SAUCISSE ET HARICOT COCO-ROUGE RAGOUT One of the packs of meat I add to my meat trolley every month in Germany is a 1kilogram pack of Bratwurst Sausages. Like back home, sausages here are popular on the braai (although unlike SA, they are just about the ONLY meat that gets braai’d, as steak is not … More Budget Meals: 102
By the time I am done here, I think that’s about all the cycle babble I can bore you with. But in all honesty, how could I drag the kids to watch the tour LIVE, and not write it up? Even my Dad sent me a message last week to ask if we had seen any … More Le Tour
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BIKE So you know how I wrote last month about Anton and his enthusiasm for bicycles? Well, he finished reading that particular post, and almost immediately sent me a message (he was in the States) to ask where the rest was- about me and him mountain biking in the wine-lands the … More Le Velo, deuxieme partie
FOLLOWING THE SUN My French classes have come to an end, and I had a month of semi-normality before the schools broke up for summer holidays. This post has been half written for the last 4 weeks but other posts got in the way, so it remained unedited for that time. However the weather outside … More Northern hemisphere apartment life
Today has been an interesting day as far as motherhood goes. I have seen excitement, determination and utter despair of a group of 6 year olds. I have glimpsed a whole new set of challenges coming up my way, and I don’t know if there is a specific method of dealing with them. For 4 weeks, … More The drama of being 6
MIDSUMMER AND THE FETE DE LA MUSIQUE This recent Friday just passed I was skimming through my CliffCentral Daily Dose mail, when my eyes glanced upon a link to an article featured on the BBC website 6 years ago, concerning an inexplicable month long dancing plague in Strasbourg. Quite surprised to see Strasbourg featured on this South … More The dance plague of 1518
LE VELO It’s true: once you learn to ride a bike, you can never un-learn. I had serious reservations about not being able to cycle here in France. My cycling days came to an end in 1990 after I outgrew my one and only childhood bicycle. I can claim with certainty that I did not … More Me on a bike
A perspective into European life On Sunday last weekend, after breakfast, we jumped on our bikes, and headed out for a Sunday morning cycle. For the most part, we were all very tired after a late night the night prior, having entertained. But since it was Mothers Day here, and I had no aspirations to … More Summer- life in Europe- Part 1
THE MEAL GENRE, NOT JUST CHEESE If you ever have a little moment, complaining about food shortages, and the lack of variety on your fresh fruit and vegetable shelves, stop and think back to our ancient ancestors. In biblical times, the residents of Jerusalem did not have individually irrigated watercress plants growing out in the … More Raclette
I have to say quickly, thanks everyone for the Skype, iMessage and Whatsapp messages and the Facebook broadcast wishing Happy Mothers Day, I promise I will bear it in mind when the French celebrate Mothers Day in 2 weeks. Only the French could throw the proverbial spanner in the works and destroy my peace…. So … More Mothers day, everywhere but in France
Life can be funny sometimes, in a way of odd co-incidences. Earlier this week, I was invited to join another family to have brunch this morning at a new café in Kruteneau (a ‘quartier’ bordering the Petite France ‘quartier’). Since its Victory Day here in France, it’s a public holiday-or ‘jour férié’ as it is … More Cafe Bretelles
For 2 whole weeks I have planned this blog in my mind, on the bus, waiting for one, or even walking to one with the hands of my girls grasped firmly in my grip. I am sure you understand with everything else traversing through my mind, you will know why I have not actually written anything. … More Happy Birthday
About 4 books ago, or 4 weeks, if I am to be honest, I was reading a book called Black Roses by Jane Thynne. It was written from the perspective of an upper class British 20 year old girl who runs away to 1933 Berlin to become an actress. In the story, the author describes … More Alsacienne Asparagus
Mid spring 2014 Nearly 4 weeks have passed by since I wrote to you last, and I was quiet for a long time, simply because I could not bring myself to lift my hands to the keyboard. The extent of my motivation levels was to put my hand over the mouse, and click the drop … More A personal one, from me, to you.
Last week I was invited out by the girls for a night out: dinner, drinks and chatter, sans les enfants. I had been cautioned that these nights out sometimes get a little expensive, so I was in two minds as whether to go or not. Also, the last girls night out had resulted in way … More Vino Strado
I may be a retired chef, but I do not spend every day and night preparing gourmet meals for my family. For one, gourmet gets expensive- salmon; foie gras and oysters are not exactly priority on my shopping list. For another, I don’t exactly see Alex and Beth happily sitting down to a … More Chicken Soup for the Soul
I have got so much on my mind to tell you about, but since school re-opened last Monday, I have been otherwise ensconsed in French lessons, school trips and the news. What with OP’s murder trial and a missing Boeing 777, my newspaper browser has never been so active, well at least not since last … More French Admin
Coming from a family of avid readers, my Mum is the source of a great number of deliciously serious, deliciously light-hearted books. She is was one of Exclusive Books in the Maritzburg Mall’s most loyal customers. My sister and I would never return to the Big Smoke after a weekend at the farm without an … More “Book Review”
I’m branching out! Its early days though, so there is a lot to still be done. A few of my favourite things.
Pinot, Bretzels, and Cathedrals 