holiday – and so she thinks

Farmstays – diversifying an industry

admin — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 17:20:00 +0000

I look at how farm stays have helped rural businesses expand, and visit Featherdown Farms in the process. For The Countryman magazine.

Sunshine on a rainy day

admin — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 11:21:00 +0000

It’s summertime, and with the longer days, BBQ evenings and buckets and spades comes a desire to infuse some of that summer feeling into everything. A bit of frivolity, joie de vivre, light heartedness. And everything includes our clothing and accessories. Sarah Nettleton, Founder and Designer, of aMuse Fashionsaims to bring a bit of the season into her jewellery pieces, and the Paper Sailboats, Fish ‘N’ Chips and Lollipop collections are perfect for this.
But as I found out from her, it’s far more complex than simply looking at a bucket and spade.
Sarah started out working on large scale sculptural pieces. As her passions and work progressed, she sought to transfer some of the skills and materials into jewellery. Like many women, she saw a problem, identified an solution, and a lot of hard work later it became her livelihood. “I started making jewellery mostly because I wanted certain looks that I could not find in the shops. I started doing it as a business when I realised that more people might be interested in my creations.”
Read more at Belle About Town.

Malta Takes London

admin — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 14:32:32 +0000

A little island in the Mediterranean is usually better known for its crystal blue seas, rocky coves, warm weather and tasty cuisine than rocking music and good tunes, but as the next country showcase to hit the capital proves, Malta more than punches above its weight. Malta takes London was created by Maltese musicians for Maltese musicians in 2013, and the inaugural event went with something of a success. September 27th sees six artists and bands head to the Water Rats to celebrate good music and their Maltese roots. Listen below to hear what nosnow/noalps (who will be launching their new EP), Berne, Carrie Haber, Cosmic Erotic, Canvas Wall, Yews, Dana McKeon and Fuzzhoneys have to offer, and make sure you buy your tickets now and head down to the King’s Cross venue on the night to be amazed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tzNxQAj2w4

A movie trip around Malta

admin — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 15:34:00 +0000

Sunny skies, historic buildings, dramatic scenery and the cleanest seas in the Mediterranean (as well as favourable tax rates – the Malta Film Commission offer various incentives to attract overseas film-makers) have seen Malta play host to film makers from all countries and genres over the years. Check out some pretty spots on this tiny island to inspire your next holiday.

Valletta

The island’s capital, UNESCO World Heritage City Valletta is steeped in history. The sun baked walls and steep streets are home to a cosmopolitan vibe and thriving cafe culture. Whether strolling along the waterfront and enjoy views of the Grand Harbour, relaxing in the Upper Barrakka Gardens, avoiding pigeons in Republic Square whilst you refresh with a Kinnie and a pastizz, visiting baroque masterpiece St John’s Co-Cathedral with its ornate frescoes by Caravaggio, exploring Forts St Elmo and St Angelo, or touring the Grandmaster’s Palace, now home to the President’s office and the Houses of Parliament, there is tons to see. You can visit the secret bunker Lascaris War Rooms, used in the Malta Story (1953), where the Second World War defence of Malta and invasion of Silicy were managed. As one of the most strategically important locations in WWII, the citizens of Malta thoroughly deserved their Victoria Cross, as this location will show. Located near the gates is the historic Phoenicia Hotel, which will also appeal to film-lovers, having hosted everyone from Charlton Heston and Oliver Reed to Joaquin Phoenix, Pierce Brosnan and Rachel Weisz.

Filmed here: Captain Phillips, World War Z, Alexander, The Saint, Midnight Express and Malta Story

Mdina

Midina was once the capital of Malta and a settlement of Imperial Rome, taken over by the Turks, Knights of St John, and even the British, This tiny walled city is known as the Silent City and is made up of winding cobbled streets and mesmerizing views thanks to its strategic position on the high ground of the steep Sciberras peninsula. A mix of medieval and baroque architecture, historic buildings include the 18th century Vilhena Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral & Museum, Palazzo de Piri and the Mdina Dungeons are just some of the places to investigate in this captivating setting. Outside the old gates, horse pulled carriage rides in a traditional karrozzin are on offer. If you want to see more of the ‘real’ Maltese, explore Rabat (which means ‘suburb’ and is a strong indication of the Arabic influences upon language and culture), just outside Mdina.

Filmed here: Gladiator, Game of Thrones and The Count of Monte Cristo

Vittoriosa

Known as one of the Three Cities, together with Cospicua and Senglea, Vittoriosa is steeped in history, dating back to prehistoric times. A fortified city on the south, harbour inlets have been in use since Phoenician times, and a home to local people and industry. Redevelopment in recent years has seen the docks and waterfront become filled with culture and cafes, and some of the country’s best local fiestas take place down here. For a dose of prehistoric history (did you know Malta was once wandered by native pygmy elephants and hippos), visit Hagar Qim – an imposing temple built around 3600 BC. Of course, history and religion abounds, and the Church of St Lawrence and Inquisitor’s Palace reveal plenty about this city. If you want to travel scenically, consider a boat trip from Valletta to Vittoriosa in a traditional fishing boat, a dghajsa.

Filmed here: The Da Vinci Code, Swept Away and Gladiator.

Mellieha

Situated in the north west of the island, Mellieha’s sandy long beaches with shallow water make it popular with families, and it’s a more touristy area than some others. However, being less densely populated, it’s also home to many rare and protected species of wildlife, incuding as Malta’s only natural national park, Il-Majjistral Nature and History Park. Again the Order of St John had a significant influence here, and St Agatha’s Tower, built in 1647, can still be seen, as can the Mellieha Air Raid Shelter. Malta has 365 religious places of worship, and the pretty little Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mellieha is another top place to visit. An those with families will love the Popeye Village, which was built as the set of the 1980 film starring Robin Williams. Today the climb over the wooden buildings allows for beautiful views.

Filmed here: Troy and Popeye Village

Split – secret of life?

admin — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 09:58:53 +0000

You may have heard that Croatia is the place to holiday this summer. Everyone knows that Dubrovnik is the jewel of the Adractic, and in fact who would dare to argue with Byron’s use of simile. For me though, Split is the top of any list of where to go in Croatia.
A beautiful elegant city with a kind of gritty grace, Split as looks with substance, not the artificial shimmer of Dubrovnik. It can be easy to presume that in former Yugoslavia the pervading feeling will be one of Soviet stoicism, but the Italian influence is evident in the easy living along the Riva, and the best pizza and gelato I have ever tasted. Elegant and old, it has a crumbing and chaotic sense of grandeur.
White and red are the colours of Split, in the amerana and jagoda gelato, fresh tomatos and mozzarella spread across the thin crisp pizza base, wine sold by the litre carafe, and the colours of Hadjuk Split, the football team that ignites the passions of men and women across the city, daubed on walls in Diocletian’s Palace. That is apart from the blue of the sky, the green of Marjan hills, the golden hues reflecting from the sea.
Spires of yaughts, cathedrals of the sea glide past, the rich and wealthy travellers have not commandeered the port for their own image at the expense of reality, men with fishing lines still sit on the water’s edge reeling in the fish that make it to the cool wet slabs of the fish market where the olfactory experience is either offensive or rapturous, depending on one’s opinion of sea food, later to grace the dining tables in russet topped houses and restaurants in the walls of the city and streets winding up the hills.
Split has the feeling of a perpetual holiday, but not in a lazy way – more that the residents have discovered the secret of life, and that it goes something along the lines of ‘enjoy it.’