I've just logged off from the livestream of the memorial service for the writer Wayne Milstead, who died suddenly last month. Wayne and his husband Aaron ran Circle of Missé, the writing retreat. I'm sharing here what I wrote in an email the day I heard the shocking news. It was in 2015, when we… Continue reading Thank you Wayne
Author: Catriona
The Certainty of Granite
This phrase, ‘The Certainty of Granite’ is one that I’ve had knocking around for years, and it was the working title of my book before I settled on the one I have now. Instead, earlier this year I crafted this poem from various notes and journal entries. The ideas here don’t resonate in the same… Continue reading The Certainty of Granite
The Art of Finding Home
Image from Shutterstock ... The friendships I’ve made with people because we connect over performance, or books, or because we’ve worked on a passion project together, those have been important in a different way. Because they connect with a deeper, stronger part of my identity, one that is a constant, regardless of circumstance. It’s connecting… Continue reading The Art of Finding Home
Paris Sketch: Monet at l’Orangerie
I wrote this during a moment of reflection in front of Monet's famous Water Lilies, and it's only lightly edited here. Scroll down for more information about the gallery. It's hard to resist people watching instead. Just two elliptical galleries, no hurry, no trying to take in every painting and learn the significance of what's… Continue reading Paris Sketch: Monet at l’Orangerie
On Crossing Paths and Feeding the Soul
It's my birthday weekend, so here's a treat! I'm sharing my fortnightly email this week with anyone who wants to read it! If you like it, get more about connection, expat insights, and creative living resources by signing up here. I had two meals in a row this week that fed my soul, as well… Continue reading On Crossing Paths and Feeding the Soul
The Roles Not Chosen
September 2020 'Which company does your husband work for?' I was so taken aback by the question I just answered it. In the next moment, the event organiser called for everyone's attention to introduce a speaker. I half-listened as I mentally retraced the friendly conversation. We'd been talking for maybe five minutes about the challenges… Continue reading The Roles Not Chosen
What’s in a name? Why ‘The Frustrated Nester’?
Last week I took part in an Instagram live interview with the irrepressible Rossella of Going Expat. You can watch the whole conversation here (or just listen while you do your thing). One of the topics that came up was the name, 'The Frustrated Nester', and I realised I haven't spoken about it for a… Continue reading What’s in a name? Why ‘The Frustrated Nester’?
Une Sortie Hors de la Bulle
Click here to read this post, first written in December 2016, in English. Décembre 2016 ‘Tu as peur? C’est ça?’Non, je n’avais pas peur de rendre visite à notre ménàgère dons son quartier. Enfin, pas comme il pensait. Mais ça faisait deux mois qu’elle avait eu son bébé, et il avait raison de me demander.… Continue reading Une Sortie Hors de la Bulle
Sketch: Saudade on a Saturday afternoon
[Lip-syncing: Fallin'] Alicia Keys is playing from the speaker in the corner. I’m enjoying it not just because I’m transported back to Saturday afternoons with Trevor Nelson on Radio 1, in my sunny yellow flat, the first flat I owned. My first self-created nest. But also because the music is…not loud…but insistently present. I have… Continue reading Sketch: Saudade on a Saturday afternoon
Crossing Generations
This is my response to the #Generations prompt for #MayontheMove2021 (learn more here). It's raw and unedited, because otherwise it wouldn't be here at all. This is not what I thought I was going to share today. Earlier in the month Jamey of @couragelifecoaching mentioned his 'cross-generational heart', which a few of us seized on… Continue reading Crossing Generations
The Frustrated Nester 