Author: cloudcocoa

So, what do you do?

I enjoy a good quiz show as much as the next person (probably a bit more than them), but only if there was a threat to life* would you find me on one as a contestant. For one thing, there would be the horror of my enlarged HD face appearing on 42" television screens across the land, then there's the likely humiliation of me doing a giant blankface at the easiest of questions (worse would be answering confidently but being oh-so-wrong) - but the major deterrent right now is the fear of being publicly asked: 'So, what do you do?'

Sixteen easy new year resolutions for 2016

For those of you, who in the back of your minds know that by February, the lycra gym wear you bought in the sales will be pushed to the back of the drawer; for those who will discover that Mandarin / the ukulele / drinking kale juice every morning is just not for you, do not despair.

Planning for an imperfect Christmas Day

I hope for a pleasant day with family, nice food, time to relax, some decent gifts. In practice, I know I'll be donating some of my presents to the local charity shop, and people to whom I've given presents will be thinking the same, despite the time I spent choosing something I thought they'd like...There may be spillages, passive aggression and headaches by early evening. Whatever happens, it won't be perfect.

Geneva on a budget

Switzerland is not traditionally the first place travellers on a budget would choose, because it's expensive - only for the likes of bankers, diplomats, and FIFA officials who struggle so much with the cost of living they have to rely on bribes (allegedly). But it is possible to enjoy Geneva without breaking the bank. In fact I did so just last week and I am queen of thrift.