Holiday cottages all over England!

I have travelled around Great Britain for more than 35 years – sometimes in a motorhome, sometimes in a caravan, and sometimes staying at B&Bs. But most of the time, I have stayed in holiday homes of all sorts. One of those holiday homes actually became my own home for ten years... but that is another story and it was a long time ago... 

These days I stay for longer periods, and when I do, I rent a house. As you can see in the picture above, they have all been very different! 

I stay for one or two weeks at a time. Each week, I will make a YouTube video about the place – sometimes from the house and sometimes from the surrounding area.

This way, I will take you to all sorts of areas in England (and the UK). I hope you would like to join me...  ❤️❤️❤️

🏠 Watch the very first episode of "HOME AWAY FROM HOME" right here:

A Strong Network

The Women's Institute – widely known as the WI – was established back in 1915. The original goal was to revitalise rural communities and encourage women to get involved in food production during the First World War. Since then, the organisation's purpose has expanded significantly, and today the Women’s Institute is the largest women’s organisation in the UK, boasting around 210,000 members. 

While the WI is still the ultimate place to find a great recipe, and members continue to sell homemade jam and baked goods for charity, it is about much more than just cooking and housekeeping.

The WI plays a major role in education and community action, focusing on issues that matter to both women and society at large. In many ways, the institution has shaped modern British history. Members come from all walks of life. Whether you want to meet new people, learn a new craft, or simply enjoy the company of like-minded women, there is a local group for everyone.

Many find lifelong friends within the WI. Members regularly organise trips to the theatre, cinema, exhibitions, and museums, making the meetings as entertaining as they are practical. There are also plenty of opportunities to stay active together, with regular events hosted for those wanting to try anything from a triathlon to charity walks.

One of the institute’s core missions is promoting national health and sustainable eating habits. Through educational campaigns, the WI encourages healthy living, and their focus on utilizing local produce helps support both personal health and household finances.

Education remains at the very heart of the organisation. While their famous residential college, Denman College, closed its physical doors in 2020, the WI successfully transitioned its educational mission online. Today, members can study a vast array of subjects through the VIA Learning Hub. Courses range from jewellery making, mosaic crafts, and patchwork to bridge, film history, and musical theatre.

After so many years, the Women's Institute has grown into an influential powerhouse in the UK—a force to be reckoned with. The WI provides women with a collective voice externally and an inner strength that members deeply value.

From the very beginning, the institute has encouraged women not only to develop their own creative and practical skills but also to inspire and empower one another. In challenging times, standing together is what matters most. And that is exactly what the women of the Women’s Institute do best.

A personal note: I recently had the pleasure of attending a Women's Institute meeting during my visit to England. I was met with such warmth and kindness by the lovely women there that I honestly felt a bit sad that I couldn't just settle down and attend their meetings regularly. It reminded me of this article I wrote some years ago, which perfectly captures the incredible strength and sisterhood of the WI.

Delightful Deal

I didn't really know what to expect from the town of Deal. It is located on the east coast of Kent – very convenient if you are taking the Eurotunnel (or a ferry) over to France.

We stayed on a peaceful street lined with beautifully restored houses, and within just five minutes, we were down on the high street. Every day we went for a walk – down to the church, where dog owners walked their dogs on the lawn behind it; down small streets we didn't know yet, but grew to know and – of course – down to the seafront, where you could walk for miles in both directions.

The supermarkets were also close by, and as always, my lovely husband came home with shopping bags and the remark, "Why don't we live HERE?". He has said that in so many places by now, but then again, there ARE so many wonderful places where you could easily settle down.

So I completely understand him, and I find myself asking the exact same question when I talk to people in the streets and shops – and feel like I belong.

You can get a really good impression of the town by watching my video below:

Letter to David Attenborough

Inspired by the loveliest of birthday letters from King Charles to David Attenborough earlier this year, I too would like to write – in my own small way – a letter to one of the men I truly admire.

