Summer in my widowhood continues…with some fresh challenges and, let me be honest: a few more wins than I expected. This is the first summer I have worked throughout (ie, no holiday at all) since 2016 2015 2014 Oh I give up… Since the last summer in South Africa in 2012. Perhaps the 7 day … More The August Winds
It’s a little after 6 on the morning, a mere 4 days away from our return to France. Nearing the end of winter here, I can hear hadeda’s yacking to each other across the neighbours lawn, and the nip in the air is reminiscent of autumn in October back home. My head is restless, part … More August Love.
I am drawn, by some bizarre inclination, to the allure of midsummer. I have been, ever since high school English syllabus and Shakespeare’s titled comedy appeared on our reading list around the age of 14, I think. It would have been way too easy a study for the Matric English Lit Shakespeare, at which point … More Another Midsummer.
The first time I tried for a driving license I failed the parking test. It was after 6 weeks of training with a retired traffic officer, (because the reality of learning to drive with either of my parents was never going to be the best idea when I was 18), on the day in question … More The Decade I Did Not Drive A Car
From the deck of the Coves cottage, we can sit and watch whales playing in the distant water. Spumes of water forced into the air, followed by a breaching shadow and then a splash as she or he crashes back into the blue waters. Either Southern Right or Humpback Whales, we learn that in our … More A Whale Tale
March 12th A gentle hand, a generous thought, a moment from your day spent on caring for others, for the fragility of our overexposed hearts. Sometimes it’s not the physical act of giving that counts in making a difference. Mostly, it’s the little acts of kindness that make the biggest difference. Greet the old lady … More Some scribbles on the ‘gram that you might have missed
Nobody seems to read anymore. We glance at eye-catching newspaper headlines and take it for granted that the news that follows is true and properly reported on, aware that we can never know for certain how true the reporting is, how unbiased it is. We seek out affirmations in neat square blocks, with a wordcount … More Personal Writings: January 2022
Sunday morning, not quite 8 am. What a week it has been! We’ve forfeited our regular Sunday morning 12km family walk due to Thandi-belle currently languishing on my bed, as well as needing to prepare for a braai lunch with friends. The sun is shining again, and instead of yours truly simply scrolling through my … More Thandi the Puppy and other news.
Perhaps I should rather title this post Recipe: My Take On An Empanada, because the recipe I’m furnishing you with today is possibly not true to the Galician version of this pastry, and I don’t want to tread on toes for culturally appropriating something that is not mine to appropriate. A quick Google and Wiki … More Recipe: Empanadas
Nostalgia. I got hit with it this morning, and it’s been good to bring me out of a little funk. Here’s a story for you. “Where are you going?” I jumped at the sound of her childish voice as she (rather stealthily) crept up behind me while I was raiding the great box of apples … More The Spider Gang
I feel like I have written this blog post up already over the nearly 7years I’ve been here. Going through my archives, I see that I haven’t, but I do know for certain that I have posted photos on Facebook every single Easter that we have been here, sharing my homemade Hot Cross Buns. I’m … More Recipe: Hot Cross Buns
I saw a post on Facebook early last week that made me scratch my head in disbelief. At first I couldn’t decide if it was a tongue in cheek article, or if it was genuine display of solidarity. It was a local Strasbourg blog where the authors shared their admiration for the continuation of work … More Recipe: 4 Bean Salad
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.
Hello to all my awesome friends! How are you all doing? It’s February already, and I can convincingly say that yet another month has passed me by in relative randomness. Yes, it’s been coldish enough to say that it’s winter, but truthfully, it hasn’t been unbearable, barre 10 days mid- January, when I actually wore more … More Gaenor and Chapter 76
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
Pinot, Bretzels, and Cathedrals 