Over the past few years, I’ve hardly blogged here as much as I’d like. Whether it’s blogger’s block or just a lack of drive, work, or development (I can see you rolling your eyes), I’ve struggled to sit down and write a proper post.

Over the past few days, I’ve been trialling Wispr Flow (aff.), so I thought, “Why not put it to the test and dictate a blog post?”

I interspersed writing and dictating. So here is what happened.

Pune – from Christmas to New Year

India, or most specifically Pune, is just a three-hour flight from Dubai. That means heading down to Pune is a lot easier than it used to be when we lived in London.

In my New Year’s post, I mentioned that we had gone down to Pune for a few weeks over Christmas. I spent most of that time working on my plugins. After a long, relatively stressful year, I was looking forward to peace and quiet, which I thankfully got.

Amusingly, I didn’t release any plugins during this period, but I spent most of my time aligning the code across the various plugins to make migration between plugins much easier. I worked on Contextual Related Posts, Top 10, Better Search, and Knowledge Base Pro simultaneously. All of these have been released in the last several months, but I’ll get to that in a bit.

A quick stopover at Bangalore

We returned to Dubai in early January, right in time for my daughter’s school to resume. January was very busy at work, as usual. And it didn’t help that I picked up a nagging cough that wouldn’t go away.

We also made a relatively quick trip down to Bangalore in late January to visit Ashwina’s parents. We stayed at a Taj Hotel in Whitefield. I have to say it was shockingly expensive for a rather small room. I’m not sure whether it was because we booked late or because Bangalore somehow charges a fortune for fairly average hotels these days. We did thoroughly enjoy the food, though, which was definitely much better and more enjoyable over the few days we were there.

An uneventful February, almost

Although February was overflowing with work, coding, and everything else life could throw at me, it ended up being rather unremarkable. We finally felt that we were settling into our new life in Dubai. Between waiting months for our belongings to arrive from London, the Christmas break and the quick Bangalore trip, it had taken longer than expected.

With the media hinting at what might be coming, we limited our travel, and I had to shelve a few trips I’d pencilled in for early February.

My dad, en route back to Toronto, decided to stop over in Dubai for a week. We welcomed him with open arms, and it was brilliant for my daughter to have some proper time with her grandfather, rather than just seeing him on video calls. Dad has quite a bit of family and friends here in Dubai, so he ended up having a more active social life than we did. We did find time to head to our local Dubai Hills Mall for a bit of shopping and eating.

Watching my dad eagerly wake up each morning and head out for a walk around the area, I felt I was missing out. I decided to start walking. First, just around our community, and soon discovered a rather decent, long circular path near our place here in Dubai. Before long, I’d moved on from walking (I really haven’t the patience for it) to a mix of walking and jogging around the whole area.

That was, at least, until 28 February. The night before, I dropped my dad off at the airport for his early morning flight back to Toronto. I woke up early on 28 February – unfortunately, with a four-year-old, weekends or weekdays still have me waking up pretty early in the morning. I put on my trusty trainers and went for a jog around my newly discovered circular path. When I got back, I logged in and saw the news update that would change the world for months to come.

We all ended up working from home, and schools switched to remote learning. I was impressed by how quickly everyone got used to it, much like we did back during the pandemic.

The month in Pune

Unfortunately, many flights were cancelled, including our Emirates flight to Stansted. Since our trip to London was cancelled – and we’d paid quite a bit for those last-minute tickets – we decided to head to Pune again for the Eid break in March.

I had to get a few travel approvals given the situation, but the three of us managed to catch a late-night SpiceJet flight to Pune on 10 March.

Back in December, Ashwina and I had purchased the Pune flat, which meant a new place to call “home in India”. Whilst we didn’t initially plan to visit Pune, this unexpected trip allowed us to take care of some admin.

When we arrived in Pune, we found out that our electricity had been disconnected. Thanks to the heat and lack of power, everything in the fridge had gone off completely. Trust me, you don’t want to deal with that. It turned out there was an unpaid bill. Utility companies are quick to take your money up front, but not so patient when there’s a delay. We found that out the hard way – sorting out reconnection and getting everything set up again was a hassle. As for the fridge, it took a few days for the smell to dissipate. Luckily for me, Ashwina took care of most of this.

I worked for the first few days, then took the next two weeks off, which was the original plan. We also celebrated the little one’s birthday in Pune with a small family lunch at Tao-Fu. Since it was the middle of the week, the restaurant was quite empty. We let her pick the main dish, and we came away very impressed by her choice of the fried noodles. I enjoyed a few good cocktails as well. Highly recommended if you like Chinese food. Better than Mainland China across the road and around the same price. Good enough that we went back again the following week.

We also managed an ad hoc two-day trip to Mumbai to sort out a lot of bank work. As usual, we stayed at the ITC Hotel near the airport because we got ridiculously low pricing per night. It also allowed my mom (who lives in Mumbai) and my kid to spend some quality time together.

To Singapore and Hong Kong

One of the trips that I had shelved in February was to Singapore to meet with clients. The benefit of being outside the Middle East was that I could travel to Asia. So, in early April, I packed my suitcase and boarded an Air India flight from Pune to Delhi. It was my first trip on Air India after over 25 years. The last time was in 1998, and the experience was terrible. We were told our tickets weren’t confirmed, and upon our arrival in Muscat, we learned the airline had lost our suitcase. Fortunately, things have improved.

This was my first visit to Delhi airport. I definitely did not enjoy the transfer that required me to leave one terminal, walk to another, and then go through security all over again. That said, the Air India lounge at Delhi Airport was very good. I was able to get my customary G&T before boarding and ended up sleeping through most of the red-eye flight.

Although I had visited Hong Kong for a few days in early 2020, this was my first visit to Singapore, and I was looking forward to it. I do like to travel.

Having spent my whole financial career in the infrastructure sector, and with a bit of a thing for airports, I really do believe that an airport is the first proper impression a visitor gets of any city or country. A good airport experience sets the tone for the rest of the trip. Singapore’s Changi is famous for being one of those airports where you can actually enjoy spending time, at least on the airside. My arrival was smooth – off the plane and in a taxi in under half an hour. For an airport handling 70 million passengers a year, that’s impressive!

The hotel was about 30 minutes from the airport, and since I had landed early in the morning, I had enough time to check in and have a sumptuous breakfast there.

The next three days were a whirlwind of meetings around Singapore, but they did give me some time to properly catch up with Saurabh, who kindly took me around, as well as a few other friends.

