[Collaborative post with Allianz Care] With St. Patrick’s Day just gone, I’ve been thinking of home a lot. Big occasions like that can bring on bouts of homesickness for all of us living abroad, whether we are new to the scene or here for almost 16 years, as I am. Equally, banal moments like hearing… Continue reading Dealing with Homesickness as an Expat
We’ve hit that time of year. The time when the nominations have rolled in and the votes are soon to be placed, judgement soon to be made. Blog awards – a time I year I knew nothing about four years ago. Three years ago and new to the blogging scene I chanced my arm, fought… Continue reading Why I Won’t Be Winning Any Awards
So, yeah, here I am again. It has well been over a month since I last wrote. Between holidays and heat waves, there has been a serious lack of screen time in my life. It has been good for me, but I did miss the writing. I found myself composing blog post and articles in… Continue reading Been & Done This Summer
At the beginning of the year, the lovely PR ladies at Laura Ashley approched me about being their Blogger Crush for January. You may have noticed from my interiors posts that I have a bit of a crush on Laura Ashley, so I was thrilled to be asked. I’m not usually one to blab on… Continue reading A Bit About Me
“Have you read ‘I Found My Tribe?’ I ask my friend. “No, is it good?”. I pour water from the kettle into my whiskey. “A bit flowery for me but an interesting read. She’s a very strong woman”, I say of the author Ruth Fitzmaurice. I turn round and lean on the kitchen counter. “I’ll… Continue reading Far-From-Fair-Weather Friends
You hear Black Forest, you think gateau. It is the ultimate in word association. Far from being one of those cliches that the locals hate foreigners to connect with their home, the people of the Black Forest love their Schwarzwaldkirschtorte, Black Forest gateau. And their cukoo clocks for that matter. They are fiercely proud of both.… Continue reading A Snowy Break in the Black Forest
Advent is almost at an end, meaning Christmas is almost upon us. Since moving to Germany almost fifteen years ago I have come to love Advent, primarily due to the endless traditions in Advent. There’s the feast of St. Nicholas when children’s boots are filled with chocolate, nuts and fruit. There’s the baking of Fruchtebrot,… Continue reading Vanilla Crescents – Our Favourite Christmas Biscuit
Clove-studded oranges and gold-sprayed foliage, red candles and wire ribbon, spiced beef, chocolate coins and The Snowman on the telly. Those are my little Christmassy things. Not memories as such. Not traditions either. More like short scenes or photos in my mind. They are things that immediately bring the Christmases of my childhood to mind.… Continue reading Those Little Christmassy Things
On Wednesday I found myself in town making a start on the Christmas shopping. Getting into town at all is a rare treat, but on a workday and sans enfants, it had the makings of a great day. The lights are up. The Christmas market is in full swing. It all looked so beautiful. Finding… Continue reading The Bit of Banter
Recently on Facebook some fellow Irish Parenting Bloggers and I got into a chat about places to visit around Drogheda and Dundalk. I’m not familiar with Dundalk at all but having been to school in Drogheda and being based in the area whenever we are home in Ireland on holiday, I have a few favourite… Continue reading Oldbrige & The Battle of the Boyne Museum
