Hello!

In Summer 2015 we packed up our home and family and left the concrete craziness of our hometown, Croydon in London (eyebrows down please) to live in the South West – Exeter to be precise.

I can confirm that we love our city, since arriving we’ve been exploring as many of the exciting places as possible and we thought we might just share them in our own little blog.

Expect stories of parenting, cool places to visit in Exeter and the South West, food, theatre, music reviews and lots, lots more.

My name is Stephanie Darkes, in the past – amongst other things including, forklift driving – I’ve run a live music venue and a digital marketing agency, taught drama and dabbled in community radio. 

These days, I write for several publications and blogs, including a column for Exeter Life. when I’m not writing, you can find me getting nerdy over bands at the festival I co-organise or attempting to channel Felicity Kendal in the allotment and Nigella (pre weight loss) in the kitchen in our new country-city abode.

 

Our amazing contributors! 

Introducing; Fran Mosco, Queen of keep-fit she’s the perfect blogger for sport and fitness activities in and around Exeter.

Fran moved to Exeter from Doncaster in 2005 for a new job, never having been this far South and not knowing a soul.  Before moving, Fran was quite firmly told that once people move here they never leave, and it turns out those people were right!  Fran loves the laid back way of life in Exeter and living in the middle of a city where you get glimpses of rolling hills and estuary.  She also loves being less than an hour from the coast and the middle of Dartmoor.  Exeter suits her active lifestyle perfectly, she regularly runs, cycles, walks and paddleboards, Fran loves to write about these experiences.

 

And Liz Finnie, who is our certified blogging Vino fanatic and gradual convert to organic living.

Liz grew up in Adelaide then York, and relocated to Exeter in 2010 with husband and 3 month-old daughter. With a scientific background in regenerative medicine (and now a second child) she works as a freelance science writer/editor. Having fallen in love with Devon’s beaches, towns, moors, farms, and people, Liz and family feel settled and are currently making their newfound house a home, whilst continuing to enjoy all that Devon has to offer.