We left for Hong Kong late on Thursday, which meant I had a full day for meetings and time to catch up with the team there on Friday. Just as I was about to set off for the office, I realised I’d lost my office mobile. With the late-night travel and sheer exhaustion, I think it must have slipped out of my trouser pocket in the car. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get it back. On a more positive note, we took the team out for drinks, and I had sufficient time to spend with people in the HK office whom I had only met on Zoom.

I caught up with Saurabh for a coffee on Saturday morning before heading to the airport. Hong Kong Airport is a long way from the city centre, but the drive out there is worth it. The views of the ocean and the mountains are fantastic, especially in daylight. When I arrived in Hong Kong a few days earlier, it was dark, so I missed all of that.

The flight back to Delhi was quiet. I took Cathay for the return and had a short stop at Delhi Airport, just long enough to grab some dinner in the domestic lounge. After that, I caught my flight to Pune and landed early in the morning.

Back to Dubai

Normally, a simple return flight to Dubai shouldn’t make the headlines, but the adventures didn’t stop. Or maybe I should say that the adventures were just starting.

My return flight with SpiceJet was scheduled for Friday night from Pune airport.

The flight was delayed from the start because the incoming aircraft was late. We waited at the airport for over an hour before they finally boarded us onto the plane. Just as we were about to take off, maybe 10 minutes before, there was a problem with the runway. We were sent back to the terminal, and in the end, the flight was cancelled.

When an international flight gets cancelled, you have to go back through immigration, since you’re technically already out of the country. With a late-night cancellation at Pune airport, it’s even worse because most of the immigration staff have already gone home, so they all have to be called back in. That is a few hours of your life you don’t get back.

Instead of rebooking on SpiceJet from Pune, I decided to book an Emirates flight from Mumbai for late Sunday afternoon. This allowed me to spend time with my mom in Mumbai.

Back in Dubai

I reached Dubai late on Sunday evening. I walked into the house and caught a musty smell, which I assumed was because it had been locked up for a month. Until I went upstairs to the bedroom and found – wait for it – mould on the bed, the armchairs and more.

I rang Ashwina to fill her in, then booked a room at the Studio City Hotel, which is about 5 minutes away by car. I grabbed the same suitcases I’d brought from India, loaded them into the car, and drove across to the hotel. I ended up staying at the hotel for about 11 days.

Over the next ten days, there was cleaning of AC vents, every piece of soft furnishing, a host of clothes and bedding, and pest control to restore the house to a livable state.

I also managed to damage my Patrol during all the trips between the hotel and my house. That’s when I found out, the hard way, the admin I needed to complete. If you’ve never dealt with this before, here’s a tip: if you’re at fault, call 999 straight away, even if you’re the only one involved.

I finally made it back to the office after 2 weeks in Dubai and squeezed in a quick trip to Qatar before Ashwina and our daughter returned home last week.

The past week was the school break because of Eid al-Adha, and schools start on Monday. That brings us back to the routine.

If you’ve made it this far and are a developer who uses WordPress for their product documentation, then buy Knowledge Base Pro.

I’m drawn to writers who are willing to stay inside the process, to show how cases are built, challenged, and sometimes fall apart. When a book skips that work, it loses me quickly. When it leans into it, everything else tends to fall into place. I remain in awe as the plots unfold, and I don’t always figure out who the bad guy (or girl) is. And I’m still struggling to get through a few nonfiction books I’ve picked up.

I don’t think my reading has shifted in any meaningful way. British crime fiction shows up occasionally, but it’s not a trend, just part of the mix. Most of what I read still leans heavily towards US-led procedurals and legal thrillers. Of course, this is primarily because of the authors I’ve been reading over the past several years.

LA crime procedurals and legal thrillers

Michael Connelly: Bosch / Lincoln Lawyer universe

The Reversal — Michael Connelly
This centres on a retrial, but this time Haller is not playing the role of defence attorney. He has crossed over to the dark (or is it bright) side to retry the case of a brutal child murderer. He teams up with Bosch to find the proof. Well written by Connelly as always.

The Fifth Witness — Michael Connelly
What begins as a foreclosure case quickly turns into something more serious, and the shift into a murder trial feels natural rather than forced. I read this after watching Mickey Haller defend Lisa Trammel in Season 2 of the Netflix series. Whilst the Netflix series strays away from the book, it helped me visualise the story while I read.

Resurrection Walk — Michael Connelly
I finished this book recently and enjoyed it immensely. Bringing Haller and Bosch together again works because of the contrast. Haller is focused on winning the case, while Bosch is focused on finding the truth, and the tension between those two approaches carries the story from start to finish.

The Law of Innocense — Michael Connelly
I finished this book today, just-in-time for this post. Micky is fighting for his life, literally. This book was used as source material for Season 4 of the Netflix series and being relatively fresh in my memory, I could clearly see the similarity and the deviations from the story line.

Nightshade — Michael Connelly
This is a clear departure from the usual Bosch-led structure. A new lead character, a smaller setting on Catalina Island, and a more contained story give it a different rhythm. It leans into local policing rather than scale, very different, yet so similar.

Lee Goldberg: Eve Ronin series

Dream Town — Lee Goldberg
Set around a murder in a gated community, this moves quickly without feeling rushed. Goldberg’s background in television shows in the structure, but not in a bad way. It’s efficient, well-paced, and Ronin remains a solid, believable lead. It knows exactly what it is and doesn’t overreach. This is the fifth book in the Eve Ronnin series, and Lee has written a character who can love and be annoyed with at the same time.

British crime and detective fiction

J.R. Ellis: Yorkshire Murder Mysteries

The Canal Murders — J.R. Ellis
A straightforward procedural that does exactly what it sets out to do. The plotting is clean, and the setting adds enough character without taking over the story. And the case is so complex that only DCI Oldroyd can solve it.

The Otley Murders — J.R. Ellis
Very much in the same mould as the previous book. Ellis isn’t trying to reinvent anything here, but the consistency works, especially if you’re in the mood for something reliable. The key difference I felt here was putting DCI Oldroyd in a position where he is afraid. This is unlike the ten books before, where he was always in charge.

Other British procedurals

Deceived by the Light — Damien Boyd
A solid introduction to the series. The lead feels grounded, and Boyd lets the investigation drive the story. The A303 is a road that I have driven on several trips to Cornwall. But the year is 1985, and I definitely do not know what that road looked like back then.

