I have just been dragged kicking and screaming from the rather fabulous Castello di Renai in Tuscany where we had the pleasure of staying for the last 3 days. It was perhaps the overwhelming sense of homeliness (or should that be dream homeliness?) that made me convinced of my right to stay longer but alas it was not to be. Rolling Tuscan hills have been swopped for a rather stormy looking London skyline and the wonderful live-in cook Marie is no longer on hand to whip up a breakfast of scrambled eggs and bacon complete with coffee so strong it improves your eyesight.

I'm not sure whether the staff at WH Smith in Gatwick Airport did this on purpose but I did find the sticker placement on this book cover a bit unfortunate! If her name really is her destiny it looks like she'll be the butt (boom! boom!) of a few jokes.

I took a City Cruises boat from Westminster to Greenwich the other day (highly recommended to any visitor to London btw!) and had a look around the Royal Observatory. I obviously had to take the obligatory photo on “both sides of the world”. The site of the Prime Meridian in Greenwich means that Greenwich boasts the “First Shop in the World” at Longitude 00 00.4W which appropriately enough sells nautical paraphernalia. By my reckoning, that means the Last Shop in the World is the burger van parked outside of the Royal Observatory, I'm sure the King would have approved.

There is nothing quite like the Grand National to test your heart's health. I reckon if your ticker can cope with the 10 minutes or so the annual horse race lasts, you'll be grand for another year at least.

Yes, it's that time of year when the tube is full of people carrying bizarre mop-like contraptions and lots useless samples from the Ideal Home Show in Earls Court. I have to admit it, I can't face going to another one after last year's show. Remind me again why I should queue for 30 minutes to get into a recreation of a Barratt Box? And what exactly do I need with a "miracle cloth" able to absorb 20 times it's own weight in liquid? Or a "juice extraction system" capable of spinning at speeds in excess of 4000rpm to extract 90% of all juice? Mind you, I was almost tempted by those "Rock Speakers" for your garden, the one's disguised as well, rocks... Perfect for those summer days when you want to bring out the Led. Or maybe not. As for the mop, it's one thing my ideal home can do without.

During our trip through India we reported on the nation's fascination with the health of Amitabh Bachchan when he was taken ill with abdominal pains. Well, I'm pleased to see that according to the beeb, Big B has returned back to work and is shooting the rather appropriately titled Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna (Never Say Goodbye).

Things have been rather mad since our return and one item on the to-do list that had repeatedly been put off was a haircut. Enough was enough so it was time to try out the new Crew Experience Male Grooming Spa in Fulham. Billing itself as a Barber Shop and Grooming Spa, Crew Experience offers traditional hair cutting services as well as a Hammam spa and massage. Unfortunately “Gommage et Nettoyage de Peau" never made it to my to-do list so I only had time for the haircut.

We all have them. Those cravings we get when we're on the road that fill our heads with thoughts of their consumption. It may be a very British thing, and one that many folk don't understand but after 80 days away the first thing I wanted upon our return was a plate of beans on toast. One tin of Sainsbury's Baked Beans, 4 slices of Hovis Granary Thick sliced brown bread (toasted) and a good spread of Lurpak Slightly Salted butter.  And to accompany it? Well, it would have to be a decent cup of tea wouldn't it? Heaven. Or at least a Brit's version of it anyway...

Well, it had to come to an end at some stage I guess. Today is the day we return home after 80 days on the road and in the shops. We're going back with what I would term the perfect baggage. We've packed our bags with gorgeous, unique products and our brains with an amazing set of experiences from around the world. In the last 80 days I've probably been in more shops than I have in all of my previous years. Has it put me off shopping? Not one bit.

We've spent the last couple of days not so much pounding the pavements but sloshing the sidewalks, dodging the huge piles of snow and ice that have been piled up from the storm. Boston Common looks gorgeous with a covering of snow and loads of crazy squirrels digging furiously to find their winter supplies.