I have been fortunate sufficient to have travelled rather a lot. I spent a few years in Tasmania as a baby – so I have been to Australia and I’ve additionally finished numerous travelling to America and round Europe.
I’ve had nice enjoyable visiting locations corresponding to Dubai and Rome. And my singing profession has taken me to fairly a couple of locations as effectively. The issue is that while you’re working, you not often see greater than the lodge and the airport.
Johnny’s lady: Catherine headed to St Vincent for an in depth encounter (type of) with ‘future husband’ Johnny Depp
Taking day off from Coronation Road must be rigorously organized because it is dependent upon the storylines.
Initially of the yr we are saying to the producer: ‘Look, when’s greatest for us to go away? Are there any months which are utterly out of the query?’
We simply need to work around the job, which is truthful sufficient.
One of many issues I haven’t got to fret about is coming again with a suntan – my character, barmaid Eva, is continually coated in pretend tan.
After I used to do interval dramas I virtually needed to stroll round in a burka since you needed to appear to be an English rose and be very pale, so going someplace scorching was a nightmare.
The locations we have simply been to – and the place we’re going subsequent – are favorite subjects among the many forged of Corrie. Sue Cleaver, who performs Eileen, has simply been filling us in on Thailand, which is certainly on my to-do checklist. However it was Michelle Keegan – who performs Tina – who alerted me to Buccament Bay in St Vincent within the Caribbean. She raved about it, so I could not wait to get there myself.
Arriving was unforgettable. We received there round 10 at night time and as my good friend Ashleigh and I climbed out of the automobile we stepped into this excellent velvety heat darkness.
A world away from Weatherfield: Catherine stayed at Buccament Bay, with its complicated of swimming swimming pools
We may see the silhouettes of palm bushes and listen to the waves on the seaside. We had been determined for dawn so we may see all the things!
We crossed a small picket footbridge – illuminated with fairy lights – to get to reception.
First impressions clearly imply rather a lot to Buccament Bay. We had been in love with the place inside minutes of arriving and we hadn’t even seen our room by that stage.
As we had been travelling all day the lodge stated we may check-in the subsequent morning – for now, calm down and unpack, they stated.
As they opened the door to our villa, Ashleigh and I gasped.
It was pretty, with welcome nibbles laid on our eating desk. We had been in a two-bedroom villa with a terrace and plunge pool. Prospects for the subsequent seven days appeared fairly good.
On our first morning it was wonderful waking up at about 8am and having that fantastic start-of-holiday feeling. We ordered breakfast to our room. As a result of we may. I indulged in steak and eggs.
We then headed right down to the pool the place employees member Lional made positive we needed for nothing. Lional is likely one of the happiest individuals I’ve ever met. I nicknamed him ‘St.Vincent’s second sunshine’.
My concept of a vacation is one thing that leaves you absolutely relaxed, though as a self-confessed health club bunny, I train each time I am going means. And except I am on a hen-weekend, I am not an enormous drinker.
A Caribbean traditional: Wallilabou Bay in St Vincent was used within the Pirates of the Caribbean motion pictures
Buccament Bay was completely excellent. It had all the things – stunning eating places, a health club, tennis court docket, soccer coaching space, spa, youngsters’ membership, seaside and pool.
I made an appointment with private coach and nutritionist Charlotte Woolf. We hit it off immediately and I booked in for my first of many coaching classes.
Throughout our keep I had a different and thrilling programme of weight coaching, high-intensity coaching, boxing, yoga, kettlebell classes and… tennis!
Yup, tennis! For Buccament Bay can be dwelling to the Pat Money Tennis Academy. Fortunately, Pat was on the resort whereas we had been there. He flies over to St Vincent as a lot as he can to tutor company.
Having by no means a lot as even glanced at a racket earlier than, I used to be nervous about enjoying with the previous Wimbledon champion.
I will be trustworthy, I used to be fairly dangerous!
However I liked each second and my dad continues to be reeling from the very fact I performed rallies with Pat Money.
Pat and resident tennis coach James Droy are fantastic academics and I can be enjoying extra tennis in the summertime – I simply want an opponent with the persistence of a saint.
One of many highlights of our vacation was our journey to Wallilabou and the Darkish View Waterfalls. That is the place you’ll be able to nonetheless discover a few of the units from the Pirates Of The Caribbean movies.
Anybody for tennis? Catherine loved a couple of rallies with former Wimbledon champion Pat Money
Wallilabou is on the west, or leeward, coast of the primary island. It’s also near Barrouallie, a stunning fishing village and one of many best-known anchorages on the island.
