Swimming and Safety

In the UK Key stage 2 requires children to have swimming instruction.

What is key stage 2? Ages 7 to 11. 

As far as I can see, this means that by the time a child leaves the school at age 11, it should be able to swim. But it doesn't mean that at 7, 8, 9, or 10 every child must be able to swim.

Websites About Swimming, Safety, and Dangers

https://www.swimming.org/schools/swimming-national-curriculum/

Italian translation from the menu of Italian Restaurant 2 Veneti in London

 Italian - English

bianco - white

con - with

del - of the

e - and

erbe - herb

fegato - liver

giorno - day

insalata - salad

limone - lemon

nero - black

pere - pear

pesce - fish

pollo - chicken

salmone - salmon

salsa - sauce

verdure - vegetables

vitello - veal

Zuppa - soup

English - Italian

and - e

black - nero

chicken - pollo

day - giorno

fish - pesce

herb - erbe

lemon - limone

liver - fegato

of the - del

pear - pere

salad - insalata

salmon - salmone

sauce - salsa

soup - zuppa

veal - vitello

vegetables - verdure

white - bianco

with - con

Economies and Expenses to Budget For When Travelling

Hiking - cheap or expensive?

Is hiking a cheap holiday? It can be. 

But, to be safe, you might need outdoor clothing, food, drink, maps, phone and charger. 

Plus the climbing or hiking clothes, and gear such as poles, ropes, boots, torches, maps, GPS devices.

The big cost can be flights and connecting flights. Within Europe you have Ryanair. For example, from Stansted.

Also, budget for the cost of taking a car into a National Park (not a car park, but a tree and wildlife park).

Sticks - cost, design and check-in 

A stick for climbing rough grounds has a tip, which must be covered on aircraft. 

A walking stick for city walking has a flat rubber base, which may be allowed on some planes, or can be packed if it folds. You may need to buy a stick with points, or a pair of sticks, at the destination.

UK costs: driving

Toll on the bridge into Wales.

Parking costs at hotels, and visiting museums.

If no parking in city centre restaurant areas, you may need to budget for taxis. 

If drinking or wine tasting, you may need a taxi back to your hotel.

Europe - driving

Toll roads in France.

USA Parks and vehicles

In the USA and many countries, entry costs at entrances of national parks for pedestrians and vehicles.

ASIA - costs

India required my family, who were holders of British passports, to buy visas. 

Nepal cost cutters

A cheap country such as Nepal has cheap food. 

However, you may have to pay a hefty fee for the permit to climb e.g. Everest. Also the cost of a guide. And porters to take tents and cooking equipment and food for the entire trip. Allow not only the time of the climb but any hike to base camp, and time to acclimatize. 

Camping Costs - Research, Money, Time, Planning, Experience

 Our son practised camping by putting up a tent in our garden. 

Some people run in their shoes or boots. 

My husband spent more than the cost of a night in a hotel, and a taxi to a hotel, on buying a tent, and a  on a sleeping bag, bag liner, hiking boots, torch and most of the contents of the camping shop website.

Home Swap Advantages

We did a home swap with a family in the Channel Islands. We saved on accommodation.

Home Swap Challenges

We had to pay our fare to get there and back, plus our foods and entertainment at the destination. But we saved on accommodation.

Packing for a holiday takes time. But clearing your house for a family of four to move in takes longer.  You must clear space.

You need to pack away valuables. We had to leave new matching crockery in sets of four.

Hotel Extra Charges

Parking

You might have to pay for car parking outside the hotel, Or pay for use of the hotel's garage. Or pay for valet parking.

Some airports have introduced drop-off charges.

Extras At Hotels & Restaurants

A five star hotel might also charge for service, taxes.

Incidental extras might be phone calls. 

Watch out for cover charges. Service charges. tourist taxes. State taxes vary around the USA, and are added when items are posted from one state to another.

Drinks - Extras

Also drinks, water. Also watch out for the mini bar contents. 

Drinks Included

Many buffets have free sparkling wine, Italian Prosecco, Spanish Cava, or French Champagne, at either breakfast, or evening dinner, or both. But they might not tell you. Have a look or ask if it is included.