Dear David Attenborough,

When I was a child, I had an uncle who taught me all kinds of things about nature and animals. He took me to see bats at night, he showed me a fox den he had found, and he even placed a hedgehog in my lap (before putting it right back where he'd found it). We would sit and watch birds, spiders, and snakes for hours. He taught me respect for all living things and for the fascinating world of nature, which I still love with all my heart.

You, Sir, are such an "uncle" – one that perhaps not everyone is lucky enough to have in real life, though of course on a much grander scale. You showed us all the wonderful and diverse beings from all over the world. Among my finest memories are visiting gorillas with you on television and diving into the sea with virtual reality gear at the Natural History Museum in London.

Please stay in this world for as long as possible, Mr. Attenborough. The world needs you – and so do we, to make us realize what a magical planet we are so incredibly lucky to live on...!

Kindest regards

Mia

Photo: A wasp enjoying a quiet moment in a flower. Often misunderstood, these little pollinators remind us of the hidden magic in our own backyards

In the Footsteps of Midsomer Murders

Everybody loves a good murder or two – and this is one of the reasons for the success of the Midsomer Murders series. Other reasons are the typical English villages and the cosy houses that we are introduced to.

Most locations can be found in Buckinghamshire, but not everything has been filmed in a single village. Let's take a look at a few of them:

Long Crendon has been used several times because its High Street is utterly charming. The village’s history stretches far back, which is beautifully reflected in its well-preserved houses and ancient church.

The courthouse beside the church dates back to 1485. At one time, it housed the village poor on the ground floor, while the upper floor was used as a courtroom.

Marlow is idyllically situated on the Thames, surrounded by beautiful countryside, and many of its elegant houses date from the 18th century.

Close to Marlow is Little Marlow, where – quite appropriately – the master of crime novels, Edgar Wallace, is buried in the nearby churchyard. The village church has often featured in other well-known series like Lewis, Miss Marple, and Poirot.

Hambleden is a frequently visited village – not only by tourists, but also by film crews, as so many English movies and series have been filmed here. The village is known for its flint cottages and idyllic surroundings, and close by you can see the historic watermill.

I recently stayed in a holiday cottage in Hambleden for a week. If you would like to see my YouTube video of this beautiful place, you can find the link below.

Life as It Was: A nostalgic Visit to Maribo open-air museum, Denmark

Visiting open-air museums is one of my favorite pastimes. I visit all those I can find, and lately, I re-visited a small but lovely museum in Maribo on the island of Lolland.

A picnic bag was packed, and while we sat at one of the tables enjoying sandwiches, coffee, and cake, the resident hens and a single cockerel were very interested onlookers.

The atmosphere was so calm and lovely, and – since we had brought Gussi the dog – we took turns looking inside the houses. I visited one where a wedding was being prepared; in another house hung yarn dyed with plants from the garden. And whilst I was studying the displays, an old clock was ticking loudly with its tock... tock... tock.

The small gardens outside the houses were filled with bee-friendly flowers, and along one – to my surprise – fuchsia bushes were growing in a long row. A hop plant was climbing vigorously, aiming to reach the top of a stake, and a pleased sound from one of the hens suggested the laying of an egg.

We had such a nice day. Do visit this place if you visit Lolland. And maybe you would like to take a look at my YouTube video right here below:

Write a letter

These days it is a rare thing to get a letter. A real letter in a beautiful envelope or maybe a pretty and specially chosen card, that we just have to put on a shelf to admire.

Emails are OK, if you just need to say something to someone, but a letter demands a certain consideration. The receiver will know that the sender has been given the matter some thought; that the words has been chosen carefully to bring joy. Maybe it is a birthday card; maybe it is a get-well card – or maybe it is just a loving letter to reassure or please.

In a way a letter means more than a bouquet of flowers, because a letter takes time to write. You need to sit still and lose yourself in thoughts, because words don’t always come easy. And there is no "delete” button, when you write a real letter. You must know what to write, before you write it.

Maybe letters will be an artform before long. It is such a pleasure to write with a fountain pen for instance. And it is also a pleasure to write slowly and carefully, so the receiver will be able to read the words without trouble.

And most importantly: It is a pleasure to bring pleasure to others…