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The Frustrated Nester

Expatting, Travelling, and Danish Living

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Category: (Expat) Living

My 10 Big Lessons from 10 Years of Expat Life

August 23, 2019August 28, 2019 frustratednester2 Comments

Pop open some bubbles and raise a glass with me! Today is my 10-year expativersary! You can't go through a decade of non-stop transitions and culture shock without learning a thing or two.

Leaving Season: on the Threshold, Again

June 13, 2019 frustratednesterLeave a comment

Read on to find out why I relish expat goodbyes, and for a big announcement!

Join my Journey!

May 29, 2019May 29, 2019 frustratednesterLeave a comment

Have you noticed? There's something in the air... Well, there's something in the pixels anyway: a subtle but significant rebrand of The Frustrated Nester. Business cards! Over the past few months new ideas have formed, and new opportunities have been exploited, and it's been an exhilarating time, actually. I say 'actually' because I hadn't really… Continue reading Join my Journey! →

#MayontheMove2019 Inspiration

April 28, 2019April 23, 2019 frustratednester1 Comment

I hope by now you've seen my building excitement for #MayontheMove2019 over on Instagram. It's building slowly, but I can't wait to see what connections will emerge! If you're still not quite sure what it's all about, read on for a primer and some inspiration. Depending on what you choose to follow, you might well… Continue reading #MayontheMove2019 Inspiration →

Announcing #MayontheMove2019!

April 20, 2019 frustratednester2 Comments

Something brewing... If you’ve been following me on Instagram you know there’s been something brewing. It’s finally time for me to stop with the Big Talk and take action. Before I started using Instagram, back in 2015, I figured I certainly had more than enough social media in my life with the pernicious Facebook. But… Continue reading Announcing #MayontheMove2019! →

Denmark Sketch: The School Run on Two Wheels

March 28, 2019 frustratednesterLeave a comment

We’re not quite in the habit yet, though the mornings are light again. There’s always ‘something’: someone’s sick, or I have to drive straight off to an appointment, or there’s a bulky planet costume to take with us, or we have to drop MT at work, or, more truthfully, two out of three of us… Continue reading Denmark Sketch: The School Run on Two Wheels →

Esbjerg: What Do You Know?

February 20, 2019 frustratednesterLeave a comment

A few weeks ago (before end-of-winter illnesses and school holidays) we were invited to Esbjerg's rådhus - city hall - for a welcome event with the mayor. I went along with the kids, despite somehow thinking that after 6 months of living here I barely felt like a welcome was necessary. (Only a serial expat would… Continue reading Esbjerg: What Do You Know? →

Our Danish-ish Christmas

December 29, 2018February 20, 2019 frustratednester4 Comments

Back in October people kept asking me what we would do for Christmas. It was a matter of days since we'd moved into our house, I'd had no routine for months, and boxes were still piled in barely-furnished rooms. I would have been quite happy pretending that Christmas wasn't going to be a thing until… Continue reading Our Danish-ish Christmas →

Friendship on the Move: Transcending Time and Continents

November 14, 2018 frustratednester2 Comments

November has been quiet around here because, after my first attempt two years ago, I'm again taking part in NaNoWriMo. (Let me know in the comments or on Facebook or Instagram if you want to know how I'm doing with that, writerly types.) But some exciting news has me thinking lots of thoughts that I… Continue reading Friendship on the Move: Transcending Time and Continents →

Denmark Sketch: At the Pool

October 15, 2018February 20, 2019 frustratednester6 Comments

'Are you coming or not?' MT has promised the kids a visit to the pool this rainy Sunday. 7 yo is very keen, but 5 yo is resisting. I bring up pictures from the pool's website, showing splash pools surrounded by brightly coloured fountains and play areas, and he agrees to go along, although still… Continue reading Denmark Sketch: At the Pool →

