The sound of classical music drifts around walls decorated with golden pears. A pile of books including one by local author Hunter Davies and a cookery classic by Mary Berry are piled in a colourful heap on a table by the window.  A pot of white cyclamen heralds a spring...

CFBA organisers Sue Coulson, Janett Walker and Sophia Newton – photo Victoria Sedgewick ‘I gotta feeling’ by the Black-Eyed Peas rocked out from the speakers as Sue Coulson, Janett Walker and Sophia Newton stepped onto the stage to announce the start of the very first Cumbria Family Business Awards. Sue, whose company,...

Some time ago I wrote an article called 5 Reasons to be a Travel Blogger‘ It got a very enthusiastic response, understandably, given the nature of the role and the lure of travel for so many of us. Most people love to travel, if only for a holiday, and most...

Absolutely delighted that TQT Training has been nominated as a finalist in the EVA Awards for Training and Coaching Business of the Year. The Enterprise Vision Awards (EVAs) have been created to specifically recognise women in The North West who are inspiring others by successfully running their own businesses or...

One of the many lessons I learnt from the world of business is that continuous improvement and adapting to change are vital for success. And to do that I need your help.  Since starting this blog in 2009 it’s been a real pleasure to share travel stories and advice, social...

Google the word ‘blogging’ and today there are over 60 million results [2017 update 138 m] – so, what does that tell you? Well, probably not a lot more than you already know – blogging is out there and there’s a vast amount of stuff being written about it.  Note...

You need a refuge, comfy shoes and plenty of stamina to get the most out of the World Travel Market … It's like a giant sweetie shop, where the temptation to overdose on all those treats is almost overwhelming.  The experience starts well before you get there – the journey...