Have recently spent a weekend in the lovely New Forest area of southern England. I have been here a few times and its well worth a trip. We rented a house in the little village of Mudeford , just a few hundred metres from the old Quay. I would recommend the old fishermans inn ‘The Haven Inn’ for food and a few drinks. Its a pretty little quayside with some very old houses. Day trips are possible by ferry to nearby Hengistbury head. Nearby, the towns of Christchurch and New Milton have plenty shops as does the very old world town of Lymington, with its pretty cobbled streets. We travelled by Aer Lingus to Southampton Airport , about 40 minutes away.

All along the coast are great views of ‘The Needles’, the rocks at the western end of the Isle of Wight. Ferries to the island run frequently from Lymington. The island itself is a bit like stepping back in time to an era with a  slower pace of life. Lots of visitor attractions on the island to keep all ages/interests happy.Check it out !!

Now my dream of a house in Brittany is getting closer. Back in a few weeks to paint, clean and decorate. Thankfully not far to the boulangerie around the corner for vital supplies. Les croissants…! Vival en face for vin rouge. Menu du jour Chez Karine et Didier, saves on cooking! With two more ‘vide greniers’ lined up, la maison secondaire is looking very homely. My rusty french is the next thing for a makeover! Kenavo.

Just back from a week in sunny Bordeaux. What a fantastic city to visit. Having assumed that it would have a ‘big city’ feel, I was pleasantly surprised by how compact and friendly it felt. The city itself has had a lot of work done to it over the last 10-20 years, from a new tram system to redevelopment of the quays, with the highlight being the ‘Miroir d’eau’ a reflective pool at Place de Bourse which has become a favourite of citizens and tourists alike. We saw many toddlers paddling in it ! At night the quays were alive with music, salsa dancing and open air movies.For die hard shoppers, you will be glad to know that the city boasts the longest pedestrianised shopping street in Europe in Rue St. Catherine. As I was there with my sister we spent many happy hours up and down the street breaking for a coffee and croissant in one of the many cafes off its side streets. The tram system is easy to use and cheap too with a ticket costing €1.50 and valid for an hour on all trams and buses. This is very handy for getting in from the airport to the city centre. All tram stops have ticket dispensers. We also went by train (35 minutes) from Gare St Jean to Saint Emilion. The pretty village is awash with wine stores and related souvenirs. We took the ‘petit train’ around the vineyards and to a tour and wine tasting at Chateau Rochebelle.In Bordeaux, the self directed walking tour (maps from the tourist office), Museum of Decorative Arts and ‘Petit train’ audio tour are well worth considering. Don’t miss the Sunday morning flea market at Place St. Michel. La belle Bordeaux !!

Travel Tips Section.

Lovely city with many historic buildings. Hard to believe that the city was so badly damaged during the war. The reconstruction is really good. Uphagen House is worth seeing though if you visit theAmber Museum note that you have no choice but to exit through the Torture museum. Not for the faint hearted! Sopot is good for a day trip and has the distinction of having the longest wooden pier in Europe. Some very good shops and restaurants also. To get there by train go from Gdansk Glowny but be warned there are not a lot of signs about which platform to use. Trams are also a cheap and easy way to get around but the old town is best accessed on foot.

Had a great few days in December at the Christmas market in Vienna. There are lots of markets to visit with the most popular being in the Rathaus Platz. Be warned its very crowded! My personal favourites were at Spittelberg and the Schonnbrun palace. My tip – don’t go at the weekend its too busy , otherwise fab!

We opted for an apartment in an 18th century building near the Rathaus with typical high ceilings and lots of space. The Vienna card for 24/48 hour travel on buses, trams and metros is very good value and easy to use. Vienna is clean, safe and has lots of beautiful architecture so well worth a visit. (The Gluhwein was good too!)

For anyone heading to London and intent on taking a boat trip, check the tides ! On a recent visit we paid for a return trip from Westminster to Tower Bridge but after a wander around and lunch we were told the boat would not be going back because the tide was low ! Its not something you usually consider on a river so either get a single trip and use a different mode of transport back or be sure to travel at high tide.

On my recent trip to Portugal I once again (over)indulged in the scrummy ‘Pastel de Nata’. Basically its a custard tart, which I know doesn’t sound appetising but somehow it is. For the freshest ones be sure to lauch an early assault on your nearest ‘Pastelaria’. The Portuguese really understand the much misunderstood pleasures of a pastry and coffee. It really does kick start your day.

People keep asking why ‘deisequeen’ ? Well its a combination of a nod to my Waterford roots and my other half calling me a princess jokingly.  ( I hope !) So why not !!