I love adventure.  And I have been fortunate enough to have travelled afar to seek this.  I could back then.  My husband and I were a young couple, with reasonable incomes and not a lot to spend them on.  But now our lives have changed. The closest thing we get to adventure these days is climbing to the highest point of a foam climbing frame in a soft play facility. Having a family will do this to you.  And it has also changed our perception of holidays. Gone are the Sydney Bridge Climbs, the Ayrs Rock tours, the flights over the Grand Canyon and the 24 hours gambling in Vegas.  These are now replaced with a damp caravan, soggy chips for dinner and drinking warm wine in a grubby Club House, whilst we look on lovingly at our children dancing with a giant bear and doing the can-can with some ex CITV presenter.

But whilst I have experienced holidays in this country, I have not seeked ACTUAL adventure on my door step.  So when I was contacted and asked to spend a virtual £1,000 on a grand adventure, my first thought was to take my family on a two week holiday driving the coastal route of England, and sampling all the delights our UK seaside towns have to offer. 

I read a book once by a very talented, funny and witty Author Ben Hatch.  The book followed a family as they travelled around Britain in their car and experienced the country of their origin through the eyes of a tourist, not as a resident. This experience opened their eyes to not only the beauty of this country, but to the pitfalls of being a traveller both on our roads, and at close proximity to their loved ones.  I was hooked.  Not only on the book, but on the idea of exploring our country in such a way.

Now this is most peoples idea of hell. A family holiday, travelling around the coast of England and seeing the best our country has to offer. But to me this is perfection. I work full time, I try to workout and be social. I also try to be the best parent I can be whilst doing this but the guilty devil on my shoulder will always take over. Am I spending enough time with my children? Do they really know me? Do I really know them? So my Great British Adventure starts with family values at the forefront. We ARE going to spend time with each other and this is the perfect way.

But where to start?  England really is quite literally a drop in the ocean compared to the other countries I have visited.  My normal adventures overseas would normally start and end at an airport.  This is for me the start of my holiday.  I recall a conversation I had many years ago with a good (foreign) friend of mine.  I was mid-moan about the weather, and the general awfulness of this country when she reminded me that when the sun is shining, there is no better place to be than on a British beach.  When I thought about this she was 100% correct.  And the beach I could picture at that time was Perranporth in the beautiful Cornwall.  You don't get much more British than this County with its cream teas, scones and endless sandy beaches!  So THIS is where I will chose to start my grand adventure, and this will be the start of showing my children the beauty of the country they were born.

I have wonderful memories of seaside holidays with my family.  I also have some pretty awful ones which normally involved the weather. But putting this aside I can think of no better way of spending a virtual £1000 on a great family adventure holiday.

How would you spend yours?

Brought to you by http://www.moneysupermarket.com/a-grand-adventure/

Most people set themselves new challenges and goals for a new year, and for most, it will involve getting fitter and healthier. I would like to think I am pretty fit and healthy already.  Having naturally high blood pressure means that I am forced to watch what goes in my mouth and how much exercise I do on a regular basis, but it also helps that I enjoy the lifestyle. So, last year I decided to make 2013 a challenging one even by my standards.

I try to do something different each year.  “They” say you should always do something that scares you a little, and I have taken this to the extreme a few times (sky dives and bridge climbs). But this year I have decided that being a little longer in the tooth, I was best doing something I know I can do already but just push it that little further – running and then walking a marathon.

Late spring I will be taking part in the Brighton Marathon and then four weeks later taking part in the Moonwalk 2013 which is a marathon walk around London from midnight.  I figured I am lucky enough that I am able to both walk and run (whereas others may not be able to) so will be raising money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society.  This is a charity close to my heart and I would like to think that I am doing something that a lot of Multiple Sclerosis sufferers would aspire to do but are unable to do so.

I have already completed the Moonwalk three times.  Although the event is physically hard, it’s something that I know I can do.  The money raised goes to various Cancer charities which most people support. 

Running the marathon however is something that I have never done before. Despite taking part in a few long distance runs, my longest to date is 14 miles (my first training run of the year – get me!).

Those of you who have ever run a marathon, or set yourself something as physically demanding as one, will know that to prepare it takes immense training and determination (early mornings, soaking wet runs, icy conditions etc).  And as much as the event itself will be a challenge, I think sponsorship is earned more in the training.  That takes months, the event itself is only hours (hopefully!).

So if you would like to show your appreciation for my efforts, I would be EXTREMELY grateful if you could sponsor me for the Brighton Marathon by clicking here.

In the meantime, what’s your biggest challenge of 2013?