Donna Maria "Portfolio"

Welcome to my portfolio. Here you’ll find a selection of my work. Explore my projects and learn more about me and my achievements so far.

Personal Statement

06.11.25
I am delighted to be joining John Lewis on a Christmas contract. I am looking forward to being part of the hand selected team and Christmas / Seasonal / Festive EXPERIENCE...just waiting for a start date x (12.11.25) It will soon be Christmas, just a gentle reminder!

I decided to relocate to Cornwall 2025 (enter if you dare) on the back of a job offer as events and wedding coordinator in a well-established small hotel in Cornwall, full-time, permanent role.
At the time of the interview I met with, what I thought to be, a warm polite lady, the owner.
I was dressed in a long smart cream banana republic coat that I had bought in New York, 5th Avenue, 2002/2003.
We got on well and the interview became more of a friendly chat. Asking if I had actually met Richard Branson whilst working at Virgin Atlantic between the time of 1999 - 2010. (A little reminder that we are now in 2025 fast approaching 2026).
What they failed to tell me in the interview was they had indeed sold the Hotel. They also failed to tell me the place had already fallen over a couple of years before and that one of the brides and families had kicked off in the pub next door over the Christmas holidays in 2024. SO it was actually more of a clean up operation and on the back of being threatened by Helen the so called magistrate and the pub manager next door I delivered a dream family wedding.


The role required me to organise events, activities and weddings. Using the Prince2 methodology I mapped out, executed and delivered weddings.
I had to adapt to the individual requirements of the bride and other clients. (Flowers and tips received, groom even shared some of the wedding cake, complimentary email and pay rise from new business owner within two months).

Attention to detail, organisational skills, taking an interest, a positive attitude and remaining calm under pressure are essential skills that I had to draw on.

New enquiries lead to new bookings and account management skills used to maintain effective relationships.
(Events and Activities include: Joey and the lips, Northcoast Arts - various events, Royal Historical vehicles - Belgium, Rotary 75th anniversary, Netball annual disco, book launch, Secret Easter Egg hunt activity and so the list goes on...)
Please note: Lucky for them that I did actually enjoy some days off in Cornwall, walking the coastline, actually that was my commute! Swimming in the ocean and catching a wave on my body board. Lucky for them I actually did meet some decent individuals. An example of a wedding day was to be at the hotel at 10:00 am ready to do the walk around and final checks and fix the details - leave 00:30 the next day. 14 odd hours later, did not mind this so much but let me have the Sunday off to recover.


"Working the talented blow ins". You have to be an academic to sort out the wedding menu with the chef (who is a qualified lawyer apparently - who also decided to have a week off the same time as the "events manager who was playing at being an events manager" - the busiest week of the year - trick or set up?) and patience of a saint let me tell you - this was a test of PATIENCE! Customers dissecting everything and some of the workers barking orders and deliberately moving things ie: name places, wedding safety pins "it all matters". Nearly killed me - Naughty Piskies!

I did get offered a volunteering role at the Castle, 2 hours a week. I may take you up on the offer when I am 75 years old.

Broken and a bit battered. Spare rooms in the hotel that I worked, instead I paid expensive holiday rates to stay in a caravan, surf club when the caravan park was full £40.00 - £70.00 per night, followed by my own tent when all spent out.

Hasten to add, I will kindly refuse any job offers / contracts / freelance work in Cornwall in the near future and I will not be bringing yours to experience INTERNATIONAL travel company to the area. (Looking Forward - with a sigh of relief, I had a lucky escape).



Prior to this I was at Forest Mere. Responsibilities included overseeing spa standards, using the in-house platform to book
customer treatments and fitness classes. Working with brands such as Elemis and Clarins. Resolving problems and turning guests around, training new starters. Accurate reporting responsibilities, billing queries, dealing with hi net worth individuals, members and guests from the hotel which included group bookings, honeymooners, boot camps and guests in recovery. (I had the experience of living in a caravan in the forest for a few months with the role. Deer, woodpecker and the natural world, a storm bought down a tree which smashed on the roof of the caravan and I had to have my hot showers in the hotel. Gas boiler with a naked flame and dangerous which could have blown up at any point. They did replace the boiler with a brand new boiler a few weeks later. Rent still paid for the privilege and November pay was 0 as all rent taken from the date I moved in. This meant no money for Christmas - next pay was end of December. WHY do companies pay there staff AFTER Christmas anyway, can't they at l;east pay a couple of weeks, employees tend to put it straight back into the economy and suffer a little bit in January?
All part of the test I suppose. I did make use of both swimming pools and discounted FULL BODY massages - the perk of the job :-)

