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
5 months have passed since we found out about Mom’s uterine cancer. I know there is evil and tragedy across the world, but nothing is more close to home than cancer and one of your own. We were lucky- as far as luck and cancer goes. From what they medical people could see, the yuck … More Happy Birthday Mom
Mon Chères, Last week was a flurry of birthday party activities in my rather simple life- heading to shops to buy sweets and serviettes; making goodies for the infernal party bags; printing pictures and baking cakes. It could have been so much more stressful if it wasn’t for the talent of one of my ‘lovelies’, … More It feels like it’s been ages…
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
It’s been a while since I last regaled details of a meal not cooked at home, so because I received some lovely feedback last year, and because the weather has got me in such a slump that I can find nothing else to write about, bear with me while I tell you about the Italian restaurant … More Eating Italian
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
Indeed, a fortnight has passed since I started regaling the niceties of South Africa on holiday, and I worry that I have mostly buried some events in the depths of my soul. Do you really want to know about how my children adapted to life on the farm like ducks to water? Do you really … More En vacance, part deux
Hello again, from a very grey, wet, morbidly oppressive European January. I’m tucked away in my kitchen- it has the most amount of natural light in our apartment, but I still need the overhead light on. On the other side of the door, the girls have spread their toys as far as I allow … More En Vacance
First and foremost, I would like to apologise for my absence in the last month. I had great expectations of being able to blog while I was in SA, but when you’re surrounded by your best people in the whole world, stuff just gets sidelined. That being said, I did manage to see most of you- … More Cheers to 2015
Much excitement has been rumbling around our home this week. Early rising, strange dreams, and much happiness at the idea of seeing our family. Mingled in with that has been thoughts of friends leaving Strasbourg, and how blessed we have been in the last few months to have them in our lives. We’ve spent time … More On the plane, down south.
I’ve spent 18 months encouraging myself to not miss home. I’ve waxed lyrically about the perks of my European town. Cycle paths. Free schooling. Efficient Effective state medical. A most amazing group of fabulous international and local friends. That I can be a SAHM. Guilt free. Internet connectivity. Cheap internet connectivity. Public transport. German beer. … More A Sense-ation
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
On the weekend I had the luxury of going shopping on my own. Anton was glued to the couch after hernia surgery, and I left the girls at home to keep him company while I went to the supermarket to buy a few groceries. On the way home as I walked up the last street … More A wet Autumn morning
ORANGE. My least favourite colour. Well, it use to be. After 15 months of European living, I am a little more partial to it: It was interesting how it snuck into shops and markets a few weeks ago, before the weather changed, and the orange-ness was an extension of summer heat. My friendly boulangere though, … More Another changing of the seasons
We have a friend in South Africa who unfortunately witnessed our Beth in one of her more uncompromising moments, and his observation of “The force is strong in that one”, has stuck with me ever since. That was more than two years ago- even before her second birthday. Ian was right- my little Elizabeth is … More Raising the Beth-meister
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
(If this post does not download properly, click on the title, and go straight through to the website.) There is one thing I have noticed about putting photos’ up on Facebook. The photos of my children or us as a family are often more noticed than the photo collections I put up of our sightseeing. … More My Strasbourg
Pinot, Bretzels, and Cathedrals 