“What’s your name?” she asked. “Susanna.” “Where do you live?” I told her, and mentioned we’d been there for two years. “Oh,” she replied, “my mother lives in that neighborhood.”Realization dawned. “Yes, she’s my next-door neighbor,” I responded, beaming. We talked about her family, and her nephew, Cyril, who runs a hostel in Panama City.Emboldened … Read more
As I look around me, more and more people are turning to yoga for overall health and well-being and general fitness, me included. Several years ago, after working 14 years in the PR business, I hit a wall and was diagnosed with a chronic illness for which the main symptom was bone numbing, mind-fogging fatigue. … Read more
“I can’t concentrate! Why don’t the Spanish stop their dogs barking?” I was trying to write the next chapter for my latest Old Fools book, but the constant background noise was spoiling my concentration. There are plenty of dogs in our village, all shapes and sizes. There’s a Jack Russell that never stops yapping, a … Read more
“I wish I could find white eggs in South Africa” I complained to a South African friend one day. I had spent the previous week going from grocery store to grocery store, finding nothing but brown eggs. In the states I loved seeking out brown eggs to add variety to our colors of dyed Easter … Read more
The continuing adventures of June Finnigan, her Man, and Farty Barty the cat. Benvenuto to all my Loyal and New Followers On the 2nd March, I returned to beautiful Tuscany, after a brief visit to the London Author Fair, loaded up with a bag full of leaflets and new ideas for marketing my books. I … Read more
Part I – Immigration Year after year, International Living, Forbes, and hundreds of other publications release a list of the best places to retire. Do you believe that one retirement destination fits all? Where you spend your golden years is an extremely personal and variable. One expat-to-be may place a warm climate at the top … Read more
Most Germans begin learning English in school at just six years old. This means that by the time they reach their teenage years, many Germans are fluent. Add to this the popularity of American films and music throughout this country, and it is completely natural that Germans have begun to use so many English words … Read more
As an expat blogger in Hong Kong, I get all sorts of weird and wonderful requests to collaborate. Everything from joining a ‘baby formula selling’ business in South Africa to taking part in travel focus groups in the US, to write ups for removal companies and health bar reviews come my way. Naturally some things … Read more
I know spring is here because a little bird with a big voice welcomes the day now at five thirty every morning and keeps up his enthralling repertoire till around five fifty. At which point I continue to lie in bed for another few hours contemplating my navel, as the saying goes. The other sign … Read more
Moving Above Zero We’ve had an exceptionally harsh and lengthy winter here in Ontario, but hopefully it’s almost over now. You know Spring is in the air when you feel a mounting inner joy akin to sap rising, and you can bet sap is rising in sugar bushes province-wide. A sugar bush is a stand … Read more