I supported a small team to help bring back the Tourist Information Centre in Cambridge, lost during Covid. Key holder responsibilities,
welcoming international and local visitors / guests to Cambridge, problem solving, influencing and bringing a corporate event to life at the
Hilton Hotel as well as promoting the “Cambridge Standing Tall 2024”. As a perk I had a FREE walking tour with this genius story teller "AND if you wore a hat you were TAXED, and if you had windows you were TAXED , this is why we have the saying daylight robbery". I loved the free punt ride amazing team bonding. I was paid daily here, don't even ask how much - not the minimum wage BUT I was trying to help the start up. However, I did think that if they were to become successful or make a little bit then they would remember me and pay me a little thank you bonus!

Previously in a Freelancing role at Mercedes-Benz World, Brooklands as a brand ambassador, front of house, hosting various events such
as F1, no did not meet Lewis or George (yet) but did see photographs, overalls, tyres, F1 cars and videos in various locations within the glass building. An extremely large image of Lewis as you step into the main Atrium sums up how extraordinary and influential this whole experience is.
The Holy Halls experience, (errr yes I was with the - C111 on occasions - priceless)
driving experiences (went out in the sls, that was fun - thank you - made up for other things) working with 3 – 5-year-old children - little learners - that was FUN (DBS check).
AMG - Amazing - Magical - Gorgeous!
Attracting families, "petrol heads" drivers, sports car enthusiasts, English heritage. International tourism from as far away as the Bahamas, Taiwan, India, South Africa as well as national and local tourism. Some celebrating birthday weekends and Christmas gifts.
All welcome!


In my own time I have continued to dip in to www.yourstoexperience.com and support the travel and tourism sector.

I worked at Downlands Veterinary Group, the hospital and local vet practice. I had always wanted to help and work with animals in some
way, this was very challenging but a rewarding experience. How lucky was I to have some time with the best vets in the world! THANK YOU! I agree you should have windows and air and have more wellbeing breaks!

An achievement I am proud of is running a marathon in 2014 for WWF in order to raise vital awareness and funds for the Rhino and other endangered animals. (My so called friend did put my name forward though, ie: my hand was forced) I also enjoyed taking part in the Royal Parks half marathon in 2015 - 1 hour 54minutes. I decided to do this myself.

I did a Bungee in New Zealand in 2005, yes I did want to do one but again my friend wanted us to do it together - it was a tandem - worse I feel as we fed off each others fears and I looked down. I came out of it with a headache and a burst blood vessel in one eye. Would I do it again - no - not for me but do I regret it NO and I wouldn't change a thing.
A couple of skydives, one in Capetown, South Africa and one in England for charity - but I now prefer to keep my feet firmly on the ground.
Ohhh and a static line parachute jump as a teenager with my sister, Ipswich, England for a cancer charity.

Key Skills
• Brand Awareness / Marketing and Influencing
• Animal Care Assistant role/reception – supporting in dispensary, housekeeping, vet assistant, reception duties
• Implementing a fully functional website, www.a2btravelextras.com, back-end and front-end design with a key focus on the customer
journey. (Head of Travel Extras & board level)
• Start Ups and Corporate experience
• Business Development / Transformation / Special Projects
• Delivering in house product knowledge training for new product launches within the travel/technology sector
• Delivering exceptional customer service as airline crew with Virgin Atlantic – Safety and Av – Med trained which includes a six-week
ab initio course followed by annual recurrent training with an 88% pass mark

Employment History
Small Hotel in North Cornwall - Permanent, fulltime role - events and wedding coordinator (March 2025 - June 2025)

Freelance Tourist Information Centre Cambridge 2024 / Forest Mere - Wellness Desk four days (July 2024 – February 2025) Merger between Treatments and fitness - getting business ready for 100 years...

M&S Christmas seasonal – customer facing role / stock – (November 2023 – January 2024)

Freelance role at Mercedes – Benz World – Brand Ambassador / Customer Experience (November 2022 – October 2023) I often received "thank you" cards on behalf of excellent feedback received by the guest/customer. Thank you card = free coffee or cake :-) One guest gave me her digital phone and I fed her dog a treat by flicking a biscuit.

Downlands Veterinary Group – Animal Care Assistant / supporting reception, vets, dispensary and customers (2022)

Premier Marinas – Reservations / Customer Service which did include also the wonderful experience of filling up the boats with petrol, weeding and walk rounds to meet and greet the clients and check standards with Henry. Catching the ropes from departing and arriving boats - thanks Andrew and cleaning signs.