Find out the cost of an upgrade to a room whose cost entitles you to use of a Club Lounge or private breakfast room with a fancy name. If they run all day or intermittent food and drink, this could save you paying extra for water and wine with meals. Or for coffee and tea and cakes mid-morning and tea time. Apart from the cost, it is a time saver.

Spas, Saunas - Time and Money

The indoor pool might be within a spa which charges residents as well as outside non-resident guests.

Hotel Extras Included

Some hotels have free swimming pools with spar baths, or complete spa centres with saunas, and steam rooms.

In the Canary Islands we had a free indoor pool at the Parador in Tenerife. They closed early, 6 pm. The same applied to the outdoor pool at the Parador hotel on La Palma, which closed at 5 pm in their off-season June 2026, although later the next month.

On Tenerife the outdoor pool was free, included in our room and breakfast package. We were given one free session in the indoor spa which had lovely massaging pools and water jets. We were there two days, but did not get a free session for each day, just one free session to tempt us to make further bookings.

Some ask payment per hour rather than the whole stay free, or paying for one day.

Souvenirs and Supplementary Bags

You may buy souvenir clothing, books or bulky items, or bring back leaflets. You might need to buy another suitcase, and to pay the airline for extra bags or bulky or heavy luggage.

Please share links to your favourite posts.

Prosecco at 2 Veneti restaurant

 

Left Jano @whiskysky_official on Instagram

Whisky Dinners In Pinner

Jano holds dinners with 5 whiskies, once a month, at a restaurant in Pinner, Middlesex. 

Right Angela Lansbury of Central London Wine Society.

Central London Wine Society

It meets the middle two Wednesdays in the evening at the Civil Service Club near Trafalgar Square. The cost varies from about £30 for tasting about 7 wines, double that cost yet sold out with a waiting list for tasting more expensive premium wines, with commentary from the presenter. See media such as Meetup and Eventbrite to secure a place and get admission to the venue.

Prosecco At 2 Veneti Restaurant

The restaurant is near the grand buildings of concert halls on Wigmore street, near Wimpole street famous for its doctors. The restaurant is Italian and has indoor and outdoor seating. The owners are friendly and enthusiasts for Italian food. Their speciality is Venetian food, from the region of Venice in North East Italy, hence the name Veneti.

Prosecco 

Prosecco comes from this region. Prosecco, that British favourite, white and sometimes rose, cheaper than Champagne, but with the same excitement of bubbles. I tasted several, and frankly, they were all equally good, and although I like sweet wine, none were too dry, so I would be satisfied with the cheapest. As I often say, I'm a cheap date. 

Sweet or Dry?

Extra brut is extra dry. But if you find the terms on the label confusing, when Brut means dry, yet the wine seems neutral, with an acceptable almost sweet finish, just ask the owner, waiter, or sommelier (wine specialist) for their knowledgeable advice. 

Fish Wallpaper at the Fishmongers' Hall

 I went to a wine tasting event organised by Goedhuis-Waddesdon at the Fishmongers' Hall.

I thought the fish theme wallpaper in the Ladies Powder Room was delightful. Only when I got home did I realise that fish was an appropriate motif for the building. 

Fish wallpaper at the Fishmongers' Hall in London. Photograph by Angela Lansbury.

The Fishmongers' Association offers guided tours of the building. Treasures and tradition.

https://fishmongers.org.uk/contact/

Delicious non alcohol imitation bubɓly Champagne from Ackerman via Goedhuis Waddeson

 

A French winery in the Loire Valley.

UK importer is Goedhuis Waddesdon. 

I was at first disconcerted by the name Goedhuis. Then I recognized it as a Germanic language, realized it was like Dutch, and with a little checking I saw a very positive promotion in the name, goes meaning good. A good house, like Waddesdon Manor, a grand house I have visited several times. I remember sitting outside in the sun or shade, after looking at interesting exhibits and learning the fascinating history of the house and its inhabitants.

Goes huis means good house, in Afrikaans, the South African language, also used in a couple of other African countries and a South American country.

The public can buy from their website.

Luxury Presentation Of Zero Alcohol

The capsule (bottle closure or cap) looks like the ones used for Champagne, a cork on a strong bottle to withstand the pressure of bubbles, with a wire cage to hold in the cork (and prevent pilferage of the precious contents).

