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
Hello my darling angel friends, I am having a truly lazy day. It’s very much a me day, and I suspect that by the time I go to bed tonight, I may be slightly discomfited by the fact that I have achieved nothing. Nah, scratch that thought. I may very well have thrown our PC … More January 2018
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 clichĂ©d 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
Beth once asked me a few years back what my super power was (they were watching something about super-heroes I think). I replied with the suggestion that my ‘super power’ was growing children, because in all fairness, while we do parenthood willingly and with all our heart, we all do need to admit that their … More Mystery Basket Magic
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…
Earlier today at the pub, I mentioned to my colleague that when we arrived here, I started a blog, about our lives were, and what was happening. Â I regaled this in order to lead onto a conversation about Urbex photography, and how 2 years ago, a girl emailed me asking me if I knew of … More Spring 2017
Dear friends, First and foremost, I wish to humbly ask your forgiveness for my very chronic all time low letter on Monday night. Â Ironically, I wasn’t even a little pissed when I wrote it, I was just hurting like hell after what had been a difficult weekend, after a tumultuous 7 months. Secondly, I … More Recall
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
Here’s a bit of advice I can give you for free. Marriage is hard. If I think back to my childhood, I think I imagined marriage to be great big white wedding dresses and awesome rock star parties that lasted forever. Marriage clearly equaled a wedding, for me, at some random age growing up. Â Naturally, … More 10 Years
Thursday morning, winter in South Africa and here I am reclining on a chair on the sunny veranda of my in-laws. My feet are propped up on the ‘balustrade’ and I have bottle of water at my elbow. It’s too early for wine and too hot for coffee or tea, would you believe? A short … More Summer/Winter holiday, South Africa 2016
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
Pinot, Bretzels, and Cathedrals 