New Year's Eve 2012 live from Seattle Space Needle

Seattle is a great location for those looking for that memorable NYE experience, party in the Space Needle and witness the stunning fireworks display from 600 ft!

Watch all the action with this live stream straight from the Space Needle - http://www.myworldwebcams.com/new_year/seattle.html

Some of the greatest cities in the world brought to you live, enjoy new Year around the world.

http://www.myworldwebcams.com/new_year/index.html

Back to Edinburgh for 3 days!

Well I've booked it and heading home to see the family and get a break from the heat here!

Wanted to go In August so I could catch a show at the Edinburgh festival, but needs must and I'll miss it by a week!

Already planned in my head where I'm going, what restaurants I'll be visiting, my nan loves Chinese, but I'm hoping to tempt her into coming to my favourite Mongolian restuarant, aptly named Khublai Khan, it's a wonderful restaurant.

Then my sister has booked me for an evening at the Witchery and possibly a cocktail or 2 along George Street.

If it's toastie (a long shot I know) then I'll spend the day with my niece at the Botanical Gardens and head to Stockbridge to have a nosey through the charity shops, or maybe head up to Princess Street Gardens as it's been ages since I've just walked through there.

Getting excited now,as it's been almost 2 years since I've been back and I'm looking forward to catching up with everyone.

Then, cheeky I know, I'm heading to the Metro (Newcastle) for a spot of retail therapy and maybe lunch along the quayside.

Not very exotic I know, but it is a culture difference for me!!

xx

Phuket with the Girls - Where to go and what to do

When we visited Phuket a few years ago, we stayed in Karon Beach for 3 weeks, which was perfect for a nice quiet holiday.

Based in Karon Beach and using Patong as well, we booked quite a few trips including:

A speed boat ride out to Coral Island, where we went snorkeling.

A boat trip out to Phang Nga - James Bond Island, saw the big Sleeping Budda at Suwannakuha Temple, Koh Panyee the floating village - we stopped here for lunch which was delicious.

Elephant trekking

A weekend stopover in Kho Phi Phi where we took a long tail boat out for some more snorkeling and had a picnic on a deserted island. We stayed right on the beach in huts, very well equipped and had a night out in the beach hut bars!

A night out at Simon cabaret (this is an excellent show!)

A night out watching an authentic Thai Boxing match

Most days we would get a tuk tuk to Kata Bay to sunbathe and do some water sports and we spent many a leisurely day just soaking up the sun and swimming in the sea whilst feasting on iced sticks of pineapple sold by the lovely Thai lady who wandered down the beach!

There are also some great little bars in Karon to enjoy a Mai Thai or three and have a game of Jenga with the bar staff, or like us maybe just relaxing by the pool with a cocktail in hand (remember to drink plenty of water as well!!) Thailand has such a luxurious feel to it and the cost is a fraction of many other countries.

In the evenings we would head into Patong which is only a short tuk tuk ride from Karon and is a lively environment – with a multitude of bars and clubs etc.

On one occasion during our holiday, we’d arranged for a taxi through our reception at the hotel, the driver picked us up and took us all over Phuket, including local temples, jewellery manufacturers and the cashew nut factory for a tour.

No doubt the cab driver is on some kind of commission from bringing you along, but it was a good day out and for only approx GBP10.00!

During our holiday we also drove down to Prom Thep cape to watch the sunset, it's really most dramatic and something you'll remember forever, tourists and locals alike gather at the point to watch it.

We also took a day out to go shopping in Phuket town – amazingly cheap and lots to choose from. Although the sizing makes one feel a bit on the big size as the Thai women are a lot smaller than a robust Scottish lass!

One tip though, got some weird looks on the plane home, my sister had just given birth and I got a large ‘cuddly toy’ for my new niece… trying to travel through Bangkok with a big stuffed teddy is not the best look!

I have some wonderful memories from my visit to Thailand and hope to go back and revisit some of the places I loved so much.

Family Holidays and Reunions for large groups in Cyprus

Cyprus is a great place to come to if there is a large crowd and especially with kids. We had a crowd come over for a reunion and used www.illiadasvillas.com The villas are all based on a private road with about 9 (3 bed) villas on it, giving you a bit of privacy at the end of the day, but still all close enough together to have a great time with family and friends. There is also a restaurant on site as well which was really handy!

We used this as a base and met up with everyone, ventured to Costas Taverna for the usual Meze, had an evening in the Stone House Inn (the restaurant on site) there was also some live music on as well, which the mums and dads loved. We took everyone down to Coral Bay for an evening with dinner at the Coral King restaurant and then onto the Coral Sunset bar for some drinks and watched a bit of cricket!

Lunches were usually Sense Cafe at the foot of the Pegia/Coral Bay Hill or at Andria's on the Coral Bay strip.

It's a great place for the kids as well, there is a Paintball and Skate park in Yeroskipou, a Waterpark for the kids (& big kids), Go Karting, Mini golf in Coral Bay, there is a new driving green for all ages really, water sports, horse riding, ten pin bowling, pool, give them a football, let them loose on the beach! They'll have a great time!

The weather, especially June through to end of September is hot as you can see http://www.myworldwebcams.com/cyprus/paphos_cyprus_webcam.html July and August is crazy hot - but if the kids are in the sea and pool all day, running up your ice cream bill, they'll love it!

Easter time is still lovely weather - it's not busy (I'm talking about Paphos) but there are still things to do. (You might get some rain, not uncommon for April time).

Flights are always a bit more expensive at School holiday time, I know many properties will be a lot cheaper in April. But I think if you look to book early, you might still benefit from special offers people have had on for the recession these last couple of years. I know quite a few places that have slashed their prices by about 35% to make it easier for people to come across. Can't see that kind of discount continuing forever, so get in quick.

Personally - I'd say that May/June time is a perfect time to come to Cyprus for a family holiday, not too hot if you want to make the most of the island.