When I first came to the UK, on hearing I was from Australia, the first question I would get asked was, “What’s happening in Neighbours?” There were other questions too, like, “You must miss the weather?” and “Oh, you must really miss your family with them being so far away?” (Neither of these technically a… Continue reading The Bouncer Protocol
Random thoughts from August
For once, the arrival of August has not put me in a panic. Maybe it’s because it has been hot - so hard to be anxious in the heat. Maybe there has been enough other stuff going on that I don’t have time to think about time passing. Although (in the northern hemisphere at least)… Continue reading Random thoughts from August
Why does 25 years feel like a failure?
It’s a tough job market out there, or so I’m told. I read articles and personal posts on LinkedIn about the struggle people have to find work and I feel for them. But I am not one of them. In a world of layoffs and cutbacks, a world where people (young people in particular) seem… Continue reading Why does 25 years feel like a failure?
Eggplant-Aubergine
Some years ago I was learning Portuguese in anticipation of a holiday to Madeira. I was using an app based system where you repeat and write phrases. Husband had been in the room with me most of the time while I was repeating sentences like Their elephant orders a beer or The sauce has no… Continue reading Eggplant-Aubergine
MMD
Make Mondays different. As slogans go it’s not great. I mean, I don’t think anyone is going to put it on a cap and use it as a cornerstone for a political campaign. And it’s not like I’m doing anything too radical like… only wearing white, or only eating cornflakes, or only speaking French. (You… Continue reading MMD
Is anybody still there?
It’s sad, but WordPress seems to be dying. I log on now and fewer and fewer of the blogs I used to follow are being updated. It is starting to feel like an echo chamber. (I don’t know what an echo chamber actually is, but I imagine it’s somewhere empty where any sound reverberates off… Continue reading Is anybody still there?
Things I got wrong on holiday
No matter how carefully I consider my likely needs in advance of any trip, there are always things I get wrong. Things I packed but never used: The little book for sketching. I don’t know what kind of holiday I think I take, but it is almost never the kind where I sit around sketching… Continue reading Things I got wrong on holiday
The Flick of the Dragon’s tail
I’m exhausted. Not just because it’s January, possibly the most depressing month of the year in the northern hemisphere. Not just because at this point it feels like it has been cold and grey for approximately 6.5 years. Not just because unlike everyone else (it seems) I didn’t take any leave over Christmas/New Year. Yes,… Continue reading The Flick of the Dragon’s tail
Best reads of 2024
I don’t read from the best seller lists so some of these books are several years old now. But this is not a best new releases of 2024 list, it’s my personal list of books I read this year that I would recommend to others. A Man Called Øve - Fredrick Beckman Although I knew… Continue reading Best reads of 2024
No no no – November
The first freezing day of winter. The windows of the bedroom have condensed water drops around the frames. I don’t know if this is a good thing or a bad thing. Does it mean our windows are working well or not?I wipe the water away with an old tea towel I keep in the bedroom… Continue reading No no no – November
Tales from Tobhamhor 