Various ad-hoc hospitality roles – Youngs Del Quay and Hand & Spear- events and customer experience - top 10 in the country (2022) I used to work a Saturday night , usually an event with a Sunday lunch meant a lovely free hotel room if there was one available - lovely team - thank you.

To try and save my home and keep up to date with mortgage payments I put myself down for a job in the factories in Huntingdon. I had already sold my candyfloss Burberry bag, ( I worked so hard and saved for this little bag, I was able to buy it in Sanfran using my dollars) Ski clothing, Tiffany dog chain bought by my ex fiancé, Climbing shoes, dresses - not very nice.
I was offered a 12 day job, 12 hour shifts in one of the flower factories for Mothers Day. I was placed on the highest performing conveyor belt, I became a factory worker, mainly Eastern European - very friendly and hardworking - spoken to like rubbish by the English Marketing team that thought they were above the teams on the floor. Awful conditions, bused in like criminal - felt like jail - no windows - locked away - WELLNESS - what is that? breaks away from the conveyor belt. We had the emergency announcement about Covid - I made it to day 8, I needed to protect myself. Interesting fact to find out that some have been doing this repetitive job for years - get their head down earn some good money - own their own homes in Romania for example and take longer time off to fly back. Who has the last laugh? Everybody should try it - respect for the hard work and contribution you make. Shame on the ignorant marketing team and general public that spend £50.00 on a bunch of flowers in the top supermarkets and do not give it a second thought.

Messed with my mind - took some time to recover. Some dream in there, English man dreamed to be a lorry driver- one worker from Poland bully a lovely lady from Nigeria - just horrible to see, what would happen in Jail, a horrible movie - they have hierarchy amongst the factory workers. Just can't believe it. I had to wear steel capped little black boots. Working very close together, I hope they made it through Covid, I often think about the factories.

I was able to recover by going to the river and taking my exercise.

I was offered a further role picking / packing seeds - I was placed upstairs, downstairs they scan the items and pack them but worse downstairs. We had to get the flower seeds out for Easter - it was ok because it got me out of the house during lockdown, I was living by myself. A kind Romanian couple picked me up in their BMW car - you needed a letter to allow you to drive to your place of work under strict lockdown. We used to listen to Romanian pop music and this was the best part of the day - the drive to the factory.

I did meet some good people, young girl from Spain with a business degree, another English lady who was struggling to keep her own business going so topped up with cash flow. We were able to keep each other human by sharing stories.

Ego from the manager and no flexibility at all meant I did not stay for very long. We were high performers and managed to get out so many packets of flowers so the customers had something to do over the Easter holidays during lockdown. Another sector raking it in on the back of Covid. Again, a couple of ignorant people that thought they could ram a trolley up my behind - competing to pick seed packets and trying to pick a fight - not English, culture, just can't believe it.

www.yourstoexperience.com – Founder/ Director (2016 - Present)

Walking by the River Great Ouse, I saw what I thought was a BEE drowning and so using a stick tried to rescue it, instead the ground gave way and I fell in the river. It was cold, I had to act quickly, adrenaline kicked in and I grabbed the long grass and managed to pull myself out. A long and wet walk back to my apartment by myself and not one person noticed. Wrapped myself up, put myself to bed and hot drink to get warmth back into my body - in shock but able to pull myself together.
RSA Insurance Group (top100ftse at the time) – Team Coach and Customer Experience - Vulnerable Customer Project (January 2017 – January 2019) Included meeting with AGE UK, meet with various stake holders in the famous walkie talkie building in London and part of a Recruitment campaign for the new Nationwide partnership.

Volunteering at a local RSPCA shop in Cambridge and Keyholder (2016/2017)

Recruited as www.swapsystems.com - start up - job title "commercial executive". First week I was also handed over responsibility for branding and customer journey for the other business 5 years old -
www.a2btransfers.com. A full colour branding roll out for top volume destinations with a2btransfers.com which also included a visit to Turkey, Morocco and Malta for Swap and to project manage and build an advert showcasing "the customer journey" which was placed on the website.

Less than a month later I was tasked with building a brand new business a2bairportparking - errrrrr...as well as a2btravelextras.com and a2bexcursions.com. (The Sales Director told me the CEO had met with HE and they wanted a piece of the pie).
Promoted to Head Of a2btravelextras.com ( a2bairportparking ltd
trading as www.a2btravelextras.com - May 2010 – October 2015). Rapid growth.

