Author: Victoria

Victoria is a busy mum, wife and full-time blogger in the south of the UK. She began blogging in April 2013 and now writes four blogs at Lylia Rose, Healthy Vix, Travel Vixta and Wood Create. Favourite topics include making and saving money, blogging, self-employment, healthy living, travel, home and garden.
eco friendly boating

Is eco-friendly boating possible? 13+ tips to protect marine life

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Eco-friendly boating, does it exist? Can you enjoy being on the open waters while caring for the environment? Let’s explore.

When it’s time to take a break from everyday life and spend time relaxing, many people would rather leave dry land behind and take to the open waters. A day on the boat can be the best antidote to city chaos, enjoying the peace and harmony that can only be found on the water.

However, a boat trip can be harmful to the environment. Eco-friendly boating, to be as green as possible, is the best of both worlds. Let’s explore how you can still enjoy boating whilst being environmentally conscious at the same time.

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cancelled holidays compensation

Cancelled holidays, compensation and travel insurance (what you need to know)

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Does travel insurance cover you if you have to cancel your holiday? Are you entitled to compensation from the airport if your flight is cancelled or delayed? Let’s explore cancelled holidays and what you might be covered for.

Last year it was the risk of trips being cancelled because of COVID-19. This year it’s the fact that understaffed airports and airlines are creaking under the strain and cancelling flights left, right and centre as a result. 

One thing’s for sure, though – we’re not ‘back to normal’ when it comes to going abroad for a holiday by any stretch of the imagination.

When you throw in the disruption being caused by a series of rail strikes in the UK, everyone with travel plans for the rest of the year is watching nervously to see if they’ll actually make it or not.

This raises an important question. What happens if your holiday is cancelled? What happens if you don’t make it on time for your flight because of all the issues on the rail service, which is also having a knock-on effect on road congestion?

Most crucially of all – will you get your money back?

Given the high risk of holiday disruption again this summer, holidaymakers are being urged to take out travel insurance to make sure the cost of their holiday is covered should the worst happen. Here’s what you need to know.

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Europe family road trip day 4 – Soltau, Germany

Best vegan road trip food ideas (with no fridge)

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On our European road trip, we travelled 1700 miles across Europe in our Mazda Bongo. The longest drive was 10 hours! As a family of vegans (2 adults and 2 young kids), we had to come up with lots of vegan road trip snacks, main meal vegan food ideas and packed lunchboxes that didn’t need refrigeration. Our Bongo is not converted and we only had a cool box, which wouldn’t keep food cold for long when we set off from home in the UK. If you’re looking for vegan road trip food ideas that don’t need a fridge, read on as I share a huge list of road trip food ideas based on what we took with us!

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silhouette of airplane under cloudy sky

Looking good when flying long-haul: our top tips

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Managing to stay flawless and fashionable when you are taking a long-haul flight can be a tall order. While some of our favourite A-list celebrities may have it down to a fine art, the rest of us can find it a struggle.

Not only do we have to combat travel fatigue and that dreaded high-altitude bloat, but we also have to contend with crumpled clothing, dehydrated skin, and static hair.

Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to keep your poise and look as fresh-faced when you disembark as you looked when you first boarded. Read on for our top tips for long-haul beauty that lasts!

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st-erth-to-st-ives-park-and-ride

St Erth to St Ives train ride (STUNNING coastal views)

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If you’re looking for an easy way to access St Ives without the hassle of trying to find a parking spot in one of the busiest towns in Cornwall then read on. Here’s our St Erth Park and Ride review with lots of helpful information to plan your journey.

It’s also one of the best coastal train rides in the whole of Britain with stunning scenery. I’ll share some photos below so you can see the type of amazing coastal views to expect!

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How to throw a yacht party

How to throw a yacht party (that everyone will be talking about!)

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A yacht party is a great way to celebrate any occasion, from a birthday to a retirement party, or even just an excuse to get together with friends. However, not all yacht parties are created equal. There are many different ways you can throw one and each has its own unique qualities. If you’re looking for some inspiration on how to make your next yacht party the best one yet, read on. Here are some tips for throwing the perfect boat party that everyone will be talking about!

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Watergate Bay to Mawgan Porth, South West Coastal Path walk

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Since walking from Perranporth to Newquay and also from Porth to Whipsiderry to Watergate, I’ve really wanted to explore the next stretch of the South West Coastal Path walking from Watergate Bay to Mawgan Porth.

I finally ticked it off my to-do list this week as I enjoyed an amazing 10km walk from my home in Newquay, past Whipsiderry and along the South West Coast Path at Watergate Bay to Mawgan Porth… where Ben greeted me with a lift home and a warm pasty! Yum! (Cauliflower and onion bhaji from The Cornish Bakery if you’re wondering… vegan-friendly!)

Read on to see my thoughts and photos from this glorious stretch of the coastal path.

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Glendurgan Garden, National Trust, Cornwall

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Last Sunday we visited Glendurgan Garden in Falmouth, Cornwall. It’s a National Trust site and so we had free entry and parking with our membership. Glendurgan is around a 50-minute drive from our home in Newquay through some lovely leafy country lanes around Falmouth.

The weather had looked a bit iffy on Sunday and likely to rain, so we looked for something to do that might be slightly sheltered or indoors on the National Trust app. Glendurgan looked great as although outdoors, perhaps sheltered with large trees and they had a couple of activities for the kids and a cafe if needed!

Thankfully, the weather stayed dry for our visit, but it was freezing! After a week of warm 20 degrees celsius, it was around 15 degrees on the day we visited and we really felt it, even in coats and trousers!

Since living by the coast we have really found the weather so unpredictable, especially with the coastal winds which can really cool down the temperature if they are cold!

Anyway, here are some photos from the Glenurgan gardens and a little information about what to expect if you decide to visit yourself.

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Eden Project Cornwall

Eden Project Cornwall review, photos + helpful visitor information

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The Eden Project is an amazing place we had visited a couple of times in the past when the kids were dinky, but we have returned twice in the last month with the children now being 9 years and 7 years old. They couldn’t remember it from before, but Bella had a school trip recently and since moving to Cornwall last year, we decided it was great value to sign up for their annual membership so we can visit regularly throughout the next year.

Read on to see our March and April 2022 photos from the Eden Project and some thoughts on our two recent visits so you know what to expect. Discover some answers to some common questions about the Eden Project Cornwall and how you can save money if you are local, or if you regularly visit Cornwall and love the Eden Project.

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zacrys islands

Beautiful 10km Newquay coastal walk: Whipsiderry to Watergate Bay along the beach, and back along South West Coast Path

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This is probably one of my favourite walks so far since living in Newquay. It was the first walk I did by myself: a 5km walk from the far end of Whipsiderry Beach to the far end of Watergate Bay. The first time I did it, Ben and the kids picked me up from Watergate Bay as they stayed and played at Whipsiderry. Just this week, we returned and we walked as a family to Watergate Bay and then back along the cliffs taking the South West Coast Path from Watergate Bay to Whipsiderry, back to where we’d parked the car.

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