An Eye for an Eye — Jeffrey Archer
I have always been a fan of Archer. This continues the story of William Warwick. But I do feel that the series is starting to be stretched quite a bit by Archer. Please find me a new villain in the next set of books.

Legal thrillers and crime drama

The Eighth Sister — Robert Dugoni
An espionage thriller that still carries a procedural backbone. This is a well-written book by Dugoni, including a chase across Russia and Europe.

Reckoning Hour — Peter O’Mahoney
Dean Lincoln, big-shot lawyer, returns “home” to a small town he left years ago and picks up two cases to defend a rich kid responsible for murder and a poor kid accused of arson. It was an interesting read, and the start of a series that I’m not yet sure I will continue.

Rogue Lawyer — John Grisham
This book is structured more like a series of episodes than a single narrative, which makes it easy to get through, but also easy to forget. Feels like Grisham on autopilot. I don’t think it is his finest work, but it was an enjoyable read.

A Killer’s Wife — Victor Methos
She is married to a serial killer. When copycat murders start taking place, Jessica is pulled in to help investigate. It was a nice read, but another series that I’m unsure I will continue.

Crime and suspense thrillers

The Night Watcher — Tariq Ashkanani
Leans more towards a serial-killer thriller than a procedural. This introduces the Callie Munro series. She’s a PI with a lot of baggage trying to solve the case of a missing woman. It’s well written with a few twists in there.

The Seventh Girl — Andy Maslen
Yet another first book in a series. Seventh Girl is a focused procedural with a clearly defined lead. Another cop with some baggage trying to find a serial killer. Whilst I did like the flow of the story, I was a bit disappointed on discovering how real that baggage was.

Bad Date — Ellery Lloyd
Darker in tone and tighter in scope, but it never fully settles into what it wants to be. Thankfully this was a short story.

Hitwoman — Elsie Marks
An assassin-led narrative from the lens of a female assasin who keeps encountering a rival. The tries to introduce the concept of an ethical hitwoman. But, is there such a thing?

The Kill Clause — Lisa Unger
Another hitwoman based story. This is a short story that is quick and rather enjoyable read. A little bit of a thriller with the fringes of a love story.

Beach Hut 512 — Dorothy Koomson
More domestic suspense than crime procedural. This is another short story which I thoroughly enjoyed. It captured a lot of material in very few pages that kept the story going until the end. The concept of owning a beach hut left me surprised. I live in a different world.

Character-driven and off-genre

When We Were Friends — Jane Green
This sits much closer to drama than thriller. It focuses on relationships and how they break down, but it didn’t quite work for me and quite a few others if you see the Goodreads score.

Artemis — Andy Weir
I read this after reading Project Hail Mary, which I’m hoping to watch soon. I have enjoyed Andy’s writing and he has the ability to get you to visualise what’s happening (or maybe I have a vivid imagination). I thoroughly enjoyed this book about a heist story set on the moon with a female lead Jasmine “Jazz” Bashara.

What stands out

Pacing and structure continue to matter more than anything else. The books I rated higher are the ones that move steadily without rushing and show enough of the process without getting lost in it. When a book skips the work, it shows.

Writers like Connelly and Goldberg consistently hit that balance. At the same time, British crime fiction remains a regular part of what I read, largely because it reminds me of all the countryside trips that Ashwina and I have taken over the years.

At this point, I’m clearly leaning further into crime and thrillers, and that doesn’t look like it’s changing anytime soon.

As always, you can find me on Goodreads.

2025 has been an eventful year, highlighted by a significant life-changing event. Before discussing that, let’s talk about WordPress, which has occupied much of my “free” time.

WordPress

My premium WordPress plugins, Contextual Related Posts Pro, Top 10 Pro and Better Search Pro, turned one this year. The pro take-up has been well below what I would have liked, but they have brought in enough that Beyond Develop might turn a profit this year, excluding my labour costs.

However, it gives me great excitement whenever I receive an email about a sale or renewal. And a bit of anxiety that they will ask for a refund. Fortunately, I’ve had more of the former and less of the latter.

I did 8 major plugin updates in 2025 and several minor updates. I will inaugurate 2026 with a few that I’ve kept ready to release.

I’ve been developing Knowledge Base Pro for the past few months. KBPro will introduce a rating system and a help widget for my knowledge base plugin, along with enhanced multi-product support.

I’ll also release a not-so-minor update to Better Search, along with new versions of Top 10 and Contextual Related Posts. Stay tuned!

Early this year, I subscribed to Windsurf (aff.), and a few months back, I started using Windsurf Next, made for early adopters (yay! that’s me). I estimate that over 90% of new code in my plugins is written using AI. It has also enabled me to expand the capabilities of my plugins, many of which I might not have been able to develop as quickly as before.

I was hoping to write more tutorials on WebberZone this year. Unfortunately, that didn’t turn out to be the case. I’ll try to be a bit more regular in 2026.

I planned to close two plugins last year, but I haven’t yet. I will likely release a version of each this year, check for updates, and then either discontinue them or leave them with reactive maintenance.

I also attended WCEU 2025 in Basel this year.

Life

We started the year with little visibility into what the future would bring. In February this year, following a significant restructuring, my company asked if I would be interested in moving to Dubai. I had covered the Middle East for more than a decade, and hence a move made sense.

Ashwina and the kid (or big girl, as she calls herself) had not been here before, so we decided to take a trip down to Dubai in late May. It allowed me to visit the city over the weekends as a tourist, something I had rarely done before.

A small tip for those flying with Emirates: Keep your boarding pass, as it offers discounts at several tourist attractions, including the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo.

Before the move, we managed to squeeze in a trip to Cornwall in early May and continued our visits to a few castles and gardens. This is something that we will miss with the move.

In August, the three of us made the big move to Dubai right in the middle of the peak summer heat. It’s taken us the last four months to settle down, and I believe we still have a few weeks to go. The good news is that the kid settled into her school routine the fastest.

We came down to Pune for a few weeks for a much-needed break. I’ve spent most of the past three weeks working on my WordPress plugins.

Reading

I set a target of 30 books for 2026, and I’ve just about reached it.

I posted an update in June. If you can’t wait for my next post, follow my reading journey on Goodreads.

Work

My workload decreased for a few months after the restructure. However, the upcoming move and the heightened focus on the Middle East kept me occupied during this period of uncertainty. This uncertainty was compounded by my anticipation of hearing about my promotion to Managing Director, which I finally received in June, just before WCEU. Yippee!

