European Summer 2014.

I always get nervous when I am locked into something.  It's so strange because I am generally so organised, I'm a strategist in my working life for <insert your fav curse word here> sake. 

But I've always been a bit funny about it.  I like spontaneity, I get bored a bit too quickly.  Except when it's booking exciting trips to Europe which I have just done over the weekend.  Lock me in as tight as you want, baby.

Six weeks in Europe (Kent, Biarritz, San Sebastian, Avignon, Santorini, London, Paris) thankyou very much.  2014 is already looking super swell and bright. 

(I took this pic at the Musée d'Orsay in 2009. I looooooove this room.)

Holiday Hiking.

One day during my recent blissful beach holiday my camping comrades and I escaped the tents, donned boots, buckled up and went exploring.  

We went four-wheel driving and hiked a little way up to the summit of Gulaga - Mount Dromedary.  As we wandered, my cousin Moo and I were like competing paparazzi, snapping here and there at all of the beautiful highlights of nature.

Under all of the tree cover we stumbled through moss covered twigs and trunks and my cousin J and I pondered our futures and talked about hopes and dreams.  

Bliss. 

The Tilbas.

I've been going on Christmas beach holidays with my extended family for over 20 years.  And, every year, we visit the nearby National Trust registered towns of Central Tilba and Tilba Tilba.  

These are two gorgeous little tourist spots.  My favourite little shop is Vintage Poppy down at Tilba Tilba.  And I SO want to hold a party in the beautiful hall in Central Tilba.  Doesn't it look so amazing?   The cheese factory also offers free tastings of it's yummy products.

So if you're ever roadtripping on the NSW South Coast it's definitely worth a quick detour. 

Oh, and p.s. that spunky, green stepladder is now joining me in the ladypad.  Hurrah!

Camping as a Christmas gift.

Wow. We all know how much I love camping but this takes my love affair to a new level. How amazing are these tents by FieldCandy?

Sarah and Andy are going on a canoeing and camping adventure tomorrow. Guess who isn't? Mmmhmmm...one angry little Frances.

Perhaps I should buy one of these babies and camp on my balcony with my baby tomato?

Wouldn't these make the best Christmas present?

Glamping vs Camping.

'

My dears, do you like camping?

I absolutely love it. And have been many times since I was a wee tot - by many times I mean approx two or three times a year for most of my life.

My experience has certainly not been glamourous and I wouldn't have it any other way. That said, there's nothing fun about your tent falling in during a storm or realising you're floating on a couple of inches of water in the middle of the night.

Lately there has been a rise in 'glamping' which seems to be pretty much taking your whole bedroom with you and just setting it up in a tent.

I'd like to think there's a happy medium like these swoon-worthy pics show of Artemis and Nao's adventures. These days I like to style my tent and have some little luxuries but there will be no hot water bottles or full beds in any tent of mine anytime soon.

What do you think? Glamping? Or camping?

(pics all via junkaholique)