In Hong Kong we know summer’s arrived when clothing sticks and dragons emerge, not real ones obviously but those wooden versions intended for the dragon boat festival. The saying, Don’t put your winter clothes away until it’s time to eat rice dumplings, a festive food, spells it out and you must admit, date considered, it … Read more
We had a glut of cherries in late May. Now our quince tree is laden with fruit and we can expect a glut of fruit (un coing, and a quince tree is un cognassier). Most varieties are mouth-puckeringly sour and astringent if you attempt to eat one without cooking it first. The most popular way … Read more
The nomadic lifestyle is attractive because you can satisfy your urge to travel, see incredible sites, and have new experiences. But if you’re not rich, traveling around can leave you strapped for cash and even homeless when you return home. As an expat, you’re probably well aware of America’s big economy and all the money-making … Read more
Expats enjoying a group bbq – in the photo there are six different nationalities. Here are some ideas for how to integrate into your new Spanish community.First, be aware of some of the traditions and behaviour norms, which may not be the same as those in your country of origin. For example, in Spain it … Read more
When my now-husband and I moved to New Zealand from the UK in 2002 we were pretty green about the Land of the Long White Cloud. I’d travelled there in the late 1990’s, fallen in love with it (as a single traveller) and decided I needed to move there.I didn’t do too much research about … Read more
I am typing this on 30 May. Yesterday the checkout girl at Aldi (our favourite supermarket in Corbigny, where the staff are old friends) was too polite to comment on the three bottles of cognac in my basket. Not a drop passed our lips, however: I filled six big kilner jars with brandied cherries. Last … Read more
As a spotty-faced, teenage oik, I’d no idea engineering would take me halfway round the world. So in marking the 200th anniversary of the Institution of Civil Engineers, commemorations of which will align with the UK government’s Year of Engineering campaign to get youngsters thinking STEM, here’s my bit extolling the virtues of what’s on … Read more
An education from one of America’s universities is highly valuable. Our universities are among the best in the world, with students from all over the globe seeking admittance. But it’s also true that America’s job market is tough. It’s highly competitive and wages are relatively low, meaning grads with student loan debt often find themselves … Read more
Benvenuti and Welcome to all my Lovely Followers, If you are new to this column I should tell you that each month I reflect back on the previous one, which in this case is April 2018. My aim is to bring you lots of fun things, and not too many serious ones.Well, from a weather … Read more
Bluebells and Dandelions In late April the bluebells along the road to Lormes are a joy. They spill over onto the verges, but are best under the trees. ‘Bluebell’ is an apt name: the flowers look like clusters of little blue bells. Disappointingly their French name is jacinthe des bois, or jacinthe sauvage: wood or … Read more