Welcome to the ‘About Us’ section of PackThePJs. This is the place to learn more about the individuals behind the website, and why we do what we do.
Why PackThePJs you may ask? Well, simply put, my family love to travel; my husband Huw and I used to be journalists covering both the cruise and hotel industries. In 2015, while on a pre-inaugural media cruise, we spotted a new market trend towards families taking cruise holidays, and cruise lines designing ‘family friendly’ ships… so we initially set up a blog called KidzCruises, to focus on this specific sector of the cruise industry. Our children are now 19 (2006 born) and 17 years old (2008) – they have been on cruises with us before, so the topic was one we were all very interested in.
But as with all websites, over time you diversify and head in directions you hadn’t initially intended. With KidzCruises this happened after joining the Parent Blogging and Family Travel Blogging communities. These connections led to opportunities for us, as a family, to experience events, activities, and land (as well as water)-based breaks and holidays. We also find it great fun to review gadgets and gifts … all items that are of interest to our main audience of course (that being UK-based parents). As a result of this widened focus to encompass everything ‘family travel’, we relaunched our blog as PackThePJs in February 2017.
We are truly a ‘family collaborative blog’. So I guess I should explain who ‘we’ are?!
“Hello, I am Tracey: Mum, Wife, Writer and Blogger”
When I’m not writing for PackThePJs, I am still managing the busy schedules of both children (even though they are adults!) I still love to travel – with the whole family of course – and I like coffee and chocolate. Before becoming a blogger I set up and run an online handmade marketplace for 5 years. My claim to fame is that I once won a sports car in a national newspaper phone-in competition! We relocated from Hertfordshire to Wales in 2025, after two years of remote home renovation, so much of my time goes into finishing everything and making sure everyone is settled and happy.
“I’m Huw: Dad, Husband, Medical Writer, and Teacher”
I once had dark hair, but I blame the children for the ‘silver fox’ look I now sport! I am a science, medical and technology writer and I work mainly from our home office. I have a PhD in Chemistry and was very nearly a dentist. I used to be the local Cubs Leader and assistant Leader to the Beavers pack. I love to travel (dream destinations = India and China) and am a bit of a gadget geek at heart! Since moving back home to Wales I’ve become a supply teacher in several local comprehensive schools.
“Hi. I’m Millie-Mae: Daughter, Sister, Student, Gamer, Artist”
My parents call me Millicent Mayhem, usually when I’m in trouble. I am 19 and a Nuclear Medicine healthcare student at university, though I live at home. I spend my spare time playing on my phone, console, and laptop: I love to draw. Houseplants are a current passion – my bedroom is more jungle than bedroom. I love chocolate, though am also a Type 1 diabetic, and am planning to get a pet axolotl soon. Oh and I’m a karate black belt, so don’t upset me!
“Hello. I’m Toby: Son, Brother, Rugby-Addict and Chef”
I am Toby and I am 17 years old. I like Coca Cola, Skittles, McDonalds and pizza … but I’m very active! I attend college where I am part of their rugby academy and play for a local rugby team – I play position 3, tighthead prop. I’m very strong and difficult to tackle! I work part-time in a local butchers shop, and I chill out by playing on my Xbox (I’m a very good gamer). I am learning to drive. My dream is to play professional rugby for Ospreys and Wales.
“I’m Jack: English Springer Spaniel, Lovable, Mad”
Jack is our totally mental, English Springer Spaniel. He is 11 and a total handful at the best of times! Jack could challenge any greyhound in a 100m sprint. When at home he loves to sleep – and he creates an almighty racket whenever the doorbell rings … Jack, along with Izzy who we sadly lost last year, has travelled with us throughout Europe, when we’ve gone on road trips. They paddled in the Med when we drove to Spain; sniffed lampposts in Hamburg, Warsaw, Krakow and all over Latvia and Lithuania; they overnight ferried (in a cabin) while cruising up the Baltic; played in the snow in the French Alps; barked at caravanning neighbours in Brittany and the Loire Valley; been through the Eurotunnel many times – truly international spaniels! Jack has holidayed all over England and Scotland with us too, and he loves running around the beaches of the Gower Peninsula in Wales where we now live.
“We’re Betty Diva and Percy Moggs: Huge, Hairy, Lovable Dog Controllers”
Completing the family, we have the relative newcomers, Betty Diva and Percy Moggs the maine coon kittens, who at the time of writing are 10 months old. They are hairy, friendly giants of the cat world and even though they sleep all day long they tell us they look after the house when we’re not at home … They are house cats, but are becoming accustomed to wearing a harness for garden time!
Please do get in touch if you’d like to work with us on a feature, review, competition – or anything else. Thank you for reading x
