Balcony treats

Jenni's famous sponge - the passionfruit butter version

I believe firmly in using the good china. While most people lock away their precious set of Royal Doulton, keeping it in glass cases or in dark cupboards for a special occasion that never seems to arrive, I’m all for using it, and gaining pleasure from it, in the here and now. It’s my philosophy on life – I don’t want to put off till tomorrow what I can enjoy today.

It’s the same with balconies. I’ve been focused on aesthetics in this blog, but what I love most about balconies is using them. As a teenager, I loved having breakfast in the corner of our wraparound verandah, with a stack of magazines by my side. In Sydney, I treasured the moments I had in the sun, with a pot of tea, an almond croissant and the papers, wedged between my washing and my plants.

A home by the sea

Even on grey days, the view from this Port Isaac balcony is incredible

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? The more I travel, the harder that question is to answer, and my recent trip to Port Isaac has added another option to the ever-growing list.

This tiny fishing village in North Cornwall is best known as the setting for the sweet UK series Doc Martin, and like most tourists, I was there to see the grumpy doc’s house, Large Restaurant and Louisa’s pretty school (all in the name of journalistic research, of course!). Usually, going behind the scenes of a TV show strips the magic a little, but in Port Isaac, it’s all there: the view, the harbour, the soundtrack of seagulls, the quirky locals and the whitewashed houses. Approximately five minutes in, I was ready to stay for good.