I’ve always liked keeping track of things. Flights. Hotels. Countries. Miles. Not because I’m trying to gamify life, but because the numbers tell their own story. Some things like the Flights become a need - just to know what I'm doing. They capture a busy year in a way memory never quite can. After a time that one "trip" just becomes a blur. When I look back, I don’t just remember places all the time. Where I Actually Spent My Time Let’s start with the simple bit: where I physically was. According to the Country Days Tracker app I spent 306 days in the UK this year, which works out at 84% of the year. For someone who talks a lot about airports and boarding passes, that number might surprise…

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November is Men’s Mental Health Month — a time that always used to pass me by but that's changed in the last few years. As I’ve got older, life has started to feel heavier in ways I didn’t expect. It’s not one big thing — more a build-up of small pressures. Work, travel, relationships, responsibilities, getting older — all the things you want, but that come with a weight of their own. The constant push to keep performing, stay productive, look like you’ve got it all figured out. That comes partly with the job I have, but also comes with life in todays world. The constant pressure, and expectations... For years (which I only look back on now), I did what most of us do — I got on with…

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If you’d told the teenage version of me — the boy who deliberately “forgot” his PE kit whenever cross country was on the timetable, or who miraculously found something better to do when running was involved — that I’d one day become a runner, I’d have laughed at you. Running was never for me. It felt like punishment, not sport. Something reserved for “real athletes,” not the kid who’d do anything to avoid it. Fast forward a few decades. At the start of 2024, aged 44, I found myself starting to run. I had been on a work trip the day after the London marathon. One of the guests on the trip had just done it and said it was ok. A colleague then kept saying that anyone could do…

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Between September and December 2024, I lived and worked in Los Angeles. Not just passing through. I properly lived there. Rent, routine, remote job, morning coffee order memorised. I went for work. I loved the lifestyle. I travelled across the U.S., fell in love with a baseball team, got stuck in traffic more times than I can count, and experienced my first earthquake. But I also lived out something even bigger — the strange, funny, surreal experience of being British in America during a pivotal moment in its cultural and political life. And somewhere in the middle of it all, LA became something that felt like home. Starting Out in Santa Monica I landed in LA with no idea what to expect. I had travelled to the city before on…

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I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of tracking performance. Whether it’s miles covered, relaxing time, or hours slept, numbers have a way of grounding you in reality. The Oura Ring takes that fascination and brings it into everyday life in a way that feels both subtle and powerful. It’s not just another gadget that buzzes on your wrist—it’s a quiet reminder that health isn’t about isolated moments, it’s about patterns. So here's my Oura Ring review. I’ve been wearing the Oura Ring Gen 3 for a while now, and what I like most is how it builds a bigger picture. It doesn’t nag, it doesn’t demand constant attention, but it shows you trends you’d never pick up on otherwise. The heart rate dips during the night, the way your…

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When you work in sales or client-facing roles, drinking isn’t just social—it’s part of the job. Dinners, events, late trains home, going to the hotel bar after dinner. A glass of wine here, a pint there. Nothing dramatic. Nothing reckless. But if you’re out two or three nights a week, the units start adding up before you even realise. That was the rhythm I found myself in. And while I was never the guy stumbling out of a bar or chasing the last round (ok occasionally I was - but it certainly wasn't a habit), I started noticing a different kind of hangover—one that crept in slowly. Less energy. Less sharpness. Just… less me. It wasn't something that I felt was bad but I knew with an increased effort in…

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I’ve tried my fair share of supplements and vitamins over the years, usually with the same result: a burst of good intentions, a few days of remembering to take them, then the inevitable slide as the bottles end up pushed to the back of the cupboard and forgetting to take them with me on one of my many trips. Most don’t make enough of a difference to notice, and I lose interest. Heights turned out to be different. Within a couple of weeks, I could feel the change — and that’s what’s kept using them every single day. The first thing I noticed was energy. Not the buzzy, short-lived kick you get from sugary drinks, Red Bull or Coffee (I can't stand it but I know people swear by it!),…

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I've been lucky to travel to a lot of the USA. With our Route 66 Road trip being one of my first introductions to the USA (apart from New York) I've now done 14 states. Ok that might not be as many as some - but having spoken with some American's who've not even left their county let alone their state, it's not probably a bad amount! However what are My Top 5 USA cities? There are many people from around the world who might only visit New York or perhaps Orlando with the theme parks. Whilst of course they are great and at least one of them might feature in this Top 5 there are so many other places that you as a visitor should be ticking off! Not…

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Dubai, the jewel of the United Arab Emirates, is a city of dreams where modernity meets tradition, and where towering skyscrapers contrast with the vast, unending deserts. With its luxurious lifestyle, iconic landmarks, and a wide range of activities to choose from, Dubai offers an unforgettable experience for travelers. Of course if you're staying in Dubai you'll need a hotel - and I can really recommend the Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown - have a read of my review here. Have a read of the following post about the Top 10 things to do in Dubai! Any visit to Dubai should start with a trip to the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building. Standing at a staggering 828 meters, the Burj Khalifa offers breathtaking views of the city from its observation…

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I have to say it - but this hotel is one of my favourite hotels in the world. Just everything about the Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown is perfect. I'm as you will know a big fan of the Indigo brand from IHG. I've stayed at a number of them and another one of my favourites is Hotel Indigo Bath. But the Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown tops this in every way. It's my must go to hotel in Dubai when I stay in the city and for everything that it has to offer there isn't much more that it has to offer. Nestled amidst the towering skyscrapers and bustling streets, this boutique hotel offers a tranquil oasis that provides the perfect escape from the city's hustle and bustle but also close…

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