September 26th. Heading into the last week of September already. I’ve been keeping track of the weeks of this year more than normal since I’m ticking off each weekly run and we’re approaching week 39 coming up. That’s three quarters of the way through 2021. 😮Does it feel like it? The thing is, being in … More The Autumn Newsletter.
Hello my lovelies, I saw a few prompts yesterday that suggested autumn was starting today. Such as it is, life continues its <<roulant>> and it’s time for the season to change, but I was more concerned about a significant change in the weather: did I need to make sure my kids had rain coats and … More Another season falls.
Privileged is the person who can enjoy being alone with nothing but flighty musings to occupy their thoughts. I may have mentioned recently that I had read something about Proust’s Madeleine that was repeated as a striking coincidence later to my personal seasonal ramblings. No, don’t be impressed or jaded- I’ve not personally read Proust … More A Sweet Trip Down Memory Lane.
It’s Week 48 since the French government sent me home after they realised Covid-19 wasn’t going away on its own. Right now, my house is quiet and still, barre the dripping of defrosting ice on the kitchen terrace and the hum of my oven as it dries out yet another batch of rusks for the … More The Year That COVID-19 and The French Government Gave Me An Unexpected Sabbatical (and allowed me to realise that I will never be able to write a recipe book.)
Tuesday, November 3rd. With sleep dust caked in the corners of my eyes, I blearily fell out of bed at six fifty this morning to the sound of the bleating alarm clock and out of an annoying habit, turned on the bathroom light to weigh myself. Yes yes, I know what you’re thinking. “Ditch the … More To Run or Not To Run.
Hello there my lovelies! How are you all doing? I wish that you could be here with me right now- the weather is as grey as a sink of dirty dish water, but the trees in my garden have turned yellow and dropped those leaves like a yellow-ochre carpet. I wish you were here on … More The Second Wave.
Autumn. Fall. Both words have been rolling off my tongue all week. Which do you revert to normally? It’s Tuesday, week 2 after the schools reopened, and life is almost back to normal, barre the lingering signs of Covid barrier precautions. I crossed into the city this morning after school drop off and found myself … More Fall, 2020
All over the world there is sh*t that divides people. There are the big divisive subjects: sex, religion, racism, politics, culture. The ones which, arguably, lead to the biggest problems: terrorism, fear, injustice, inequality. In the lesser divisions, generally fought no less fervently, one could list sport or social media, school systems, sneaker brands; although … More The Polarisation of Food
Erm, I’m sorry about that! :idsu;;er 2020 is what my keyboard types when its’ language choice is set on the English keyboard. What I really wanted to title this was Midsummer 2020, but when I saw those letters and grammatical icons on my screen, I remembered something that I wanted to write about. No, it’s … More :idsu;;er 2020
6 weeks ago, I sat on on my terrace and shared this photo: It was Sunday morning, and what should have been a morning filled with the expectation of me heading to work in the evening turned out to be a day filled with sweet Sunday bliss. A mild wine hangover to deal with- cured … More The CovidTimes
If you’ve ever been a guest at the Netherby table surrounded by the youthful members of Die Vrot Kol, you may shake your head in wonder that I ever became a chef and have as much of a love for food as I do. With tales originating out of Richmond boarding school, tales of cold … More Memories of the Culinary Kind
I turn into the wind, adjust my scarf and lift my coat collar to block the cutting chill that seemed to race down between the buildings on either side of the train lines. Beneath my feet, battered and bruised autumn leaves lie, and above my head is a ceiling of grey cloud. They’re too high … More And so the autumn leaves gather at our feet.
[I would recommend you print this and read it with a pot of tea] (Sometime early June) Well hello, will you look at that? I have 15 minutes to drop in and say hello! It’s a Wednesday, and today the girls finish school at 11:30 and can come straight home- no more ice-skating classes for … More June 2019. Nope. Let’s just call it Summer 2019
Looking back as one does at this time of the year to reflect on the one that just tipped down over the horizon under the disguise of omnipresent grey clouds, we are able to sigh deeply with content and say “it’s been a good one!” And for that, we are blah blah fish paste and … More Bonne Année And All That Jazz.
Thursdays are currently my Sunday, my one day off work where I don’t do anything unless its for me: go for a run; have a coffee date; sit on my terrace and write; binge watch tv; sew or even mundane stuff like the washing and cleaning. Between 8:30 and 15:00, my time is- for the … More Heritage Day
July 12th, here it is. 5 years ago we were having lunch at a little pizzeria in Eckblosheim, France, with Anton’s new boss and HR lady. His boss isn’t the same person, the HR lady has moved on. Just as much as life is known to do I guess. In trying to find a focus … More Looking back at 5 years in France.
Hello my dear friends, As the winds blew me home last night and the wheat turned golden in the setting sun, I realised that the highlight of my European calendar these days is June 21st, midsummer. No doubt thanks to Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Nights Dream, the idea of magic under the fairy lights has appealed … More Midsummer 2018
After what seemed like the longest, most bizarre winter of our years here so far (which included at least 4cm of snow every month since November), spring arrived later than normal. I have grown to love all the seasons here, (although with less emphasis on winter obviously.) Summer is a reward. Autumn and spring bring … More Idle Thoughts While Commuting.
Have you, as you have become older, noticed yourself changing? I’m not referring to your appearance- grey hair, crows feet and sagging bellies are almost inevitable. No, I’m talking about who you are, the things that make you tick, your reading list, your opinions, your goals and aspirations. As I write this, I realise the … More The Evolution of You.
Sunday 25 February, 2018. I took a photo of you today. Once again it epitomized your beautiful soul and I felt compelled to share it on Instagram. While searching for some words to describe you, I realised that it’s a week away from your birthday. I can’t really believe how time has crept up on … More To our Alex
Pinot, Bretzels, and Cathedrals 