About me

I love travelling and the excitement of discovering new places, whether it’s a small café with a great atmosphere or a major city.

Through this website, I aim to share my trips and offer suggestions of things to do, places to stay etc that others may find useful.

If I do not have a good experience somewhere, I won’t write about it.

After writing a few posts, I realised that I had mentioned a film or TV programme in most of them, either very overtly or more subtly. I will aim to keep doing this – see if you can spot them!

I haven’t included any in “Flights”. My husband suggested saying “there were no snakes on this plane”, but frankly, that’s just too weird!

 

Why the name “travels with my umbrella” ?

Living in the North East of England which is very beautiful, but also very rainy, I am in the habit of going everywhere with an umbrella and a weather appropriate hat. It has become a bit of a standing joke among my friends, but, undeterred, I take them everywhere.

An umbrella is also useful as a wind break or parasol so it really is an essential item for a traveller.

Thanks to Brenda Blethyn in her role as Vera for publicising the North East and also for stylishly sporting the type of hat that I have been trying to popularise for years!

 

“Once the travel bug bites, there is no known antidote and I know that I shall be happily infected until the end of my life” – Michael Palin