(My time at the business saw me promoted twice - pay rise after three months of service, 5% shares given, "ceo called it a golden egg" annual bonus if the business did well, invitations to Summer and Christmas party, private medical insurance option, three month sabbatical - paid for). I was lucky enough to attend the "Hall Of Fame Awards " London which saw the CEO win a prestigious award, the highest accolade.
Another awards ceremony included a2btransfers.com winning there first ever TTG award in 2011.
I was also VERY lucky and won x2 Virgin Atlantic return tickets to New York...Steve Ridgeway.


• Build and launch a2bairportparking.com and www.a2btravelextras.com including the planning, designing and execution providing
travel extras to the UK market via b2b and b2c channels
• Implementation of branding in high volume resorts for the airport transfers book of business
• Effective communication with all functions of the business as well as suppliers, external design, IT teams and stake holders
• Customer Centric approach focusing on the life cycle of the customer / in house training
• Representing the company at the World Travel Market to influence suppliers and marketing
Acquisition of a business working with the CEO 2012 and Global project in 2013 - over 100 websites launched in 9 months. During my time here I visited Romania and visited children. I helped hand out food packages and meet with some very very deprived and forgotten children. On the back of this trip I fostered a little girl called Ranjana she is from Nepal. The money helped her buy books, a uniform and receive an education and food. In Nepal girls are often married off at the age of 13 if not younger, some of the villages still do not have any sanitation or water.

Regus Head Office Chertsey – Team Leader (October 2009– April 2010) (Welcome to the real world - crash landing - within a few weeks one of the maintenance men from Algeria had already verbally attacked me. Nipped in the bud by the centre manager and he apologised although buying me a bar of chocolate did not make up for it. Helping me with my black VW Golf TDI 2 litre when I got stuck kinda makes it a bit better. The car was too powerful and wheels just kept spinning.
( I enjoyed driving this little car)

Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd, Virgin Sun (start up - group 1) & Virgin Blue (Australia) – Cabin Crew, fast tracked to Senior, promoted to Cabin Service Supervisor
(March 1999 – September 2009) YES , met Richard Branson at the Virgin Sun launch party in Brannigan's, Crawley 1999 and photograph in the Travel Weekly!
I won the award at Virgin Atlantic for dropping the least amount of marks throughout the six week training course, I think I only dropped 4 - over 1,000. Nominated for a prestigious Hero's Award.
After ten and a half years service and two of those years commuting from Liverpool to London Gatwick Airport and London Heathrow Airport, on top of a financial crisis, severance was offered to all cabin crew regardless of rank so I decided to take redundancy and focus on well being and work - life - balance. (please note on moving to Liverpool I did put my name on the Manchester list for core crew but it takes years and years, even the odd Manchester flight may have taken some pressure off and saved me a few pounds/dollars).
Very long hours, an example would be leave Liverpool at 5am in the morning - allow five hours to commute in my car for a 10am check in, to depart at 12 midday then approximately 10 and a half hour flight time to LA (Los Angeles, California, USA) with an 8 hour time difference. Allow two hours the other side before you get to your hotel room and take the red uniform off...

Visiting Nigeria and escorted from the airport to the Hotel was surreal. Armed guards and we were told not to leave the Hotel whilst resting.
September the 12th 2001 I was scheduled for a 5 night trip to Delhi, India. A day after the September the 11th attacks, at heightened security levels and stress levels we still had to continue with our job.

"While cabin crew are not actually superhuman, they are often perceived as such due to their ability to maintain composure, professionalism, and a high standard of service even in challenging situations, such as long flights or dealing with difficult passengers. They are trained in safety procedures, emergency response, and customer service, which allows them to handle a wide range of situations with grace and efficiency.
Here's a more detailed look at why cabin crew are sometimes seen as having "superpowers":

Maintaining composure under pressure: Cabin crew are trained to remain calm and collected in emergencies, handling everything from minor incidents to potential crises with professionalism. Their ability to manage stressful situations while ensuring passenger safety and comfort is often seen as a remarkable feat. "

Please also note at this point I did attempt to go back to Virgin Atlantic as I totally believed in the brand and airline. A marketing role in 2016, it took me a focused week to prepare for the interview, I had an exercise and presentation to build, my first interview like this, I built a brand new aviation platform and it took courage to present to two of the marketing team. I did not get the job. On the back of this I had to sell my little black Audi tt and became financially vulnerable.

