this season of ‘infestivities’ with a dose from my Italian… Continue Reading

16th November 2017 A couple of days after Sue and I returned from a delightful week in Italy, the Rothwells jetted off for two weeks in Phuket, Thailand. They had booked a hotel that proved ideal for Lucas and Ellis, offering excellent children’s facilities. The rest of the family followed their daily adventures with envy,… Continue Reading

12th October 2017 On the 26th of August, we invited Paul and Louise, Jim and Brigitte, and Sean for a BBQ and to watch the Women’s Rugby World Cup Final. I unveiled the quarter-pounder beef burgers I had made earlier in the day, and satisfyingly, they seemed to go down rather well. Unfortunately, our girls… Continue Reading

25th August 2017 During the build-up to Sarah and Lee’s wedding, the main concern was what the weather would do. The long-term forecast predicted that the week of the ceremony would be very damp, but it suggested that Wednesday might be the best day. And so it turned out to be. Monday and Tuesday saw… Continue Reading

13th August 2017 While Jamie was enjoying the sun and warmth of Tenerife with his friend Bill, back in the UK, we were treated to a typical British summer. A few promising days were scattered amid a miserable sequence of showers, cool temperatures, and wind. At least the garden and allotments appreciated the regular dousing,… Continue Reading

15th July 2017 We’ve had a very dry June, with only one day of worthwhile rain to give the garden and allotments a much-needed soak. Rainwater, rather than that from the tap,  always seems to give the vegetables a boost. There have been a few very hot days, and on those occasions, Charlotte brought the… Continue Reading

7th June 2017 After enjoying a hearty breakfast, we finished packing our bags and decided to take a wander outside the hotel before check-out at 10 am. In hindsight, this may have been a mistake, as Cusco is brimming with markets selling all kinds of goods, mainly catering to tourists in the centre of the… Continue Reading

6th June 2017 Our hotel is located on Avenida El Sol, a long, wide, and bustling road lined with a mix of local and tourist shops. It stretches to the heart of the city, ending at the historic Plaza de Armas. With no fixed plans for the day, we perused the city map over breakfast… Continue Reading