What about 2026?

I am looking forward to 2026 with both excitement and a bit of apprehension. I plan to continue developing WebberZone, so stay tuned for my upcoming plugin releases.

I also expect my work to be very busy due to my enhanced role, multiple projects, and intense marketing efforts.

The run-up to WCEU

I was looking forward to WCEU 2025. I had never been to Basel yet, and while I was pretty apprehensive about how expensive it would be, it was much cheaper than my trip to Turin. I wasn’t sure about attending WCEU 2024. I ended up waiting, which also resulted in the hotel prices increasing significantly when I booked in February last year.

Basel had several hotels near the conference centre. I booked a room at the Bloom Hotel, approximately a 3-minute walk from the venue. I also used my BA miles again to book flights to and from Heathrow, saving a significant amount.

Last year, I printed two T-shirts from Canva with the WebberZone logo. I wanted to print one in white, but couldn’t because of a work trip just before WCEU. Maybe next year. For completeness, here is the photo from last year.

Off to Basel

My flight this year was late afternoon, so I worked a bit in the morning before heading off to Heathrow. I decided to take the train there, and with the Jubilee and Elizabeth lines, the journey was significantly faster than taking a taxi.

I met my friend Dave at the airport. Dave is building some interesting tools for web developers. His sense of humour is as punny (get it?) as mine, so we got along pretty well.

Our flight was on time, and we arrived in Basel just after a rainstorm. I had checked the weather forecast earlier, so I was ready with my umbrella if needed.

The journey from Basel to the hotel was easy. The bus took us to the train station, and a tram dropped me close to the hotel. What is even better is that public transport is entirely free for tourists, as you receive a Basel card or can show your hotel booking.

The Bloom is a boutique hotel owned and operated by a family. The prices were decent, and the room met my needs well, particularly since I would spend most of my time away from the hotel.

The First Day in Basel (Wednesday)

Because we landed so late on Wednesday, there wasn’t much time to do anything other than get dinner. Dinner was at a small pizza place near my hotel, where several WordPress folk gathered.

The pizza was delicious, and I also got my first taste of Basel prices.

The Second Day in Basel (Thursday)

Unlike last year, I didn’t register for Contributor Day. Dave and I had initially planned to tour the city, but Katie came up with the brilliant idea of renting e-bikes instead.

Basel is at the crossroads of three countries: Switzerland, France, and Germany. Renting e-bikes instead of walking enabled us to travel to all three countries within a few hours, much quicker than attempting the same on foot.

If you’re a tourist with the Basel Card, you can rent an e-bike for CHF 20. I also realised that “just like riding a bike” holds true, even when you’ve not ridden a bicycle for about 25 years.

So Dave, Jack, Jamie, Katie, Zach and I rode through Basel into Germany and crossed the bridge into France. We had initially hoped to visit the Dreiländereck, the monument marking the point where Germany, France and Switzerland meet, but we missed the turn. So, here’s my attempt to test the zoom capabilities of my Google Pixel Pro.

We also stopped to eat lunch at a restaurant along the cycle path. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a completely vegan restaurant. Anyone who knows me is well aware of how little I enjoy vegetables!

We returned to the train station to drop off the bicycles and then walked back to our respective hotels.

I briefly stopped at the WCEU conference centre to register and pick up my visitor pass. An important badge to ensure I was ready for the Freemius Makers Meetup!

As many of you know, I sell my WordPress plugins through Freemius. This fantastic platform lets me focus on coding without worrying about licensing and VAT. Last year, I attended the Freemius party in Turin and enjoyed conversations with several developers. Hence, it was also the party I was most looking forward to this time.

Vova and the team had booked Bar Rouge, a rooftop bar on the 31st floor, offering gorgeous views of the Basel skyline.

As expected, it provided me with an excellent opportunity to reconnect with people I’d met before and those I’d only chatted with online. Amongst the many, I’d like to particularly mention Xaver, who is an awesome guy, full of tips and interesting stories.

After the Freemius Makers Meet, we attended the Elementor Party, which was held in an Irish pub just a few minutes away. What followed was more meetings and more drinking.

The Third Day in Basel (Friday)

Friday didn’t start well for reasons mentioned above. I slept in and headed to the venue a little before lunchtime. Lunch was okay. Given how little we pay for the conference tickets, I do not expect it to be great. Dave helped me make the rounds of the various stalls to pick up some swag. I also kept him company while his website was reviewed live.

A few weeks before WCEU, I got an email from Mike Demo inviting me to the Hosting.com dinner, courtesy Corey Miller and Aaron Campbell. I’ve been connected with Corey for a long time (I honestly cannot remember how long) and was therefore very pleased to receive this invitation. So I headed out to dinner after the first day of the conference, a short tram ride from the hotel. I thoroughly enjoyed the dinner surrounded by great company and delicious food in a quiet setting.

The Fourth Day in Basel (Saturday)

Saturday started very well. I went to the conference centre earlier in the day. I attended a few talks, particularly one by Mary Baum, who also kindly dropped me off close to my hotel after dinner.

It was during one of these sessions that I got caught on camera with Blake, deep in concentration.

After another day of meeting, greeting and chatting, I went back to the hotel to freshen up before meeting Steve and Amber for dinner.

After dinner, we headed back to the venue for the WordCamp after-party. Last time in Turin, the after-party spilt out of the building into the open air. This time, the venue allowed us to just hang outside the main hall to chat.

After several hours of chatting, most of it standing, I called it a night.

My flight back to London was in the morning, and I was eager to get several hours of sleep and grab breakfast before heading to the airport at around 9 am.

Summary

In addition to those I met above, I will try to list the people I met and a few notable conversations I had during WCEU.

• Blake Whittle and his wife
• Darren Pinder and his partner
• Ross Morsali, who sought me out to give me his really cool T-shirt.
• Michelle Frechette
• Marco Almeida
• Mark Westguard
• Felix Arntz
• Martin Belmans
• Vikas Singhal

I’m certain I’m missing several others. If I have forgotten you and you’re reading this, please leave a comment below. (Yes, I know it is 2025, but aren’t comments still relevant?).

WordCamp Europe 2026

2026 will be held in Kraków, Poland. It’s another city that I haven’t visited yet. However, certain life events (which I’ll eventually write about) are changing, and I’m still unsure if I’ll fly down to Kraków.

