Spent a wonderful and relaxing Christmas and New Year on Bali – to be highly recommended. The island's creative heritage is everywhere you look and there's nothing manufactured about what you see and the culture is vibrant and accessible. Dance and musical performances are the result of an ever-evolving culture with a legacy of centuries. Villages save their highest honours for the artists who live there.

Had fun doing a Bali Indonesian cookery course in Ubud www.casa lunabali.com, from shopping for ingredients in the local market, preparation, cooking and the best bit of course eating all the delicious food.

The lady that runs the course is Janet de Neefe an Australian married to a Balinese for 25 years, a real mover and shaker, she has also set up Ubud Literary Festival 3 years ago, a sort of mini version of Hay Festival.

Also had more fun doing a ceramic painting day at Jenggala www.jenggala.com, had rather heavy hand luggage coming home with all my lovely new bowls and dishes, perfect for using with my new cooking skills!