A few weeks ago I took my family to Utrecht in Holland for a sneak preview of this year's Tour de France, which starts in Utrecht on July 4/5th. We had so much fun. Utrecht is a truly underrated city - it oozes character and has some unexpectedly awesome (and original) museums, restaurants and vibe. Plus the added bonus was that we hired bikes, not just because we were lucky enough to have a sneak preview of the Tour de France route, but just to potter around town, living life like the locals do, on two wheels. In Utrecht cars are the enemy, which is a wonderfully healthy way to live in my opinion!
Anyway, for the cyclists and non-cyclists in you, check out this article on my time in Utrecht, which was published on the weekend in the Daily Mail.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-3132462/Scenic-rivers-palaces-starting-point-Tour-France-Utrecht-perfect-place-biking-holiday.html
What isn't made clear in the article is that this was a particularly green holiday. Door-to-door we never once got in a car. We took the tube from where we live in London to Liverpool Street station to catch the train to Harwich. From Harwich we took the overnight ferry to Hook of Holland with Stena Line. It was such fun. First we enjoyed a slap up gourmet meal in the onboard restaurant and then we all squeezed into a cabin together. It's really inexpensive (see the travel factbox in the article) and a great way to travel, waking up in the morning refreshed (I found the beds really comfy) and already in Holland. From the Hook of Holland we took a train (less than an hour into Utrecht) - and then we were there. It was all so easy, so green and so fun to do!
Whether you like two wheels, four, or walking, I cannot recommend Utrecht enough. It's one of Holland's undiscovered heroes, well worth discovering for yourself.
To return to Jo's website please click on the link below:
www.jokessel.com
Monday, 22 June 2015
Wednesday, 22 April 2015
British Tennis is Sexist and I'm Fuming!
I am so ANGRY! Yes, with a capital 'A'. It's not often that sport elicits such a strong reaction in me, but basically this is the story. I have boy/girl twins, age 12 years. They are both crazy mad about tennis and great little players too. The club they attend has a series of league matches with similar clubs starting from this weekend. My twins play in the 12 years and under's division. But the only tournament being offered is for boys 12 and under. Apparently there are not enough good 12 year old girl tennis players in the club to offer a team for a female tournament.No worries, I thought. My daughter can still play. Indeed she plays as well as, if not better, than most of the boys in the same age group in her club. But no, the league organizers, in their infinite wisdom, have determined that she cannot play in a boys tournament even though they are unable to offer an alternative. How, please tell me, is this encouraging GREAT BRITAIN to develop GREAT women players?!
It is NONSENSICAL and my daughter is extremely upset that she cannot play, even though chances are she would beat the boys.
Seriously, if I were to scream right now, it would be such a ferocious, shrill, bestial noise that chances are it would shake the foundations of the house and shatter the glass windows.
Any tips on what I should do and how I should handle this willingly received.
Should my daughter try stuffing her waist- length blond hair under a cap and pretend she's a boy?
Please click on the link below to return to Jo's website:
www.jokessel.com
It is NONSENSICAL and my daughter is extremely upset that she cannot play, even though chances are she would beat the boys.
Seriously, if I were to scream right now, it would be such a ferocious, shrill, bestial noise that chances are it would shake the foundations of the house and shatter the glass windows.
Any tips on what I should do and how I should handle this willingly received.
Should my daughter try stuffing her waist- length blond hair under a cap and pretend she's a boy?
Please click on the link below to return to Jo's website:
www.jokessel.com
Tuesday, 31 March 2015
Guitar Star: Could my 12 year old daughter be the next Jimi Hendrix?!
Sky Arts in the UK is producing a new TV show called GUITAR STAR! They are looking for the next Jimi Hendrix or Eric Clapton and my daughter Nathalie who has been guitar-mad since she was 2 years old has just submitted her audition tape. Do YOU think she's got what it takes?!
I, for one, am a very proud Mom! Here's her YouTube link - please like it (if you do) and share!
http://youtu.be/AB6_RjPorFI
Click on the link below to return to Jo's website:
www.jokessel.com
I, for one, am a very proud Mom! Here's her YouTube link - please like it (if you do) and share!
http://youtu.be/AB6_RjPorFI
Click on the link below to return to Jo's website:
www.jokessel.com
Tuesday, 17 March 2015
The Worst Hair Day EVER - Family Drama in Barbados!
I've been quiet for a few months, but that doesn't mean I've not been busy! Far from it, I've been working very hard, writing a fourth novel (a move away from my usual genre) and globetrotting for British newspapers.
Sometimes it's nice to have a little light relief, which is why I wanted to share with you a video which was filmed in Barbados, featuring myself and my son. We went to test out a new children's drama club set up at a hotel south of the island (Savannah Beach Hotel) which has been pioneered by a famous British actress called Pauline Quirke.
We had an amazing time and my son realized that he actually enjoys acting, which was nice - and he/we really loved the whole experience. I mean, what's not to love about Barbados - especially when you can escape the grey, rainy dull winter in the UK for a few days?!