Legal & Courtroom Dramas

The Confession by John Grisham

What happens if an innocent man is about to be executed while the real killer comes forward? Grisham excels in this novel by addressing a flawed justice system. While the book leans heavily on legal themes, it maintains a substantial emotional impact, focusing on moral decisions and generating some hope for justice as you read it. Although the pacing can sometimes slow down, I enjoyed reading this till the end.

Her Deadly Game by Robert Dugoni

Dugoni brings a new protagonist to the table with Keera Duggan, a chess-playing defence attorney with a complicated past. The courtroom scenes are well-paced, the legal strategy convincing, and there’s just enough personal backstory for you to build a mental picture of her. It’s one of the more engaging legal thrillers I’ve read and thoroughly enjoyed!

The Boomerang by Robert Bailey

The premise of this book completely threw me off, as the description didn’t give me clues as to what “deadly secret” forced Eli (the protagonist) to flee with his family. Overall, it was an enjoyable read, and the story had the right pace to keep me reading steadily.

Police & Procedural Thrillers

Ashes Never Lie by Lee Goldberg

A vacant house is on fire and then another house goes up in flames. Are they connected, or independent? Eve Ronin meets Sharpe and Walker in this book. Eve’s evolution as a detective continues at a steady clip. Sharpe’s sharpness continues. If you’ve enjoyed earlier entries, this keeps the momentum going.

The Elias Network by Simon Gervais

A high-stakes, international chase that involves cyberterrorism and covert ops. It felt more espionage-heavy than procedural, but the structure stuck to the investigative beats. The plot moves quickly and there are a few good twists in the road. But, you do feel an overdose of spies in this series.

A Clean Kill by Steven Konkoly

This is a straight-out conspiracy theory. Special Agent Garrett Mann heads ARTEMIS, a specialized FBI task force, is hot on the trail of a cartel killing, or that’s what he thinks. The story did get ridiculous at times and ended up being a chase to the middle of nowhere but it kept a steady pace and was a decent read.

The Turning of Our Bones by Ed James

It’s the one that got away but not in the romantic setting. Set in Scotland and centring around a cold case which has just become hot, DI Rob Marshall is on the trail of the Chameleon. This is the first book in the series by Ed James.

From the Ashes (DI Nick Dixon #14) by Damien Boyd

This is a classic British police procedural. It stays true to Boyd’s formula: a not-so-straightforward murder, escalating stakes, and Dixon’s dependable investigative style. The coastal Somerset setting gives it a distinct flavour. While it’s book 14, it’s self-contained enough, solid and satisfying.

Action & Espionage Thrillers

Hard Power (Jon Reznick #12) by J.B. Turner

This lands squarely in high-octane action. Reznick’s back in full force with shadowy government ops, body counts, and fast pacing. When he comes to the aid of his good friend, little did he expect that he would be on the run.

Hard Duty (Jon Reznick #13) by J.B. Turner

A direct continuation, with similar themes but with a twist. This time Jon’s on a different mission and it’s once again for the CIA. He hooks up with his two friends as he goes on the hunt for an embittered US counterintelligence expert who is about to sell a career’s worth of state secrets to the Russians. Turner’s writing is lean and consistent. You know what you’re getting — and hopefully, that’s exactly what you want.

Short Fiction & Experiments

Signal Moon by Kate Quinn

This surprised me. It’s a short story with a speculative twist — a WW2 radio operator hearing distress calls from the future. The premise is simple, and Quinn manages to land an emotional punch in very few pages. This is worth a read if you enjoy stories that toy with time without getting too sci-fi.

Eleven Numbers by Lee Child

This isn’t your usual Reacher-style book — there are no big fights or wandering ex-military heroes. Instead, it’s a compact tale about numbers and subtle tension. An American mathematician enters Russia on a spy mission that goes wrong when he meets with an accident. It’s a quick read with a twist.

Death Row by Freida McFadden

This was a weird short read. Talia Kemper is on death row for murdering her husband. She had an alibi and no known motive but sees flashbacks. The story builds up the suspense as the flashbacks bring her closer to the truth. Until the end, an end I cannot remember.

The One That Got Away by Mike Gayle

This is a quiet, emotional reset from the heavier thrillers I usually read. It is a warm, reflective novel about missed chances, the “what ifs” of relationships, and the slow acceptance of adulthood. It was definitely not one for me as it ended up being a love story with a predictable ending.

Something a Bit Different

A Very Bad Thing by J.T. Ellison

This dives into the fallout from fame and grief — a famous author in the spotlight is killed and her secrets begin to unravel. Ellison builds the intrigue well, though I found the final twist to be a bit anti-climactic. It’s polished and readable and does get the suspense going.

The Harbour Lights Mystery

This is the second book in the Shell House Detectives series. It’s a cosy-style mystery, simple in structure and tone. It’s a simple whodunnit murder mystery that Ally and Jayden try to solve. There are a few twists in the road and is a pleasant read like the first book.

We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker

It’s hard to categorise but hard to forget. This is part crime novel, part coming-of-age story, with a literary feel. The characters, especially Duchess and Walk, are beautifully written. It’s not a light read. It is a very long read. But it’s powerful and emotional.

Science Fiction

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

I love reading a good science fiction book and had my eyes on Project Hail Mary. I purchased it when Amazon ran an offer a few months ago. The book hooked me from the get-go, and I enjoyed Andy’s writing style, particularly in how he throws in a bit of humour as you read the book. I wasn’t completely sold on how the book progressed, particularly when Ryland Grace, our protagonist, finds an unlikely friend on his mission (hint: it isn’t AI).

Thoughts?

I’d love your thoughts if you’ve read any of these. One thing that I realised while writing up this post is that I’ve started a few series. I’m not so sure I can remember or keep up with them, but I’m sure Amazon won’t forget to remind me.

I’ve got a few more lined up for the next couple of months — let’s see where the pages take me.

Finding a balance between work demands (the full-time investment banking job) and WebberZone (which feels like a full-time job) can be quite a juggling act.

However, we’ve also made a conscious effort to continue visiting castles and gardens. I look forward to sharing our adventures with you in an upcoming post.

Over the past few months, I’ve made a few international trips for work. I have a few more coming up. However, as it’s April, we booked our annual holiday cottage to celebrate Ashwina’s birthday.

Once again, we chose Cornwall, and this time, Ashwina took us back to Stepper View, a cottage where we stayed four years ago. The only difference this time is that we were a party of two back then, and now we’re a family of three. Our three-year-old absolutely loves being in nature!

