Hi, I’m Tina.

Welcome to my light-hearted (and oddly named) blog in which I share my experiences of living on the beautiful island of Jersey, Channel Islands, as well as my passion for music and travel. I try not to take life, or myself, too seriously and love it best when I’m laughing with family and friends.

The quirky name came from my Dad’s nickname for me when I was young.

CN Tower Edge Walk, Toronto, Canada - July 2012

More about me

It’s a conundrum that life often gets in the way of living.

Over the last three years, I’ve enjoyed writing and sharing my experiences and photos, especially during two years of the most difficult times the world has faced. I find writing cathartic, so a personal blog seemed like the perfect outlet.

Until very recently, I lived on a large lump of granite called Jersey, fondly referred to as The Rock. The happiness in my life comes from my family and friends, my love of music, travel and photography. I’m extremely fortunate to have a loving, supportive family and lifelong friends. I love my two beautiful and incredibly talented daughters with all my heart. The laughter and fun we share make hard times easier. They inspire me and keep me young.

I try to say yes to opportunities that come my way, many of which have led me to discover new places, meet new people and take on challenges out of my comfort zone.

Music brings me joy every day. It has the power to bring back memories of people, places and experiences long forgotten. The feeling of belting out tune after tune in the car brings me the same amount of joy as being in an arena of thousands of people at a gig.

I travel whenever and wherever I can, and am very lucky to have visited many places, from London to Auckland, and Cuba to Singapore. I find any destination’s sights, sounds and culture fascinating, and it’s great meeting people along the way.

The Hill Inlet, WhitSunday Island, Great Barrier Reef

Most people I know describe me as a 'happy' person but, like many, I've had tough times in my life, which have knocked me down. About twenty years ago I hit rock bottom and, only three years ago, I suffered from severe anxiety and stress caused by my job.

By sharing my thoughts and emotions with family, friends and professionals, I got the support and guidance I needed, slowly picked myself up and got life back on track.

I live life as fully and positively as I can, and when hard times hit, I do my best to turn those negative events into opportunities. I do things that make me happy, often listening to music, challenging myself, travelling or just spending time with people who bring out the best in me.

And, as the photo indicates, I’m not afraid of heights!

All photos are mine unless stated otherwise.