I love...

4 days in Florence

April 8 - 11 - Florence, Tuscany

4 of the best days of my life. Like stepping into a book, first seen in childhood, a mini heatwave adding fairy dust to a wonderful break.

North Sea breakers, frozen sand and snowy dunes

Holy Island - Wednesday December 8

4 days of grace: Holy Island, Dec 7 - 10

Just sometimes, just when it matters, you get just what you need. A lovely hideaway, in brilliant company, with memorable weather and spectacular views straight from the doorstep. Parachuted straight into this place you could mistake it in parts for Arctic Tundra, not Lindisfarne.

   

 

Boys and their toys #2

Tuesday December 7

Arctic conditions ... and for once the term is literally true, as the country is engulfed in freezing airflow from the far north ... threaten a planned escape from the drudgery of working and domestic life to Holy Island. Where it so happens that the relentless snow has continued to fall and freeze, by turns, long after it has stopped around my own area.

The woman who owns the coastguard's cottage I've booked is warning that we'll be hard pressed to make it there. The causeway that links Lindisfarne with the mainland is apparently dangerous following its daily tidal submersion. Impossible for any vehicle to negotiate, she says. We have to be there by 1:15 to beat the tide.

The A1 north of Newcastle is treacherous with black ice. That doesn't help with the fast diminishing time.

Reaching the final turn-off toward Holy Island I pull into a garage. And put on the 'snow socks'. The people there say 'you won't make it'. The road down toward the sea and the causeway is thick with compressed and icy snow. And my Prius suddenly feels like a 4x4. Accelerate too hard for the conditions and nothing untoward happens. Brake too hard for the conditions and the car stops. It doesn't slide. Steer a bit unwisely and the car just goes where you point it. My car feels safe at 30mph on a hilly, winding, snowy road it wouldn't have negotiated at all with 'bare' tyres. All for a measly £50 and less than 3 minutes to put on.

We make the causeway 5 minutes before it closes. Snow socks have made the difference between getting there on time and not making it even that far.

£50 snow socks. I love them. I've got 2 pairs. And it looks like I'll be needing them again, looking at the forecast ...

View from Foel Lus

Friday April 2 - Penmaenmawr and Anglesey seen from Foel Lus, Conwy Valley