I tried again on the back of a rethink during covid and the lifestyle that aviation offered me. I just missed the Virgin family but did not feel well enough to go for crew again. I thought I would go for the lounges (2023) be with the guests before handing them over to the flight. I have never been in an interview like this - the lounge staff conducting the interview came across mean and I knew the airline was not the same as before. They still tried to push me back to being cabin crew, came across as bullies, could not believe it. I was still more Virgin Atlantic than them and I left the business in 2009. (updated 6.10.25)

Ionica Telecommunications (start up) – Customer Services Advisor (November 1997 – March 1999) business went into administration.
My first day driving to work knocked off my scooter, Honda Vision - a right off. In shock but unhurt I still got to work on time. The lady driving the car admitted liability and I was paid enough to try again so I upgraded and bought a Yamaha BWizz - which I loved!

Going Places - (Paul Evans - who later went on to become CEO of Lowcost Holidays / Resorthoppa) a brand new shop opening under Andrew Rusack and Lindsey his wife and photograph in the local Cambridge paper / Thomas Cook – Travel Advisor (July 1995 – November 1997) - monthly top Airtours sales person for the area - certificate received and acknowledged by the area manager. I very much enjoyed my 21st birthday in New York with my sister - it was so exciting taking to the New York skyline in a helicopter followed by going to see Beauty and the Beast on Broadway, perks of the role.

Jacks Fish & Chip Shop (1990 - 1995) A little part time job, about 7.5 - 10 hours a week which included 11:30 - 2pm on a Saturday, gave me invaluable customer service experience, work ethic and friendships, plus pocket money for my trip to Florida in 1992 (Rip tide- nearly drowned in Fort Laurderdale, rescued by coast guard and decided to go back in 1993. After the dreadful hurricane in Miami a church group went to help rebuild some homes and I was lucky enough to join for a few days and help during my three week vacation, I really enjoyed the ride on the old yellow school bus)! We also went on camp with the Mormon Church, here we decided to borrow a boat and go off in search for the Manatees. We went a bit far out and yet again the rescue services had to come out and look for us as we headed a bit too close to the Atlantic Ocean. The Raccoons decided to sneak into our tent and steal our food - and we toilet papered one of the families homes - basically you roll the toilet paper round and round and round the whole house and garden - not my idea!

During College covered my friends Sunday shift on occasions, double pay! (Yes Claire I met Robbie Williams (2003 - European Tour, Lyon, France - did you ever meet Mark Owen?)

Education and Courses

Various in-House training modules and certificates gained – mainly corporate business – annual tick box
Neil Blumenthal on Branding, Marketing Fundamentals, Content Marketing, Managing Teams – LinkedIn learning - (2016)
Prince2 Project Management – (November 2011)
BTEC National Diploma in Travel and Tourism – Cambridge Regional College 1993 – 1995 - various modules which included marketing, finance, travel services (Offered an A level Place at Netherhall if I changed my mind). The course also included a visit to the World Travel Market in London and a couple of residential trips. I bought a brand new blue mountain bike for my birthday, locked up at college and stolen within one month they used bolt cutters.
British Airway Speedwing ticketing qualification - paid for (this meant I could write airline tickets purchased ie: in a travel agent)
I did do some research regarding HND in Travel but at the time decided not to pursue this path.

Netherhall Secondary School – Cambridge (September 1988– June 1993) 9 GCSE’s gained - 5 grade A – C including Math’s and English (No excuse but I did attend a funeral during GCSE's maybe had an impact, who knows. I was achieving A+ and for one piece of work I achieved A++ in Maths, I really enjoyed Maths class.

GCSE PE - due to my outstanding performance in Badminton I upgraded and raised the level for my year - I came out with a "B" in GCSE PE. My Netball piece of work was photocopied and handed out to the class to explain the rules after I gave my permission to the teacher, I will share in due course.

I received recognition and badges for my outstanding work in Athletics and Cross Country running for the school in the Jubilee and Milk Cups.
I participated in various sports which also include Hockey, Netball, Swimming, Trampolining, Basketball, the school I attended offered excellent sports opportunities and education.

On a Monday after school I thought I would try and gain further skills by taking typing/ secretarial classes, not for long though, got bored.
Requested work experience with horses and I ended up in the hairdressers at Addenbrookes hospital for two weeks. Year 10 at secondary school!

