The first apartment I moved into some many years ago was a studio apartment in Johannesburg. Not a big space, but perfect for one person. Luckily I didn’t have that many possessions so it didn’t really feel cluttered. Since then I have redone that space many times in my mind, using clever furniture and […]
During a recent trip to Marseille – a port city in southern France – we did some exploring. One of our excursions included a trip to the Frioul archipelago, a group of four islands, about 1.5km from Marseille. We also visited the smallest island, D’If, that houses the fortress and prison, Château d’If . We […]
During the summer months outside meals and barbecues are the order of the day, especially if the weather is warm and dry. And this is always a very important consideration when living in Ireland. To then also have an easy summer dessert to whip together is just an added bonus. I remember this summer dessert […]
It happens. You look around your space and you just feel tired with the decor, the interior. No specific reason, it just doesn’t inspire you anymore. That means it is time for a quick refresh of your interior space. Without spending a fortune. Here are a few very easy and low budget updates to […]
Visiting a city you’ve never visited before can be daunting. Here are some tips.
Ginger is one of those versatile spices that is not only used in cooking and baking, but can also be helpful for a variety of ailments. Recently I found this recipe for thin rolled up ginger snaps, akin to brandy snaps, which makes for an impressive dessert. Some background on the root I always […]
When you think of the items in your house, in your space, that really work, that fulfil their function properly, then there are actually quite a few. I recently walked around the house looking for these kind of items that I can’t live without and found many. It is as a matter of fact a […]
Recently I revisited the novel by Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart. As a debut novel – first published in 1958 – it is extraordinary how he depicts the cultural tragedy as a tribe deals with the impact of colonialism and imperialism in Africa. Things Fall Apart : Summary ‘Things Fall Apart’ tells the story […]
There is something about brownies which is just so addictive. Chocolatey, chewy, gooey, fudge-like, sweet…. Just yum. Although I am not a star baker when it comes to brownies – I think it takes a lot of skill and practice to get them just right – I did find a recipe by Nigella Lawson for […]
In Ireland the summer is fickle. Endless sunny days are not a given like for example a South African summer. But I still enjoy summer as a different season here. The beautiful greenery and colours everywhere, the birdsong, those lovely long summer evenings when the sun dips the horizon around 10:30 pm… Just because you […]