The Drive to Cornwall

We’re so excited about our trips to Cornwall! We have been here numerous times since 2012, and it never gets old.

We planned three stops at the Welcome Break (on the M3), Stourhead, and Moto (in Exeter) for mid-morning coffee, lunch, and mid-afternoon tea, respectively. But life threw us a little curveball. We left later than anticipated and probably spent a half hour topping up our tyres and fuel tank for the journey.

But hey, we finally made it to the Welcome Break on the M3. As it was lunchtime, we chose to grab a bite there! It was the perfect opportunity to indulge in Subway, my all-time favourite!

As we were already quite late, we dropped the plan to stop at Stourhead and instead drove straight through to the Moto in Exeter. This cut probably 30 minutes of driving and stopping time on our journey, and we reached the Moto at about 4.45 pm. I’m unsure what the closing time was, but the place was quite deserted.

My avid readers might remember that we encountered heavy rain at the end of our journey to the cottage. History repeated itself as the bright skies turned dark and stormy as I drove down the narrow, winding roads of the Cornish countryside.

It was pouring by the time we reached Stepper View, and Ashwina, who is always prepared, dug out our jackets so that we could unload our car without getting wet.

The week passed quickly

I called this post a “quiet getaway” because this is precisely what it turned out to be.

On Wednesday, we stayed indoors because I had an important work call scheduled for the middle of the day. We also needed some much-needed rest. This year has been long so far, and we still have several more months ahead of us.

We woke up on Thursday morning and realised that the little one was a bit under the weather. And the weather was also a bit under the weather, so we decided to stay indoors.

Friday was a bit of a washout with some rainy weather, and it looked like Ashwina caught the bug our daughter had, which kind of put a damper on our weekend plans. Although I had some calls on Monday, we enjoyed a lovely hour-long hike up the mountain at Pentire Point, which was a great way to recharge and capture some gorgeous views.

There are worse places to be stuck indoors. We were well stocked with food from fee’s, drinks and snacks.

Back to London

We had to return to London a day earlier, as I urgently had to travel for work. We decided to drive straight through to Stourhead. I briefly stopped at the Moto to pick up some sandwiches and drinks, and we finally reached Stourhead a little past 2 pm. Stourhead has always been busy whenever we visit.

It was surprisingly quiet this time, probably because most people had already gone back to work after the Easter break, or maybe we reached much earlier in the day.

Ashwina took over the driving between Stourhead and the Welcome Break, and I finally brought us back home.

As I sit here on the last day of 2024, I reflect on the range of emotions this past year has brought. The highs of launching Beyond Develop and three premium plugins, the lows of struggling with marketing and Black Friday sales, the joy of watching our daughter grow, and the challenges of balancing work and personal life are the mixed feelings that have defined my 2024.

WordPress

Let’s start this year-in-review post by talking about WordPress, a platform that has been a significant part of my life this year. My dedication and passion for WordPress work have taken up much of my free time, and I’m excited to share the journey with you. It’s not just a platform for me; it’s a part of my life.

I launched Beyond Develop a year ago to take my two-decade-old, forever-free plugin business professional. My primary goals for Beyond Develop were to build two premium plugins and selectively take on one or two WordPress development projects, time permitting.

As of today, I have developed and released three premium plugins: Contextual Related Posts Pro, Top 10 Pro and Better Search Pro. However, I intentionally did not pick up a single WordPress project in 2024. This is mainly because the demands of my day job take priority.

I’ve had limited success with the plugins. I spent most of the year coding and almost none of it marketing. The Black Friday sales were not as successful as I had hoped, which has given me some things to think about for 2025. However, the joy I get from emails announcing purchases reminds me that every small victory is worth celebrating. I hope that feeling never gets old. Overall, I’ll report a big loss this year.

The only third-party site build I worked on this year was the redesign of Aqua Air Logistics. I also manage and continue to build out their Invoicing System, which I built from the ground up.

Because of the focus on developing the three premium plugins, my free-only plugins received minor updates, primarily bug fixes and security-related updates. I did release a new version of Knowledge Base earlier this month.

I am considering closing two plugins due to their low usage. Alternatively, I may pause development and gradually phase them out.

I also upgraded my workstation with a 49″ curved Samsung monitor, a new keyboard, and a mouse, which has significantly improved my coding speed. I’ve also invested in Windsurf AI Editor, which is allowing me to push the boundaries of the code I’m writing.

I continued writing WordPress tutorials this year, although only 5, as I focused my brain power on plugin development. I’m hoping to be a bit more regular in 2025.

Life

Our daughter has grown so quickly and will be three soon. She’s full of energy, and I enjoy trying to keep pace with her. Ashwina says she’s got it from me, and there is zero doubt that she is Dada’s carbon copy in all aspects. Her energy and zest for life have reminded me to stay young and keep pushing my boundaries. However, one boundary I do need to reduce is the one around my waist .

In January, we made our second trip to India after the pandemic. I also travelled to Australia for the first time, visiting Sydney and Melbourne, which allowed me to meet long-lost friends.

We continued exploring the many castles and gardens in the South East and took a long overdue holiday in Cornwall.

I also visited Turin this year to attend WordCamp Europe 2024. It was my first after London 2013! Exploring a new city and meeting many outstanding people with whom I had been interacting on X (formerly Twitter) for over a year was truly exciting and engaging. It was an excellent opportunity to learn and connect with the WordPress community. I booked my WordCamp Europe 2025 flight and hotel earlier this month.

Reading

I set an ambitious target last year and ended up reducing it. So, this year, I set a target of 30 books, which I crossed in October. However, I’ve read fewer pages across the 35 books I read this year.

I posted my updates in March and October, and you can also follow my reading journey on Goodreads.

Work

I started the year significantly busier than most years—yes, I know it is hard to believe that. However, over six transactions and multiple pitches left me quite exhausted. This, along with my WordPress development, has resulted in a year of limited sleep. However, I’m not complaining, as both Work and WordPress have been generally fulfilling.

What about 2025?

I am looking forward to 2025 with great anticipation. I plan to continue building WebberZone. I’m also debating launching other pro versions, but I need to figure out what features go into them. The possibilities for the future are exciting, and I can’t wait to see what 2025 holds.

I am also considering getting into WooCommerce plugin development. However, this is my first time playing in this space, and I’ll need to seek inspiration.

If you have some ideas, let’s chat.