Netherhall School had a real mixture of students. Some awful bullies, a spiteful girl called Jxxxx xxxxx and a little gang that formed that used to do drugs over Cherry Hinton Hall. Thank goodness I threw myself into sport but yes it cost me a few weeks of bullying, they called me a user BUT I was doing my sport and drugs scared me. Exxxxx Cxxxxxxx was a mean boy.
Students came from Newnham, Arbury, Trumpington, Cherry Hinton, Chesterton, Fulbourn. Brooklands Avenue and Long Road, Nightingale.
Apparently a boy in the year below me murdered somebody, I did not know this was after I had left Cambridge for my airline career.
We had a couple of students expelled in my year, one punched a classroom door and one punched a teacher in the stomach, sure they did other things but I do not know any more than this.
We also had some very posh students from mansions, some powerful academics and a group that thought they ruled the school and decided what would go in the year book based on the way they viewed it or who they were friends with. They published that I went out with a boy but the boy I actually went out with is not named. He had seven valentines cards bought for him by other girls yet he bought me a card and gave me a red rose :-) More jealousy and I did not even ask for a card. He was American, over here with his Dads job as Purser at United Airlines. I was very popular in the 4th and 5th year.

Driving test - passed first time October 1994 :-)

Morley Memorial Primary School - Cambridge September 1980 or 1981? -July 1988 (Olivia Newton-John also went to this school - Grease movie?) When very young I was helping my Dad and slipped out of the back of a lorry I flipped around and landed on the concrete, I could have done some serious damage but luckily ok - I went to stay with my nana.

We were lucky enough to use
Homerton College Sports ground and facilities. We use to have educational days out which included the Anthropology Museum - Cambridge, Duxford Air Museum (Concorde experience and swan lake ballet in one of the hangers). We visited Kentwell Hall and one of my teachers was a magician in the magic circle :-)
In this class we had an incubator and hatched chicks, We had a visit from a pilot who talked about flying, he was British Airways, I believe the year to be 1984 but I am not 100% sure.
We had access to the BBC computer and I was lucky enough to have a Commodore 64 computer at home.
My Dad built my sister and I a wooden Go-Kart using pram wheels and a thick blue piece of rope to hold and steer - it was painted SILVER, at this point we were very popular with other children. He decided to give it away to the family up the road OR they saw it and wanted it - we saw it smashed up in the garden a few days later. Along with the ice creams that my Dad bought for the children from the ice cream van that use to play a tune to entice us out of the garden. "Pavlov's Dogs". I was bought a brand new Sindy house for Christmas whilst at primary school, I collected the furniture for rooms, mainly gifts and pocket money. According to my dad I had outgrown it, rather than packing it up I was made to sell it to the family up the road, they saw it and wanted it. Around £40.00 - quite a lot of money back in the day. He felt sorry for the little girl - family of five children - loads of dogs - not looked after by the parents, could not afford them. Seems like a growing trend these days, easy to wreck things, don't know how to look after things.

One day I decided I could also spin around the top bar of the climbing frame over concrete as the older children did. I fell and split open my chin - hospital job - 3 stitches later!

I had a rumbling appendicitis, taken to the hospital immediately - scary as a little girl - still they decided not to remove it.

Homerton Nursery School - Cambridge - very sweet school - I really loved it here
St James COE Play School - Cambridge...I can vaguely remember having a favourite all in one waterproof suit, I loved it so much that I tried to fit into it even though I had outgrown it - a very sad day when I could no longer wear it.

Born in Cambridge - upside down

Hobbies and Interests

I love walking the coastline and swimming in the sea and enjoy travel when budget allows
I am a member of The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust with a passion for wildlife and the natural world (It was magical meeting the orphaned elephants in Nairobi, Kenya and Tsavo - they had been given a second chance of life, I fostered Lempaute from a baby and it was a joy to be able to feed her)
I paint and sketch when in the mood.
I like to go to the cinema, theatre and exhibitions when time allows.

I used to water ski and did manage one water ski but had a bad fall - actually twice, once in Surrey and once in South Africa, its like hitting concrete, luckily I did not do any long term damage.

I love horse riding and was lucky enough to ride an ex race horse in the Surrey Hills. My travels also allowed me to horse ride in beautiful places such as Bodmin Moor Cornwall, Tasmania, Byrons Bay Australia, Port Alfred South Africa, Winelands Capetown...

I've had a go at Skiing in America, New Zealand and France - I'm not too bad but happy to chill on the green and blue not black slopes! Probably also knocked this on the head and will be happy to have a coffee and watch others!

Diving on the Great Barrier Reef was breathtaking, Fiji was amazing, Cuba was cool, Mauritius was pretty...