Travel editor of Cosmopolitan and freelance writer and author Amanda Statham lives with her husband Mason, a graphic designer and their son, three-year-old Sonny and divide their time between a beach house on the south east coast of Essex near Mersea Island, and a flat in West Hampstead, London.
What’s your first family holiday memory?
Pembrokeshire in Wales. We used to stay in a small, pink cottage called The Nant, which didn’t have any luxuries like a TV or fridge (!) as there wasn’t any electricity, so we kept the milk (and wine for mum and dad!) in a brook that ran through the garden. It was a magical time of looking for fossils in the cliffs, spotting seals, discovering isolated beaches, buying homemade ice cream in St David’s and walking the Pembrokeshire coast path – after one particularly long nine-mile walk I was rewarded with my first ever shandy.
What would you take on a desert island?
My family as they’re very funny and good in a crisis, but if they’re not allowed, a Kindle with thousands of books uploaded (and a solar charger!), hammock, sun cream, massive box of matches, fishing line, water desalinator pot and a crate of wine…sounds quite pleasant for a few months, actually.
What’s on your family holiday wish list?
At the moment top of our travel wish-list is Bali in Indonesia to visit the Green School which looks one of the most exciting education options on the planet (plus we’d get to hangout in the Lotus Cafe in Ubud eating Nasi Goreng, which is never a bad thing!).