Stories behind the stories. By Travel Writer, Amy McPherson
(Feature image credit to Natalia Santolaya) For all that could have been, this year had been a great year. I did spend most of the first months of the year grieving after the loss of my cat, the year has been kind. One of the biggest opportunity came in the form of the world’s biggest …
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 …
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 …
“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 …
Not every little girl wanted to grow up to be a princess. As I can’t really remember much from my young childhood, so I can’t tell you what I wanted to grow up to be. But knowing what I am like now I can assure you I definitely didn’t want to be a princess. I …
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 …
You may or may not have noticed that I’ve picked up a new obsession – the bicycle – this year, thanks to a trip made in haste to Sligo in Ireland where the enthusiasm and the camaraderie of the guides and fellow travellers on our cycling tour that got me deeply and madly hooked on …
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 …
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 have been questioned, time after time, trip after trip, how I pack so lightly. Do I have special lightweight clothing? Do I have secret compartments in my backpack? Is there a magical space at the bottom where things just disappear into without adding on dimensions and weight? (Like the Tardis, people think my backpack …
Well, now that I’ve written my official story I needed to write for In The Know Traveler I thought I’d enlighten you with a more personal account of the trip, written in the style of previous post about lusting over Switzerland and romance with Vorarlberg. (In other words, you know some cheesiness is coming!) READ: Spell …
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 …
There is no doubt about it. Switzerland is very, very beautiful, and it easily had me at ‘hello’. The love affair began even before I landed in Geneva Airport. Switzerland flashed a glorious smile at me from below, with Lake Geneva shimmering in the shadows of Alpine peaks dusted with snow, with that crisp green …
I have been amazed by Poland’s transformation. The last time I was in Poland was 2003, when I studied in Saarbrücken. I thought it was beautiful, I thought the people were friendly and generous and I thought the food was delicious. I thought of many pleasant things about Poland that I fell in love with …
How beautiful was the weather on the weekend?! I can tell you during our trip up north 2 weeks ago it was a completely different story…. Apparently I was mad when I booked a trip up north at this time of the year. “It’s just going to rain the entire time!” Rain, I can …
Are you making a move internationally? Got pets you want to take with? Many of you know that at the end of 2014 I made the big move from Australia to the UK. Prior to the move, planning and scheming aside – the biggest questions on both my husband and my lips were: “Shall we …
I think it’s important for everyone to look back to their year and recognise what they had done and achieved. It isn’t a show off exercise, but one that can give you the chance to sit down, relax and think of all the memories that you’ve accumulated in the year, revisit some of the happy …
As a traveller I don’t believe in politics. I believe in humanity and friendship and I have been avoiding this topic for a long time, but it seems that it’s time to talk about terrorism. News haven’t been pleasant recently. Humans are turning on each other, either on difference in opinion or on the …
So, as you now know, that it has been a year since our formal move to the UK. While we don’t actually live in ‘London‘ proper, we do spend a load of time working, studying and entertaining in London. While having explained myself numerous times, there are still questions about what exactly what I like …
Here’s a question I’ve been asked recently: “what does living unconventionally mean to you Amy?” It was on Twitter, so I was limited to 120 characters. In short, my answer was: I think that everyone needs to be true to who they are and what they want out of life, and not to follow a path …
It’s one of those stories that begins with “In a land far far away….” Last month I shared my thoughts on what had surprised me about the UK. Most of these surprises don’t bother me all that much but while life has been more than wonderful (yes, you heard me, I am thoroughly enjoying myself!) there are times …
Hello. Yes, it’s the cat writing. I’ve been quiet for too long about this and it’s time to break my silence. Seeing that you have all been following what my mother gets up to trotting around the globe, I figured that you already know the pain and sufferance she has endowed upon me (not us, …
