A Day At The Outpatients All walks of life walk here. Old. Young. Professionals. Patients. Weary. Peaceful. Sick. Healthy. And there’s us. Foreigners, but not really. One of us carries a bag of sustenance for the waiting. The other carries a cane and walks with difficulty. One of us sits with their head hanging, eyes … More The First
7am, and I’m standing on a train concourse bound for Paris. Do you know- I love a train. I love the old stations, the symmetry of the train tracks, curious of the stories of the groups of fellow passengers, the possibilities that await aboard. ** post script from the end of the day. See below … More Loves A Train Trip.
I wish a whistle had blasted through the quiet morning train platform as Beth and I embarked on a trip down south on Monday- it would have lifted the sleep and cobwebs in my slighty hungover head, but also been a fitting (albeit weirdly Victorian) send off as we headed on our way. Unfortunately the … More Springbok Fever, and Rugby in France.
It’s a Chefs Life Backbreaking and relentless, this chefs life is not a glamorous life. You’re in early, thinking that somehow you’ll be able stay on top of the workload, but somehow that quiet cup of coffee turns cold while the delivery trucks line up at the back door and soon your pristine fresh jacket … More It’s a Chefs Life
(I started writing this newsletter in early March so it’s a little disjointed given the weeks that have passed.) Cryptic title isn’t it? The truest answer would be a vague ‘it depends how significant a change you’re referring to’, because changing linen and toilet rolls happens to everyone every day. Changing schools, jobs, countries, diets… … More Everyone’s life is a cycle of changes, right?
2020 dawned, with people full of positivity and wishes for a good start to the new decade. But just as soon as we had got over our hangovers, and Christmas food belly’s, we started seeing news from China of this flu pandemic, the corona virus. To cut out all the rhetoric you already have read, … More Télétravail, Homeschooling and all that pertains to Covid-19
Dear friends and family, My mom used to be a prolific writer, something she managed to instill in me and my siblings as children. I guess 12 years of boarding school enforced in me a need to write, and back in the 1980’s and 1990’s, once we had made our treasured friendships, (only to be … More Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, the 2019 newsletter
Who ever would have figured that I would be flipping burger patties in my 22nd year of being a chef, and at the age of 40, with a hubby and 2 kids under my belt? Yes indeed, I am a burger-flipper these days. (Even I am sitting here shaking my head in irritable disbelief, that’s … More Thoughts on a French Kitchen
I currently have 2 blog posts sitting in my drafts folder that I have I undertaken to write since the end of summer. (Actually, make it 3, given I never got round to telling you my thoughts on our northern lands holiday.) However, they seem so so sadly pointless and lacking in guts and momentum, … More [please insert some random clichéd title in here as you see fit]
Dear Readers (she writes, imagining she’s a 1980’s Agony Aunt/Domestic Goddess column writer, punching fruitlessly onto a click-clack old computer keyboard while trying to solve the culinary disasters of her loyal fan base.) I’m hanging out on my most awesome terrace this morning, because its really the first time I can do it for this … More Summer 2017
Look at that date- 12 July. Â Its our 4 year anniversary here in France. Naturally, I want to wax lyrical about what we have achieved in 4 years, or not achieved, perhaps, or to reflect on what we have learnt, but I am not quite ready to chatter about moody reflections right now. However, there … More 4 Years, and The Leaving
Hello from the bus stop on Blvd d’Anver! I’m standing here waiting for the 2 Bus shivering in my soaked Vans look-alike shoes, my pink umbrella dripping and my khaki trench-coat a variety of motley browns highlighting where the drenching rain has fallen on me. While it sucks to be wet, I am grateful for … More Friday morning and a need a cuppa
Monday morning, post <<vacance de printemps>> and my eyes wonder around the vestiges of the holiday. So much to do- have a cup of coffee, run the vacumm cleaner over the floors, boil the kettle for tea, tidy up the girls bedroom, have a cup of coffee and make fruit salad for breakfast, send off … More Have a quick coffee with me…
Tuesday morning:  I’ve been pottering about the apartment this morning, taking in the music playing in the background (Kelly Clarkson and Taylor Swift- thanks girls for the new playlist to my life), cooking for dinner tonight and going through the washing motions, while trying to come up with a inviting opening line to a new wintery … More Winter 2017
Monday evening, Boxing Day. As usual, my husband is at work, despite the public holiday. Right now its hard not to be bitter about it, but such is whats normal chez on a la moment. It’s probably better for all of us for the time being- space may, or may not, lead to a greater … More The Day After Christmas
Happy mid-November everyone! And happy 40-days til Christmas!!  Goodness gracious me… I opened up my blog site this morning and found the most recent draft was entitled “November already!”  and I had opened it with the above lines, which I have now struck through! Sadly, its no longer November, and Christmas is 2 and a … More I have another job.
Since our return to Strasbourg after our rather long holiday, I have had a to-do list stuck on my fridge. It covers a selection of random goals that need to be achieved- some short term and easy to achieve (meet NvM for coffee at Brant on Tuesday), some short term but require more will power … More I HAVE A JOB
Helloooooo, and a Happy Friday to you all out there today! I hope that all is well with you- I am sorry if it has been a while since I was in touch with you personally, I feel like I should know what you’ve been up to, what’s making you smile, and what is giving … More June 2016
Thursday morning, and I have just finished a cup of tea and breakfast. Breakfast was an exciting South African Feurte avocado on toasted baguette. I know I shouldn’t be buying fruit and vegetables that costs the atmosphere gazillions of a carbon footprint, but the idea of a perfectly ripened Feurte avocado from home was just hard to resist. I’m … More The Work Blog
7pm on New Years Eve and I’m sitting in the passenger seat of our car. We are driving on German autobahn en route home after dropping Dad at the airport in Frankfurt. With the exception of Strasbourg highways and by-ways, I think that this route between Strasbourg and Frankfurt has been my most frequented … More … And it’s time to crack open the bubbles to bring in the new year.Â
Pinot, Bretzels, and Cathedrals 