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The ever-so-festive December issue of The International is out now! 📰 . It’s packed with insights about Danish traditions and ways to make the most of this time of year around the country 🎄👏 . Buy here’s the thing: my article doesn’t even mention the C-word! So if you need some escape from the seasonal intensity, you’ll get a breath of fresh air on page 19 😉 . Out now across Denmark, or follow the link in my bio ⬆️ . . . @theinternationaldenmark #theinternational #internationalwriter #expatindenmark #danishliving #esbjerg #esbjergexpat #esbjergblogger #beachinwinter #mynorthernsoul #winterescape #widenyourhorizons #beatthewinterblues #beachlife #westjutland #vestjylland @visitvestjylland.dk
So this happened yesterday 😇 . I’m planning to reveal more about the draft and actual book plans in an email in the next couple of days, so now is a good time to subscribe if you haven’t already! Link in bio! . . . #nanowrimo #nanowrimowinner #amwriting #memoirwriting #expatwriter #internationalliving #bookplanning
I took a picture of this sign so that it can make you smile the way it did me when I saw it this morning. . Full disclosure: it was in the disrobing area at the gynaecologist’s office, which was exactly the best place for it to be! 😊 Feeling very well looked-after this morning! . #smileplease #yourebeautifulwhenyousmile #sawthisandthoughtofyou #affirmation
So excited to discover a new thing in #Esbjerg today! The former Cafe Libri at the library has had a very hyggelig makeover and yesterday reopened as Nørre19 (@noerre19) ☕️ 📚 . Didn’t try the food yet but the coffee is just fine 👌and it’s good to know sustenance is available at the library again! . Tomorrow is my last uninterrupted day of #NaNoWriMo so it’s looking like a full day of writing at the library since I can now treat myself to lunch. I’ll let you know how it goes... . . . @esbjergbib #esbjerg #esbjerglibrary #hovedbiblioteket #nørre19 #esbjergeats #amwriting #esbjergexpat #esbjergblogger #hyggelife
Did you catch my article in November’s issue of The International? See a preview below and follow the link from @theinternationaldenmark to find out why I compared Esbjerg to the Wild West! 🤠 #Repost @theinternationaldenmark with @get_repost ・・・ BLAZING A TRAIL IN WILD-ISH WEST DENMARK ” On a dark Monday evening in Esbjerg, the streets are still, but in the Huset student and culture hub, there’s chemistry brewing and a buzz in the air. I’m standing in a circle with some brand-new friends, and we’re getting to know each other at headlong speed, pushing each other out of our comfort zones.” Catriona Turner, an expat from Esbjerg writes for The International. . . Read the rest of Catriona’s article on https://issuu.com/the-intl/docs/the_international_-_november__print_ or find a nearest distribution point! . . #theinternational #internationalliving #cphlife #esbjerglife #danishlifestyle #expatsindenmark #getoutofthecomfortzone #thefrustratednester #esbjergexpat #esbjergblogger
Things are looking up in #Hamburg...the drizzle is clearing and I have street-gluhwein 😊 . . . #winterhappy #gluhwein #visitgermany #visithamburg #theywererightabouttheshopping #whoneedsluggageanyway #winterweekend #wintercheer
I painted a plate! . In all honesty pottery is not something that excites me, but Royal Copenhagen is such an institution that I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to join this painting workshop. . Swipe for the work in progress and the teacher (of 29 years’ plate-painting experience) making it look easy. . DID YOU KNOW? - The pieces shrink 15% after they’re baked (so my mistakes are now 15% less visible). - Only pieces painted by official Royal Copenhagen craftspeople have the official stamp and distinctive wave symbol painted on the back. - even in the factory in Thailand, every Royal Copenhagen piece is hand-painted: our teacher was one of the people who travels to the factories to train staff. . (And if you’re wondering why my plate isn’t blue, they do the designs in black as well, so when everyone else in the group picked blue I was able to rebel and say ‘I’ll Paint it Black’. And play the Stones in my stories. I really didn’t think the result was going to look anything like actual Royal Copenhagen anyway, but it turns out the way the teach the process makes it pretty close to the traditional design!) . . . #royalcopenhagen #danishliving #danishtradition #handmade #allmyownowrk #expatindenmark #myexpatlife #handpainted #danishsouvenir #livingdanishly @royalcopenhagen
(Français dessous) Yesterday was Mortensaften, so I was inspired to cook something special last night. While the Danish were eating their traditional roast duck, I satisfied my Version Française with an improvised aiguillettes de canard, along with some top notch roasties, if I do say so myself. . (Every Danish result in the Google search starts ‘Why we celebrate Mortensaften’, so even the Danish don’t really know. But it has something to do with a saint hiding amongst geese for a quiet life 🤷‍♀️) 🇩🇰 🇫🇷 🇬🇧 Hier, les Danois mangaient canard rôti, pour fêter Mortensaften. Cela m’a inspiré de satisfier ma Version Française, alors j’ai essayé aiguillettes de canards, avec pdt roties pour le goût de chez nous. . . . #mortensaften #danishliving #expatindenmark #maversionfrançaise #aiguillettesdecanard #roasties #cultureblend #internationalliving
Good morning winter ❄️ 😎 . . . #goodmorning #esbjerg #wintersun #morningfrost #beachinwinter #esbjerghavn #sunrise #wintersunrise #mennesketvedhavet #favouriteweather #nofilter @mitesbjerg @visitvestjylland.dk @govisitdenmark @discoverdenmark

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