It's coming up for about a year since I started writing here (somewhat) regularly. At the time I didn't post any chatty 'here's me and here's why I'm here'-type post, because I couldn't do it without it becoming long-winded, and because it's really not very interesting, and because attempting it was becoming a barrier to writing… Continue reading The Frustrated Nester – A User Guide
Author: Catriona
Recalibration and Carrying on Regardless (with NaNoWriMo)
When I started teaching - hard to believe now - it was in front of a blackboard, the heel of my hand permanently chalky. But a few years later, a brand new interactive whiteboard was installed in my classroom. For the uninitiated, this now-standard (in UK classrooms at least) piece of equipment uses a special… Continue reading Recalibration and Carrying on Regardless (with NaNoWriMo)
Stitched Up: Drawstring Book Bags
Older Boy's new teacher: All the children must have a book bag this year for returning their library books. Practical parent me: FFS really? All they ever have in their normal bag is a snack. Putting the library book in each week is an event! English teacher me: But this is a great contribution to… Continue reading Stitched Up: Drawstring Book Bags
So you’ve learned French? Now here’s how to actually speak it…
You've learned some French at school, maybe at university, or perhaps you've lived long enough in France or a francophone country to learn the language. You can buy bread, order lunch, arrange a delivery, even sort things out over the phone with the electric company or the mairie. But when it comes to having an… Continue reading So you’ve learned French? Now here’s how to actually speak it…
And The Winner Is…
...ahem...the person who entered... It's because everyone else already had their copy of Once Upon an Expat. Right?? If not (you know what's coming) here's the link. So well done Pots of Tea - I'll be in touch for your address. Do check out her blog or instagram to see the very pretty outcomes of… Continue reading And The Winner Is…
The Leaving Season
It was around midnight, but still warm enough to sit outside the Irish pub in the French town on this early summer evening. My leaving night had taken us from the hip café restaurant in the old town, via a relaxed wine bar, to here, where we had taken a table beside the boulevard, looking… Continue reading The Leaving Season
Congo Sketch – Balls to the Wall
Another Sunday, another trip up the coast for some beach time. After a couple of years of African living I don't always stare out of the window on every road trip, like I did at the beginning. But I still do it often. There are moments where the thought presents itself - I'm living in… Continue reading Congo Sketch – Balls to the Wall
‘Once Upon an Expat’ now available!
'Once Upon an Expat' is available right now on paperback and kindle! It's your perfect summer read, with stories of travel, faraway places and ones you know well, some heartache and a lot of humour. Click here to buy now!
The Power of Yes
Time to start carrying a towel... Recently I wrote about the feeling I had, a couple of years ago, that I'd given (up) the best years of my life to being a trailing spouse and having babies. I entered my forties at that time, thinking my peak years were behind me, work-wise. Irrational though I knew… Continue reading The Power of Yes
Getting Out Of Town
I was recently emailing a friend who's on her way to live here. I described Pointe-Noire as a 'grey, flat shabby town'. I stopped to ask myself if I was being ungenerous. Well, no. Sometimes it seems like half the sites in town are either in the process of being built (a very positive thing)… Continue reading Getting Out Of Town
Catriona Turner Books & Blog 