Stories behind the stories. By Travel Writer, Amy McPherson
Personal thoughts and stories of life on and off the road. A Blog.
I was on an assignment in Annecy when the phone call came. “Your cat has cancer. I am sorry.” I don’t mean to begin a start with and end, but sometimes that’s how life is. Something needed to end before something begins, and this is the story of the end. And it began with my …
(Feature image credit: Francesca Lasca) You know, I’ve planned this post since 1 January after my thank you letter to 2022. I mean, it’s the day of a new year right? And you’d think I woud have had my acts together. No, unfortunately, as it always is, I wasn’t ready to post. I had so …
Dear readers, Is it Christmas time already? Gosh this year went fast. I am writing this, as it happens, on the shortest day of the year: the Winter Solace. It is also the anniversary of my cat, Kitty’s death. Two years ago, I had to let her go, and for two years, I still shed …
You know how everyone was baking bread in 2020? I’ll admit, so was I. At the same time, I decided with all the time on my hands that I’d start drawing again. If you have been following me on Instagram, you’ll have seen some of the drawings of birds and marine life I’ve done in …
Australia opens up for tourists today, and for most of us in the world, we get to travel again, it’s a happy day, but then again, I’ve learned to reset my perception on happiness. I’ve learned that even from the deepest woe, comes lessons that we can all learn from, then the event that made …
I went back to Sydney for a brief visit in December. My first long haul trip and I was giddy about it. The idea of being stuck on a plane for 24 hours, the idea of having to faff about with the Australian Border Control, the idea of just being far far away. Two years …
It’s one of those things that I used to take for granted – the joy of packing. As a travel writer I was always on the go, and packing became more of an instinct rather than a pleasurable process. Then, came 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic took over our lives, affecting absolutely everyone on this …
It was Friday the 13th. On top of that, it was the day of the full moon. I am not a superstitious person, but last week I couldn’t help if the cosmos was at play, when I hit a new low. I do not remember the last time I had such a bad day, it …
When I realised today that it has been two whole months since my last post, I knew I was in trouble. It feels like I am hiking on a misty path without a compass, just feeling my way forwards unable to see the immediate future ahead. I had really hoped this year would be a …
“Madam! Madam!” the concierge was chasing after me as I walked towards the escalator, red faced and dripping sweat. “Did you know we have a gym in the hotel?” “Yes,” I smiled, aware of the many eyes on me now. “You don’t have to run outside. It’s so hot!” I realised his concern and laughed. …
First and foremost, a disclaimer. Just because I am about to say bad things about certain genders doesn’t mean I hate everyone. It’s like that recent Gillette ad that highlights toxic masculinity, with a new slogan to call on men to be the best they can be, (instead of the old “the best the men …
I wasn’t going to write an end of year post this year. I was just going to let it all go, to allow the new year creep up silently. Pretend it’s just another normal day. Yet, personally, 2018 had been too big to ignore. Earlier this year I made a decision that I should have …
Some of you may remember, I first ‘picked up’ a healthy obsession with cycling just under a year ago. Not that I didn’t ride a bicycle when I was younger but to properly cycle for longer distances than just a round trip to the shops was a new thing for me, and it hasn’t been …
Did you know that bumble bees live underground? We don’t have bumble bees in Australia and I’ve never really learned about this part of their lives. Here I am sitting In my friend’s garden in Saarbrücken, enjoying the warmth of the spring sunshine, the sight of colourful blooms, their scent carried to me by the …
The Easter weekend just past was the first weekend I didn’t have a deadline to worry about. I felt free. Too free. I didn’t know what to do with myself. So, went to see The Greatest Showman (now my new favourite musical album), tried to see Winnie the Pooh exhibition at the Victoria & Albert …
When do you know when you’ve pushed yourself to the absolute limit? Well, I finally found that out last week. Here’s the long story. I am currently on a Snowshoe and Winter Walking in Bosnia tour. We arrived on Sunday and I’ve just had two great days of snowshoe adventure. It’s harder than it looks. …
I am back doing long train rides to Southampton three days a week. As mentioned in a previous post – the girl on the train– it gives me time to think (although, way too much time in my own head could be a dangerous thing!) and today I began to think of the many people I …
Ever been on a blind date? Ever agreed to marry someone before that blind date? WHY WOULD ANYONE AGREE TO MARRY SOMEONE WHO THEY’VE NEVER MET???? For money. Definitely for money. So if no money was involved, you wouldn’t ever do anything so committal as to say… marry, or travel with someone who you have …
Two days to yet another new year. Where did the time go? A 2017 round up This year has been great year for me. It is the first year I’ve had the opportunity to freelance full time, and have had a taste of what more I need to do to make it work. Yes, financially …
I read ‘The Girl on the Train’ a few months ago, what a brilliantly written unreliable narrator the protagonist was. And what a great idea, because the train journey to work is something most of us have to go through at some stage in our lifetime and I often wondered what the people around me …
Back in August I made a call out on Facebook for anyone who might be interested in just going back in time and receive postcards from me. You know, I am a bit disappointed not many people took up the offer! In total I received 12 requests for postcards. Granted, it is possible …
I’ve recently gone back to “work” – travelling daily to Southampton for a two months contract to sit out the quiet winter period when my writing work slows down. The train trip is 1.5 hours southward from London, and because I am going against the hamster wheel, I always get a seat and have the …
I am listening to Westlife on Youtube. What prompted this urge to re-live my late teen’s crush you ask? Well, just been to Sligo, a city north west of Ireland where three of the band member are from. Quite frankly, I am swooned once more! All that I want in my life, is the feeling of …
Having lived in this city for almost three years now and it has never ceased to surprise me. There is always something being transformed, being created and re-created and the way Londoners are so blase about stuff happening around them seems to indicate change is nothing new. Try wearing your loudest shirt or a pikachu …
