My Summer Wish List

Now that we're reaching summer with new growth and exciting developments all around us, I've decided to buy a few new items for me and my home. Here's my Summer Wish List.

Foodies Festival Brighton Giveaway

The Foodies Festival is coming to Brighton and Hove on 29th, 30th April and 1st May 2017! The Foodies Festival is the biggest food event in the UK with a range of displays and activities. They include the 'Chefs Theatre' with winners from the Great British Bake Off and MasterChef baking live. There is also a Cakes and Desserts Theatre, Drinks Theatre, Healthy Living Zone, Kids Cookery Theatre as well as the Live Music Stage! The line up looks great this year with live music, food & drink and a health & wellbeing area.

My Travel Bucket List

Now that we're in spring and we're having some lovely sunny warm days I've been thinking about where I'd like to travel to next. I haven't been abroad for a while and would love to jet off somewhere soon. Here are my top five destinations on my travel bucket list.

Funk the Family Festival Giveaway

Funk the Family Festival is returning to Hove Park, East Sussex on Sunday 18th June 2017! We went to the festival a couple of years ago and it was great, full of music, activities, entertainment, food & drink. Now Pip is nearly four and loves playing and listening to music, we are really looking forward to attending the festival again this year. The full music line-up has been announced and includes Jazzie B (Soul II Soul), House Gospel Choir, Jenna & the Gs, Professor Elemental and Rowlf the Dog.

Family activities include trapeze workshops, recycled instrument making, live graffiti, the story tent, fencing, football and art and crafts. There are also many of my favourite local groups at the festival including Amazing Art Cart and Tree of Life kids yoga! All activities and entertainment are included in the ticket price. In terms of food, there will a fantastic selection of stalls serving organic, vegan and gluten-free options and will include everything from Mexican street food to fish and chips!

I'm Clickstay's Travel Blogger of the Month

I'm delighted to be Clickstay's Travel Blogger of the Month. Clickstay is a holiday home rental website with over 12,000 holiday homes in over 50 countries worldwide. I included them in my feature on Summer Holiday Ideas in the UK showing the diverse range of properties they have nearer to home. There are many beautiful lettings with a range of options and sizes so whatever you are looking for you're sure to find it.

I was recently interviewed by Clickstay about this blog Our Seaside Baby, why I started blogging, our favourite travel experiences, why family travel is important and my tips for travelling as a single parent. The full interview is featured in Clickstay's online magazine and on their website and I've included it here too.

Syria: Why I Care & Ways to Help

In Syria in 2011

I used to campaign a lot, write about human rights in the Middle East, lobby MPs and take part in many anti-war protests and boycotts. I used to follow every bit of local news in some parts of the world especially Palestine, where I worked as a volunteer inside a refugee camp and wrote for the local news channel based in Bethlehem. Since having Pip I haven't been as active as I once was because along with work and life, he takes up most of my time. I admit when the news gets rather depressing I tend to turn off these days. But then when something crops up again to make the headlines like the chemical attack in Syria this week, where at least 80 people were killed including many children, it's no longer the time to turn a blind eye.