2025: Places

It's been a busy year, and one of the reasons is that, quite apart from doing a lot of writing, I've also had the chance to get around the world. In fact, in 2025 I had not one but two 'holidays of a lifetime', which were very different from each other in every way, but both exhilarating.

A long trip to New Zealand was enhanced by the decision to break the journey both in and out in Singapore. I didn't quite know what to expect of Singapore, but I thought it was terrific - everything from the cleanliness and friendliness of the local people, to the light displays at night at the marina and afternoon tea in the Raffles Hotel, sampling the cakes while a harpist played Burt Bacharach. And I did enjoy sampling a Singapore Sling.

New Zealand itself was wonderful, and it's hard to pick out highlights. The hot springs at Rotorua, a Maori feast, a trip to Milford Sound, visiting a glow worm cave and meeting an Edgar at the Ngaio Marsh House at Christchurch - I could go on and on, but I'll try not to. A great country.

Six nights in Castle Skibo, north of Inverness, made for a contrasting experience but one that will live long in the memory. This trip owed so much to the kindness of Shelly Dickson Carr and her husband Steve Karol, who proved to be great company. We flew up there in a private plane, which was a first for me, and the start of a magical break. The castle was amazing, the lifestyle there luxurious. And there were some lovely trips, for instance a pilgrimage to Anne Perry's former house at Portmahomack and another to Castle Dunrobin (above photo).

You wait ages to go back to Bordeaux, then two trips come up in the space of a few months. I sailed from there with Seabourn as a guest speaker, also visiting La Rochelle and St Helier before docking at Portsmouth. Later in the year came a wine cruise with Kate Ellis and her husband Roger, visiting some lovely little towns such as Cadillac.

Much as I enjoy foreign travel, I love exploring Britain. In addition to the Skibo trip, I spent a few days in south west Scotland staying with my old friend Stephen in Monreith and fitting in an enjoyable evening talking books in Wigtown. I've written a short story, 'The Scares', which emerged from this trip (the Scares are rocks off the coast of the Mull of Galloway) and this will appear in print next year.

The first festival of the year was at the Lansdowne Club in Mayfair (where I'm returning in January) and it was fun to work again with Andrew Taylor over the weekend. There were plenty of other great festivals, too many to mention here, including trips to Henley and the Isle of Wight as well as an enjoyable tour of Cumbria that I combined with three murder mystery events in libraries at Penrith, Barrow and Kendal; other library visits included Bromley House in Nottingham, Warrington, Stockton Heath, Frodsham, Halifax, and Upton. Murder Squad's 25th anniversary celebration at Stockport Guildhall was a grand occasion, and I also enjoyed launching Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife at Serenity Books in Romiley as well as a great weekend in Sedbergh, taking part in Death in the Dales, Newcastle Noir, and the very last (unfortunately) CrimeFest in Bristol.

Finally, two occasions in Wales. First, Alibis in the Archive at Gladstone's Library, where Shelly and others, including Christina Koning, Alex Pavesi, and Paul Charles, were excellent speakers. And not long after that, a special birthday-related holiday in Aberdyfi in mid-Wales that was blessed with lovely weather. All in all, I was very fortunate in 2025.