Karen Simmonds

I have always wanted to run my own business and have been self employed for over a decade now. I started organising small groups of avid kite flyers - buggyers and kite surfers alike and we would holiday for various weeks in the West Algarve of Portugal. After 5 months into my first pregnancy with my first child, being dragged around by power kites on the beaches was no longer to be and so I worked freelance in an independent travel agency in south west London. I have set up my business from there, specialising in family holidays and have had the travel agency for 8 years. In that time I have had to juggle family life, two children aged 6 years and 3 years, a husband who works very hard and a business. I would not want it any other way and feel very blessed to have what I have. (Although it can be a tricky call at times!)