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
Week 3 of the school year, and it has at last rained for 3 consecutive days (with a splatter of brilliant blue skies in between the drenching rain), but here I am, sitting in my office with a cup of steaming grapefruit water and a box of tissues at my wrist, and a pot of … More The Summer That Was
Hey All, No, it’s not your typical sense of déjà vu that you would expect if you’re a Matrix nutter like me…or perhaps it is, but the last week has set me back somewhat, and it took a bottle of Alsace bubbles with dear friends to claw my way out of my miz-mood. I’m not sure … More A Glitch In The Matrix
My dear friends, The last few weeks have been heavy reading, and I hope you’ll forgive me while I work through my emotions and grief. I can promise you, it won’t be the last you’ll hear from me, but life goes on, and I cannot allow myself to fall behind. Way back when, the main … More A Delayed Start to Summer
Day 5 of our <<vacances de printemps>> â‘ and we have woken to rain. I’ve been listening to it falling on the corrugated roof outside our bedroom since 6am, and have had the luxury of drifting in and out of sleep. Anton’s in Kuwait this week, and I have been very lazy, as you can … More Can we become tri-lingual?
Last week Alex went off on her much awaited grand school trip- 4 nights/5 days away from home, with her class, and teacher. What a big deal. Granted, I was quite chilled about my 7 year old being away from home for a week (that’s what boarding school does to you), and I figured that … More The Storyteller
Thank you for your text message last week. I’m glad to hear that you’ve had a wet cold weekend- I know how much you have all been praying for rain. Last week, the low grey clouds here in Strasbourg were unbearably omnipresent; even my smart-phone’s camera was rejecting the notion of taking nice photos; there simply was not … More Dear Dad
I have- and I kid you not- 4 half written blog posts lying in various places: 2 drafts on this blog, 2 as word documents, and I probably have random ideas scribbled in note books that adorn my desk and bed side table. For the most part, the themes center around South Africa, and they are … More This Winter
Life. Take a moment to stop, and spare a thought for the heart that pumps in your chest. At the same time, think about where your loved ones are. Can you climb in a car, and be at their side at a moments notice? Sadly, in this era of globalisation, (and difficult politics,) we do … More Father Time and The Grim Reaper
October. Aside from the obvious autumnal-ness, October seems to be choc-a-bloc full of birthdays, and not only that of my Dads’, mine or Beths’. In the last month, we have celebrated and attended no less than 6 birthdays between us (- all from the ‘ex-pat’ crowd, mind you). When I RSVP’d to the one invite … More Birthday Month
I know, I know… two in one day, you must be wondering! I’m sorry. “What are you letting your children do while your husband is away, and you get to do all this writing?” you may ask… Well since I have just seen le petite monster throw a cup of water over an electric fan … More Back to School-update
Yesterday I made myself a cup of tea, sat down at the table in my kitchen to reflect, and my eye set onto the 3 teeny tiny plant pots I have sitting on my kitchen window sill. My mind lapsed into a revery of day dreaming, one full of clichés- the hot African sun, the … More A Pot Full of Herbs
NO DOUBT EVERY COUNTRY HAS ITS’ LITTLE NUANCES WITH PROCEDURES. Naturally, the French are no different, and I suspect the French are quite notorious for their admin and paperwork demands.  One day I will tell you about the rather frustrating process I undertook with school registration (- which is, in fact, mostly incomplete still, I might add.) When … More A visit to the Paediatrician
Pinot, Bretzels, and Cathedrals 