It’s been a busy reading season, with 22 books that span classic dystopia, thrilling mysteries, war novels, and quick-read gems. I’ve included a few new finds, a couple of series I’m continuing, and authors I always come back to. Here’s a rundown of the books I’ve read in the last seven months, in no particular order.

Classics & Dystopian Reads

1. Nineteen Eighty Four by George Orwell – I had heard about 1984. I hadn’t read it. I never imagined that what George Orwell wrote in 1949 was a prediction of what is happening in our world today. Fake news, Thought Police, Big Brother and gadgets that spy on you!
2. Animal Farm by George Orwell – This timeless political allegory remains as relevant as ever with its critique of totalitarianism. No points for guessing who all this applies to today.
3. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley – A classic dystopian novel was a gripping revisit into a society conditioned to seek pleasure at any cost. But, you can also draw parallels to what group-think is all about.

Thrillers & Mystery Novels

4. Next in Line by Jeffrey Archer – Fifth in the Warwick series, Archer once again crafts a compelling narrative, this time with an intricate web of twists and a cast that keeps you guessing – with a heavy dose of Royalty. Having watched the Crown and living the UK, you can easily imagine the tale told by Archer.
5. Traitors Gate by Jeffrey Archer – There was one a guy who tried to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London. Centuries later, Warwick’s arch nemesis did the same, or did he? I loved the intrigue and kept guessing till the end.
6. The Brewery Murders by J.R. Ellis – This was the 9th book in my Yorkshire Murder Mysteries series. The complexity of the cases continues in this book and Oldroyd finds a way to solve it. This time it’s all about a long-lost recipe of beer.
7. Death Rocks by L.J. Ross – The DCI Ryan Mysteries are probably my longest running series and I tend to prioritise it even when I am reading another book. This time they discover a dead photographer on the rocks and their only suspect has an airtight alibi. How does DCI Ryan solve the case, or does it finally allude him?
8. Poison Garden by L.J. Ross – Without giving away spoilers, Ryan’s team are called to investigate the mysterious death of a man in Alnwick. The book highlights the Poison Garden and Alnwick Castle which is still fresh in my memory having visited it in 2012!
9. Camino Winds by John Grisham – A murder mystery set on Camino Island, ravaged by a hurricane. Grisham’s brisk storytelling and unique cast of characters made this a fast-paced page-turner. This is second in the Camino series and I have yet to read the first, or the second.
10. The Modigliani Scandal by Ken Follett – Art forgery, conspiracy, and a dash of satire make this an enjoyable romp through the underbelly of the art world. Simply loved the end of the book. But, I always wonder on the price of art. Or should I say the value of art?
11. Night Owl by Andrew Mayne – This was a different thriller. A retired spy with the skillset but not the desire gets roped into a mystery of sabotage of a next-generation aircraft.
12. Matterhorn by Christopher Reich – Who is Robbie Steinhardt? We find out in this thriller where an old spy comes out of hiding to battle his old nemesis.

Short Reads & Standalones

13. Cut and Thirst by Margaret Atwood – Three women scheme to avenge an old friend. I personally didn’t get this story. But at 35 pages long, it counted as an additional book.
14. Tiger Chair by Max Brooks – This is a letter, written by a Chinese soldier after their invasion of Los Angeles in a future/parallel universe. I liked the concept given the futuristic angle. But…
15. Ushers by Joe Hill – A dark, short story. The summary didn’t appear to be as intriguing. However, the story took a dark twist very quickly.
16. The Bad Weather Friend by Dean Koontz – Benny is too nice. So nice, that you wonder if he is real. But when bad things happen to good people, they have a guardian angel, or in this Spike.

New Discoveries: Books About Books and Literary Journeys

17. The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods – A delightful story that combines magic with a love of literature. This definitely wasn’t my typical read and is also why it sits in a separate category here. While I did like the entire story, you really do need to believe in magic.

A Three Part Series

18. The Vanishing Man, Shaken Not Stirred and On Enemy Ground by Alma Katsu – This is a three part short story series and I don’t know why it isn’t a single book. It tells the tale of a spy who vanished. What does Yuri Kozlov do when he choose to defect.

Lasting Impressions

19. The Crossing by Matt Brolly – A body found in a small town. Matt tells us who the killer is. For Detective Inspector Louise Blackwell, recently transferred to the town she last saw as a child, it’s her first case on the job. It’s my first read of Matt’s Louise Blackwell series. I’m not yet sure I’ll read the next.
20. Last Night by Luanne Rice – A fierce blizzard. A dead body. A missing girl. A detective on a holiday. Is it the husband? This wasn’t as much of a whodunit, as much as a “catch me when you can”.

Wrapping Up

Each of these books added something unique to my reading journey. From Orwell’s timeless lessons… er… classics, to thrilling murder mysteries and a series of short reads, it’s been a well-rounded mix.

Hopefully, this list sparks some ideas for your own TBR stack. Let me know if you’ve read any of these or have recommendations of your own!

Come find me on Goodreads.

The Drive Down to Cornwall

We mapped the route down to Cornwall with breaks at the Welcome Break on the M3, Stourhead and the Moto in Exeter. Ultimately, we decided to skip the Moto and drive straight down to the cottage.

I’ve enjoyed driving since the day I started and was looking forward to this drive. Ashwina did the first leg of the trip to the Welcome Break. I’ve liked this Welcome Break as it’s clean and has a lot of good food and drink options. The only annoying things I found are the lack of a signal inside the building and a Wi-Fi network that asks you for too much personal information. Guess what I did?

I then took over the drive. Stourhead was one of the places we had stopped at during previous trips down to Devon and Cornwall. This time we looked at other restaurants to stop for lunch but because Ashwina and baby snacked in the car trip towards Stourhead, we decided to just stop there and get some food at the National Trust cafe onsite. Who doesn’t love a good pulled pork sandwich?

We had a Tesco order due for delivery in the evening, so we decided to skip the Exeter stop and keep driving. Amusingly, this is exactly what we did three years back. It’s a good thing we did because the last hour was me driving (and unloading the car) in pouring rain.

A few rainy days

The rain continued for the next few days. This gave us an opportunity to rest and relax in the cottage. We had placed a Tesco order to be delivered on Saturday evening soon after we reached and hence were well stocked for the next two days.

