The first year of my thirties is rapidly nearing its conclusion (hello, 31) and I have to say, the experience of moving into this new decade has, in and of itself, been pretty anticlimactic. Turns out, aging, accruing life experience, all that jazz, it’s more of a gradual process than an overnight kinda thing. Who... Continue Reading →
Happy New Year! I can still say that, right? I reckon any time in January is fair game. The beginning of a new year is an interesting vantage point to look back on the previous one. When you’re “in” the year, in the thick of whatever’s going on in your life, the days and weeks... Continue Reading →
Two outta three ain’t bad? 30. It’s a tricky age, isn’t it? For one thing, there’s now no denying you’re a fully-fledged grown-up. When you start your twenties, you’re essentially still a teenager; many of us were students, living Our Best (student) Lives. Nobody’s seriously accusing you of adulthood when you’re breakfasting, hungover, on McVitie's... Continue Reading →
Last weekend marked my 7-year Paris-versary (pronounced Pareeversary, in case you were wondering). Seven whole years as a parisienne; seven whole years since I made my teenage pipe dream of living in France a reality. Seven years of grappling with the trials and tribulations of expat life and language barriers and bloody french bureaucracy. Seven... Continue Reading →
You’d think a day dedicated to all things love and romance would be a universal hit — but I’m pretty sure the 14th February is at least as disdained and/or dreaded as it is eagerly awaited. The rampant commercialism, the romantic pressure, the impossibility of finding a table in a half-decent restaurant. The having-your-singleness-rubbed-in-your-face. The... Continue Reading →
I bought a curtain a few weeks ago. “She’s really scraping the bottom of the barrel for content here,” I hear you thinking. “Biweekly blogging is so much of a stretch, she’s resorted to writing about the upholstery.” Bear with me a minute, okay? It’s not as dull as it sounds. Or maybe it is.... Continue Reading →
From a young age, until a probably-not-young-enough age, I was a committed star-wisher. I don’t remember ever being convinced of the stars’ wish-granting powers, but I was definitely open to the possibility that it might bring me what I wanted… So sure, why not? My wishing was very formulaic: Identify the brightest star in the... Continue Reading →
There are a million clichés about hope, and with good reason. Hope shines a light in the dark; lifts us up when we are low; provides the strength to go on when we’re so bone-weary, putting one foot in front of another seems a Herculean task. It brightens our days, lightens our hearts, puts a... Continue Reading →
Content warning: Grief & loss “Time heals”, they say when you lose someone. And it does. The weeks and months and years soften the blunt impact of shock and disbelief, erode the jagged edges of raw grief. Maybe you cry more frequently for a while as your brain begins to wrap itself around strange, unruly... Continue Reading →
Success, to me, is filling your life with what brings you joy. It’s being genuinely, deeply happy right where you are — your physical home, your day-to-day routine, your relationships with others, your relationship with yourself. It looks different for everyone. And it can't be ticked off a list, because it's a lifelong endeavour. It's THE lifelong endeavour. Finding joy, and bringing it to others. What else matters, really?
Adventures of an Anglaise 