"It drew my eye from across the room — tugging at my attention before I’d even properly registered its presence, like a beautiful stranger in a bar. I wasn’t wrong to judge this particular book by its cover: the cadence of the words inside captured my interest from — and I mean this literally — the very first page. They had a gorgeously, subtly poetic quality. It was intoxicating. I was, immediately, intoxicated."
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 passing weeks and months and years erode the jagged edges of raw grief, soften the blunt impact of shock and disbelief. Maybe you cry more for a while as your brain starts 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?
TL;DRIf you stumbled across this blog in search of some quick suggestions for your upcoming Lyon trip and you can't be bothered with all the waffle in between, click here to head straight to the recommendations at the end. (Although in my totally unbiased opinion, it is worthwhile waffle.) Missed Part 1? You can read... Continue Reading →
Surprise, surprise, I’m writing this blog post on a train - speeding through the French countryside, direction Paris, somewhere in the vague vicinity of Dijon. It’s a perfect “golden hour”, the rolling wheat fields and villages of tiny terracotta-roofed cottages bathed in the gorgeous glow of the setting sun. I’m reminded of how much I... Continue Reading →
As you are quite likely aware, this blog is called Adventures of an Anglaise — “anglaise” being the French word for English girl/woman. But in truth, I’m actually half “anglaise” and half “irlandaise”, and although I've never lived in Ireland, I’ve always identified very closely with that side of my nationality/heritage. It’s not particularly surprising,... Continue Reading →
Adventures of an Anglaise 