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City “Cottage” Pie
We have officially hit comfort food season. Read: cold (and usually rainy where I am). But that means savoury, hearty foods that smell amazing. Like Shepherd’s Pie. Side note: Have you ever chosen to make a dish that happens to be someone’s favourite and is also a “national” dish from where they come from? Like said Shepherd’s Pie? It is a mildly daunting and ambitious task. But I was up for it. With some help from Google and the Brit it…
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Looking Back at a Paris Birthday
I recently celebrated my 32nd(!) birthday. In 2013, I didn’t have time or energy to write about 30. In 2014, I didn’t have a functioning laptop while I was away to write about 31. But this year, for 32, I took the time to reflect – possibly because unlike 30 and 31, I’m feeling a little shaky about 32. I’ve had to think about that. Why has this number been bugging me? And I’ve realized that I am both nervous…
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Say what?!: Quirky British Words Translated
I recently made a new ex-pat friend from England*. We were chatting and the word “windscreen” came up about his car. He then said “That’s a windshield, sorry need to use the North American word!”. I already knew this, but it made me remember that I had started a list of the British words and translations that I have learned and compiled over the years of visiting my second favourite rainy place after Vancouver. Every time I visit the…
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On the Go: Surviving Flugverspätungen a.k.a. Flight Delays
I was sitting in London City Airport yesterday waiting for my connecting flight back to Edinburgh from Munich, and my flight was, of course, delayed – surprise! Really, I wasn’t surprised, as delay seemed to be the theme of the Edinburgh/Munich travel legs. But the getting to Munich was ridiculous. There is no other way to describe that travel day as anything other than a big, giant cluster****. After the torrential rain woke me up way before my alarm,…
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The Canadian flag turns 50!
It is National Flag of Canada Day and the Canadian flag turns 50. Wait, what? My almost 150 year old country’s flag has only been around for a third of the confederacy? When I was reminded of this, I remembered that up until the mid-sixties, this was the flag that Canada used: Wherever I go in the world, or even just in Canada, if I see a Canadian flag flying beautifully in the wind, I will take a picture.…
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Mala mail
I love getting mail. Not bills, obviously, but good mail. Occasion cards, postcards (my favourite!), or something I’ve ordered. The mail redirect from the recent move is working so that’s a bonus. I also like sending mail. As my friends and family know, I am an avid postcard sender. Mail, for me, is something simple, yet tangible and personal in a time where we mostly “LOL” electronically instead sharing that belly laugh in person. My favourite piece of…
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Plane food à la Française
I’m on Salt Spring Island right now and while I was whipping eggs for my omelette this morning, I was wishing I had bought cheese at the market when I first got here. Because an omelette just isn’t an omelette without cheese, but alas… And that got me distracted enough to think about Camembert and plane food (yes, Camembert and plane food). It was belated travel journal time. On my way to Athens from Edinburgh via Paris, I had the…
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Happy 2015! Attraversiamo, patience and goals for the New Year
Attraversiamo: verb – cross, go across, walk across, traverse, go through, pass through, pass; span Yes, I recently (re)watched and (re)read “Eat, Pray, Love”. But, it’s great word, and very appropriate for going in to a New Year. It’s also fun to say. Attraversiamo. 🙂 Every New Year’s Eve, I go through my goals. What happened this past year? What would I like to achieve in the next 365 days? Did I have fun? (For the most part, yes!) My…