On Monday afternoon, we headed out to the Sainsbury’s superstore in Penzance, which clearly is a superstore. Whilst we do most of our shopping online, especially groceries, walking through the superstore gave me a great amount of joy, especially with the little one getting the fun experience of pushing the trolley (not riding in it like her peers in the store).Not to mention the Nectar points as well. It feels like I’ve been living under a rock with Sainsbury’s and Nectar.

On Wednesday, the rains finally stopped, and we headed to Rock to pick up frozen dishes from Fee’s. Ashwina did a serious amount of searching for good quality ready meals before finding Fee’s. If you’re in Cornwall, I highly recommend Fee’s. They deliver to a select group of postcodes, and whilst Penzance was out of this radius, you can always drive over to pick up the food. In particular, the beef chilli was delicious. Toss it in the oven for 45 minutes and it is ready to eat.

On the way to Fee’s, we stopped for lunch at The Tartan Fox. This was a random restaurant that Ashwina found that was mid-way between Penzance and Rock. As this was a Wednesday at lunchtime, it wasn’t that crowded. Whilst I do think the prices are slightly on the higher side, the food was very delicious and we all ate heartily.

I did come back to the Sainsbury’s superstore for some groceries as well as to refuel for the long journey back.

A visit to Trerice

Nanceglos House is located on the Trengwainton estate, which is known for its garden with exotic trees and shrubs. Because of the rain, we couldn’t visit it on the days that it was open. The garden was closed on Friday and we made a spontaneous decision to visit Trerice, which is an Elizabethan manor house in Cornwall.

The weather was the right kind of sunny and windy and chilly, i.e. pleasant enough to roam around without being covered up with tens of layers. It gave us some nice time to walk around and get some fresh air.

The journey back

Having successfully done the 3+ hour drive from Stourhead to the cottage, we felt it prudent to do a similar one in the morning particularly when we were fresh. We set out around 10am which is when we had to checkout anyway and I began the steady drive towards Stourhead. With about an hour or so to go, I spotted the exit to the Moto Exeter. This was also the same place we had stopped when returning from Cornwall three years back and since it was about noon, we decided to have lunch at the Moto. There is a good variety of shops to eat at and we defaulted to lunch at Pret as it had sufficient choice for the three of us.

We debated where our next stop should be and decided it made sense to make the 2.5-hour drive directly to the Welcome Break at Fleet. I should have let my wife drive, but I chose to do it instead. We encountered a bit of traffic near Stonehenge, more than normal, due to a crash, which made the journey a little longer.

After a short stopover to refuel (our tummies), we headed back with much excitement and exhaustion back home to London.

Not sure when our next cottage holiday will be, but having done our longest trips with our little one, I think we can be fairly confident to go further. Maybe up North?

Standen House and Garden

On a relatively cold day in Februrary, the three of us set off to Standen House and Garden. Located in West Sussex, Standen House and Garden is a stunning example of Arts and Crafts architecture. Designed by Philip Webb and furnished by Morris & Co., this historic house was built between 1891 and 1894 for the Beale family. Nestled in a picturesque hillside garden, Standen offers visitors a glimpse into the past with its beautifully preserved interiors and lush gardens featuring seasonal blooms.

Knole

We had visited Knole in the summer last year. Located in Kent, it is a historic country house and former archbishop’s palace. Set within a 1,000-acre deer park, it is one of England’s largest houses. Knole offers a glimpse into centuries of history and architectural grandeur.

We headed off to Knole a day after Standen. While the weather was a bit on the colder side, we walked around the house.

We also went back today and visited the house which we hadn’t done in our previous visits. There’s still the tower to go.

Bateman’s

A week later we visited Bateman’s which is located in Burwash, East Sussex. It is a charming 17th-century house and once the home of Rudyard Kipling, featuring beautiful Jacobean architecture and serene gardens. The house offers a glimpse into the life and works of the famous author, set in the picturesque Sussex countryside.

We didn’t go inside the house on this visit.

Nymans

In early March, we visited Nymans. Situated near Handcross in West Sussex, Nymans is a garden lover’s paradise. Developed by the Messel family, it boasts an extensive yet intimate garden set around romantic ruins. The estate is huge and offers stunning views and a rich collection of plants, making it a perfect retreat for nature enthusiasts.

Emmetts Garden

Emmetts Garden, located in Ide Hill, Kent, is an Edwardian hillside garden with year-round interest. Known for its vibrant displays of flowers and exotic plants, it offers breathtaking views over the surrounding countryside. The garden’s diverse plant collection and tranquil setting make it a delightful destination.

Chartwell

We had visited Chartwell last year. Located near Westerham in Kent, Chartwell was the home of Sir Winston Churchill. This historic house is filled with personal mementos and offers insights into Churchill’s life and legacy. The beautiful gardens and surrounding landscape provide a peaceful backdrop to this iconic residence. Having already visited the house the last time, we decided to roam around the gardens. Warning: wear your walking shoes.

Cliveden

Cliveden, in Buckinghamshire, is a grand estate overlooking the River Thames. Known for its stunning gardens and woodlands, it has a rich history of hosting royalty and high society. The estate’s opulent architecture and scenic views make it a captivating destination.

It was also a long journey for us as it is literally on the other end from us. The weather was lovely and the garden was beautiful. It’s definitely one we’ve marked to return to, but need be ready to brave the entire drive here!

Sheffield Park and Garden

We visited Sheffield Park and Garden twice this year, once in April while it was still chilly and then in June when the weather improved significantly.

Sheffield Park and Garden, located in East Sussex, is a horticultural masterpiece. Designed by Capability Brown, the garden features a series of lakes, vibrant plantings, and picturesque landscapes. It offers a serene escape with its seasonal displays and historic charm.

Ightham Mote

Ightham Mote, near Sevenoaks in Kent, is a medieval moated manor house. With over 700 years of history, it features stunning architecture and beautifully preserved interiors. The surrounding gardens and woodland walks add to the enchantment of this historic gem. It’s also a place we had visited last year. This time we were accompanied by Ashwina’s parents who are staying with us for a few months.

Scotney Castle

Yet another place that we returned to for the third time. Scotney Castle, in Lamberhurst, Kent, is a romantic 14th-century moated castle. The estate includes picturesque gardens and a Victorian country house. The blend of historic ruins and lush gardens creates a magical atmosphere, perfect for exploration and relaxation.

As the weather changes, we might find ourselves visiting fewer places in the coming months, except for one planned holiday. These National Trust sites offer a great escape, whether for a quick autumn visit or a cozy winter day out.