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?
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 →
To some, autumn signifies the end of summer. It’s an unwelcome thing that a lot of people resign themselves to, reluctantly accepting the seasonal transition, already wistful for the warmer weather. I’m not one of those people. To me, that undefinable sweet, smoky scent that suffuses the cooling air heralds change, promising new beginnings. I... Continue Reading →
Summer is unmistakably coming to a close. The days are still warm (and sometimes sunny), but you can feel it in the cooling evening air, see it in some indefinable quality of the morning light. I’m no longer leaving the windows of my little rooftop apartment thrown open until the last possible moment before going... Continue Reading →
WELL. This anglaise has been having all kinds of adventures recently – although for the most part, they weren’t occurring in Paris, or even France, so I initially decided against immortalising them in blog form. However, a good portion of those adventures took place in Tuscany, and I feel that the part of my heart/soul... Continue Reading →
Adventures of an Anglaise 