Plus a pretty foil to finish the expensive, luxury look. To add excitement to any occasion. To make the giver and receiver feel good, when presenting a gift before dinner, and opening it at the start or end of a delightful event.

I am gradually getting to grips with the nuances of zero alcohol drinks, needed when driving. I was a bit disappointed by the canned varieties from other suppliers, which had few bubbles, because cans cannot withstand the pressure of bubbles so well, and disappointing flavour. However, the Ackerman offering was a delight, producing absolutely perfect flavour for me.

Guess Which Grapes In This Zero Alcohol 

Looking at the grapes, I found that the white version is made from 60% Chardonnay, a very versatile grape. Plus the delightfully named 40% Melon Blanc. Blanc of course being French for white. 

The ros

Prices of Zero Alcohol

Only £13, yes thirteen pounds, a bottle, for white or rosé.

Ideal for drivers and anyone who enjoys socializing without consuming alcohol.

I checked their website for no alcohol wines and was reminded that they also sell driver-friendly beers.

Waddesdon Manor is famous for its gardens, wine cellars, and has a shop. You can book wine cellar tours including tasting up to eight wines from about £20, about once a week. Separate from the house.

Useful Websites on Goedhuis Waddesdon

www.goedhuiswaddesdon.com

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waddesdon_Manor

https://waddesdon.org.uk/

https://waddesdon.org.uk/whats-on/cellar-tour-history-of-rothschild-wines/

Rupert & Rothschild Restaurant in South Africa - and the name Nadine on the wine bottle

I tasted the wines in London at a trade show. 

The event was organized by Goedhuis Waddesdon.  

I was walking about, sniffing, tasting, sipping and spitting into a spittoon  the wines, from 20 tables of multiple wines, with water and wafer biscuits from Tesco. 

But you can order the wines online to enjoy in leisurely fashion, standing, sipping and savouring your first glass. Then sitting down, enjoying the wine whilst dining, in your home. You will be able to finish an entire glass, and amongst friends and family. Perhaps finish a bottle, or two. 

One of the tables which attracted my attention was Rupert & Rothschild Vignerons. Better still, on a trip to South Africa enjoy the wines with locally grown food, remember the saying, what grows together goes together, at their Rupert & Rothschild restaurant. It is set amid the vineyards and farms.  With luck and judicious timing, you might enjoy a stunning sunset on the Simonsberg mountains. The restaurant offers a la carte or a special set menu. The local wines and others from around the world.

If you are from London or elsewhere in the world you might be more familiar with the Rothschild family, connected with Waddesdon Manor, in Hertfordshire, the Tring museum of animals, the founding of the British Museum and the Bank of England, which you can visit in London, and Exbury Gardens which you can visit on England's south coast. 

The Rothschilds in the UK are also famous for commissioning wine bottle labels featuring artwork by numerous famous artists such as Salvador Dali.

The Rupert & Rothschild Connection

 The Rupert company in South Africa, in addition to being involved in wines, is also involved in selling luxury goods such as Mont Blanc pens (remember the little white top representing the mountain Mont Blanc) and superior suitcases.

The partnership started in 1998, with the first vintage of Chardonnay, named in honour of Baroness Nadine de Rothschild., wife of the late Baron Edmund. The wine is fermented in French oak barrels, to give extra flavour, and a lasting finish.

I could not see a picture of Nadine on the bottle, unlike Veuve Cliquot.  But I found information about her on Wikipedia which told me she had written several books, and led me to a website on her films.

If you do an internet search you will find that the wines are widely available through your usual regular suppliers, such as Amazon.

They also produce extra virgin olive oil.

Useful websites for buying Rupert & Rothschild wines in the UK

Useful Websites for Rupert and Rothschild wines and restaurant meals in South Africa

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Products-g3733407-d662745-Rupert_Rothschild_Vignerons_Tasting_Centre-Simondium_Franschhoek_Western_Cape.html

They are also on Facebook.

rupertrothschildvignerons.com

PS Updated July 10.

You can also see Nadine and her late husband online.

Nadine was a film star before she married.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadine_de_Rothschild

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0848174/