Captain Jack Sparrow (aka my future husband Johnny Depp… ahem) has made this little cove a extremely popular place certainly. However do not anticipate the glitz and glam of Hollywood – it is dilapidated, it is rustic, it is worn… and it is fantastic.
St Vincent boasts spectacular waterfalls which are an incredible day-trip choice.
On the waterfalls there was a small bamboo bridge to cross. It was slippery and wobbly, and the phrases I am A Movie star… Get Me Out Of Right here! had been on the tip of my tongue.
As soon as throughout the bridge it was not lengthy earlier than you reached the primary of three waterfalls. The third had been deemed too harmful for us to trek to as there had been heavy rainfall. However since our group consisted of health club bunnies and the uber-fit Pat Money, we determined we may make it to the second.
After seeing the primary, simply accessible waterfall, we had been hungry for a little bit of a problem.
Attending to the second waterfall concerned a steep climb over slippery rocks. I had begun to consider I used to be the brand new Indiana Jones – so I led the best way!
What we noticed on the high of the waterfall was breathtaking, one of the crucial stunning issues I might ever seen. As I sat on the rocks together with this epic drive of nature, I promised myself that I need to come again right here.
A hideaway from the world: A few of the resort’s suites have their very own swimming pools
You would go into the pool beneath the falls, however this isn’t for the delicate. The waterfall was so highly effective it might knock you over.
Pat Money was the one member of our group who may stand up to the stress of the autumn for any period of time. The remainder of us dipped out and in. In spite of everything that train, we headed for the resort’s spa. Ashleigh had an Ayurvedic therapy, having oil poured on to her brow.
I am an enormous fan of sports activities therapeutic massage. Clearly, as a result of I practice rather a lot, I get actually dangerous muscle knots.
The woman that did my sports activities therapeutic massage was actually good. There’s nothing worse than when any person spends half an hour tickling your again – it is received to harm! Ashleigh works as sports activities masseuse – she owns a spa in Manchester – so the resort employees had rather a lot to reside as much as, however they had been good.
We had a wide range of therapies throughout our keep and we had been happy with all of them. The therapists are skilled to a excessive customary and the setting was stunning and really enjoyable.
And now to my favorite vacation pastime: consuming.
There have been plenty of wholesome consuming choices. I comply with a Paleo-diet (a dietary plan primarily based on the presumed weight loss plan of Paleolithic people). It is predominantly meat, contemporary fish and greens – which was nice for me. (In Italy, I had a nightmare weight loss plan as a result of it was a carb overload of pizza and pasta.)
There have been three principal eating places – Jacks, The Bay and Saffron. There was additionally a seaside hut the place chef Murphy cooked up a storm with a day by day barbecue: big chunks of meat and contemporary seafood coated in Caribbean ‘Grandma Sauce’ – lush!
HQ was additionally a den of naughtiness, providing stunning desserts, ice-cream, waffles and pancakes. It is nice for youths, however a nightmare for anybody with a metabolism like mine. They serve nice espresso too.
Jacks is a phenomenal restaurant, open solely within the night. The meals is of a excessive customary, service was immediate and presentation was nice. We felt there might be extra selection, however that might be simply us being overly crucial.
Splash joyful: Catherine visited a few of St Vincent’s pristine waterfalls
The Bay is a extra chilled out choice. It’s open all day and provides a big buffet choice for lunch and dinner in addition to a different menu choice.
We loved each meal at each of those eateries.
Saffron is a stunning Indian restaurant set additional again throughout the resort. However by far the most effective eating expertise needed to be non-public eating on the seaside.
Underneath a cover of stars, there was a desk on the finish of the seaside ready for us, lit by candles, with a huge moon above, the likes of which I’ve by no means seen earlier than.
I really like my pal Ashleigh dearly, however I can’t assist however want that I used to be there with a ‘Prince Charming’.
Breakfast is served on the entrance of the resort, just about on the seaside. There are many choices and the resort plans to introduce extra well being meals this yr, in order that loopy individuals (like me) who prefer to take pleasure in a well being kick whereas on vacation have entry to issues corresponding to wheatgrass photographs.
On the seaside you are able to do volleyball, kayaking, scuba diving and snorkelling. There is a plush pool, the place the employees are very attentive. Whereas indulging in our ‘lazy occasions’ we needed for nothing across the pool or seaside. We had been spoilt rotten.
In the event you go to Buccament Bay you should definitely watch the sundown, gaze on the stars and rise up for the dawn – the skies listed here are really magical. It was top-of-the-line holidays I’ve had.
An all-round thumbs up from this Northern lass!
