I want to start by writing how incredibly grateful I am that this blog means wonderful travel opportunities for my family and I which allows us to see and experience parts of the world we've not visited before, both near and far.
Tomorrow, 3 generations of the family - myself, my husband Peter, our 2 sons: Oliver and Alexander and my parents - will be heading Alicante staying in a villa kindly c/o of James Villas.
It was my Dad, George's birthday on Friday so I wanted to arrange something a little bit special for the big man this weekend, and Gorgeous Cottages were just the company to call.
It's so easy in life to be constantly chasing dreams, and believe me, I'm a big believer in dreaming big, working hard, and simply going for 'it' whatever 'it' might be, but recently I've had a little shift in thinking...
Tomorrow we will be heading off to London before we embark on a family press holiday to Jamaica with Beaches Resorts.
We'll be staying at the luxury Ocho Rios resort and can't wait to discover a country we've never been to before.
So 'passportgate' was rather stressful but it sort of all ended up for the best with each of our sons getting undivided attention and time from my husband and I respectively.
I enjoyed Marbella with my toddler and folks and Oliver and Daddy had a truly wonderful week in the UK with sunny adventures in Yorkshire where we live, and mini breaks in Liverpool, Southport and Anglesey in Wales, fishing, catching crabs, playing in fields, visiting castles and having lots of father-son bonding time.
Last week saw 'part' of this family spend 7 days in Marbella, staying at the palatial Casa Haniel, a James Villa Holidays' villa in San Pedro, above, for a fabulous, relaxing, fun and invigorating week away.
Hey there regular readers and new ones too (where've you been people!)
This week, this family is luckily going away on a press holiday with the gorgeous James Villas to Marbella for some rest, relaxation and hopefully sunshine!
After a month of illness in this family, we finally all felt better and were in much need of a retreat, a break from the norm, not far from home to simply rest, relax and feel rejuvenated once more.
The universe must have been listening, as the wonderful Gorgeous Cottages got in touch to see if we wanted to break in a luxury holiday home, The Coach House in Yorkshire.
As you get older and perhaps a little wiser (or in my Dad's case, sillier, much, much sillier-it can go both ways) you start to realise what really matters in life.
I think having kids can do that to you, that whirlwind of new love for the kid you made merged with the mammoth overwhelming weight of responsibility (no more spontaneity in life is pretty sobering) and puts everything that came before, and after it, into sharp perspective.
You don't need to have a kid for this I should add. Yay for being wiser without having to actually use your cervix! Life experience, travel, pets, nurturing plants, charity work, whatever it is that takes you out of yourself, can be enlightening,
It got me thinking about all the tiny touching moments that make up the bigger picture, the intricately woven happy-making little things I reflect on right before I go to sleep or if I'm away from my kids, missing them madly, or my zone out to more joyous times when I find the children fighting over toys/films/my affection and I need a happy place pronto.
Linda Kozlowski is an acclaimed actress (best known as the leading lady in the Crocodile Dundee movie trilogy) and was married for many years to Australian film icon Paul Hogan.
As a recently divorced mum, Linda is embracing her latest role with an adventurous new travel business in Morocco.
We're now back from a glorious holiday to Halkidi in Greece (1 1/2 hours from Thessaloniki) and have returned totally refreshed and relaxed full of vitamin D, uplifting sea air and great Greek food (of which you can see more of the latter in my post A Taste of Halkidiki)...
This year wasn't even a big birthday (I turned 32)-I know, I look 25 right, but it's true, deal with it. Seriously though, I feel super lucky that I was so spoilt by family and friends.
No internet connection or phone signal nor desire to use them: check.
Breathtaking views from your rented 300 year old cottage overlooking Llangollen's riverside, castle remains and rolling hills: check. Argh Wales, I think I love you.
