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
Category: Creative Living
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
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
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
Do the Next Right Thing
#2020yearof… Do the Next Right Thing I'm writing a series of posts here and on Instagram about how 2020 will always count. Read more about why here. I only got around to watching Frozen 2 in the second half of this year, after Disney+ arrived in Denmark. (I wish everything Frozen wasn’t so heavily marketed… Continue reading Do the Next Right Thing
The Family Force
#2020yearof… The Mandalorian. I'm writing a series of posts here and on Instagram about how 2020 will always count. Read more about why here. (Spoiler alert, if you don't want to know any surprises from S2E5.) Back in March, with school closed, we started what became a family tradition. Every Friday evening, the constant rolling… Continue reading The Family Force
Fresh Ideas and Getting Personal
At a Christmas market in Kampala, Uganda, in 2013, I bought a cute thing from an art teacher who created cute and useful things to supplement her income. I liked the quirkiness of her style, and I liked chatting to her, and who doesn't need an excuse to buy a cute thing? I still have… Continue reading Fresh Ideas and Getting Personal
#MayontheMove2020 Inspiration
Earlier this week I confirmed the details for the #MayontheMove2020 expat Instagram challenge, co-hosted by me and Erin of Oregon Girl Around the World. Click here if you missed it. We kick off tomorrow! Throughout the month of May you'll have 16 prompts to inspire you to share something on Instagram of your 'life on… Continue reading #MayontheMove2020 Inspiration
The Frustrated Nester 