So, although I was wanting to hide this video - mainly because my hair looks truly, shockingly, embarrassingly awful - I thought I would share it. It's very uplifting and shows that looks really don't matter. What's important is having a good time - which we really did!
Happy viewing - and please let me know if you've had far worse hair days!
To return to Jo's website please click on the link below:
www.jokessel.com
Sometimes it's nice to have a little light relief, which is why I wanted to share with you a video which was filmed in Barbados, featuring myself and my son. We went to test out a new children's drama club set up at a hotel south of the island (Savannah Beach Hotel) which has been pioneered by a famous British actress called Pauline Quirke.
We had an amazing time and my son realized that he actually enjoys acting, which was nice - and he/we really loved the whole experience. I mean, what's not to love about Barbados - especially when you can escape the grey, rainy dull winter in the UK for a few days?!
So, although I was wanting to hide this video - mainly because my hair looks truly, shockingly, embarrassingly awful - I thought I would share it. It's very uplifting and shows that looks really don't matter. What's important is having a good time - which we really did!
Happy viewing - and please let me know if you've had far worse hair days!
To return to Jo's website please click on the link below:
www.jokessel.com
Friday, 19 December 2014
SPECIAL CHRISTMAS PRESENT - ONLY 99 CENTS / 77 P
The season is nearly upon us, the tree is up along with baubles, and the Kessel family is about to go skiing - although sadly the snow where we're going in the Austrian Alps doesn't appear to be that great. I watched BBC's snow report last night envious of those who either live in North America or are going on holiday to ski there. The snow looks FABULOUS in the Rockies! Oh well, at least it's set fair in Europe, with plenty of sunshine.
In the meantime, I just wanted to spread some festive cheer and let you know that my latest novel Now is our Time has just been reduced to 99 cents in the US - which translates as a bargain 77 pence in the UK. This reduced price will only last as long as the festive season, so please check it out and spread the word - the links are below:
UK: amzn.to/1rxbw4t
US: amzn.to/1FCeJFe
Happy Christmas to you all and wishing you a healthy, fulfilling 2015.
To return to Jo's website please click on the link below:
www.jokessel.com
In the meantime, I just wanted to spread some festive cheer and let you know that my latest novel Now is our Time has just been reduced to 99 cents in the US - which translates as a bargain 77 pence in the UK. This reduced price will only last as long as the festive season, so please check it out and spread the word - the links are below:
UK: amzn.to/1rxbw4t
US: amzn.to/1FCeJFe
Happy Christmas to you all and wishing you a healthy, fulfilling 2015.
To return to Jo's website please click on the link below:
www.jokessel.com
Monday, 29 September 2014
The story behind the story...
THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY
What made me write Now is our Time?
Love never runs smoothly, in real life or in fiction. My first two novels are contemporary romances and their stories are all about the heroine’s first big love. But what happens when the first ‘big’ love gets away? I’ve always wanted to write a second chance love story and this time round I wanted my heroine to have lived a little more - for it to feel a bit more ‘real’.
Now is our Time reflects the lives I see around me. Friends have married, started families and some have sadly divorced. But divorce doesn’t mean it’s all over and that’s what my heroine Claire explores. She found her first love, lost it and years later, whilst she might think it’s too late, perhaps it isn’t…………………no spoilers here!
This story is part set in London (where I live) and part set in San Diego, California, where I holidayed last Easter. I fell so in love with it (as did my children) that it felt like the perfect place for the American hero of the story, Jonah Kennedy, to come from. Heck, I’d like to live there too!
I really hope you all enjoy it and that, if necessary, you get your second chances, third chances, fourth chances………..
Click on the link below to return to Jo's website
www.jokessel.com
What made me write Now is our Time?
Love never runs smoothly, in real life or in fiction. My first two novels are contemporary romances and their stories are all about the heroine’s first big love. But what happens when the first ‘big’ love gets away? I’ve always wanted to write a second chance love story and this time round I wanted my heroine to have lived a little more - for it to feel a bit more ‘real’.
Now is our Time reflects the lives I see around me. Friends have married, started families and some have sadly divorced. But divorce doesn’t mean it’s all over and that’s what my heroine Claire explores. She found her first love, lost it and years later, whilst she might think it’s too late, perhaps it isn’t…………………no spoilers here!
This story is part set in London (where I live) and part set in San Diego, California, where I holidayed last Easter. I fell so in love with it (as did my children) that it felt like the perfect place for the American hero of the story, Jonah Kennedy, to come from. Heck, I’d like to live there too!
I really hope you all enjoy it and that, if necessary, you get your second chances, third chances, fourth chances………..
Click on the link below to return to Jo's website
www.jokessel.com
Friday, 26 September 2014
Play list: Now is our Time
- Daft
Punk – Get Lucky
- Lily Allen – Somewhere Only We Know
- School of Rock – School of Rock cast
- Katy
Perry – Roar
- Charlie
and the Chocolate Factory – Pure
Imagination
- Pharrell
Williams – Happy
- Coldplay
– Magic
- Snow
Patrol – Just Say Yes
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)