Month: June 2017
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I never wished to be Ann, with an ‘e’
I’m not sure when I got my paperback copy of the beloved Canadian classic, Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery. I think it was a gift from my Aunt, although I can’t be sure. It is too fragile to read now. The spine is cracked and the pages are about to fall out.…
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Things you hope to never need
It is extremely comforting to know that as a Canadian, my government has my back. Our tax dollars do more than provide for the obvious things like education and healthcare. Recently, I have learned so much about what the Canadian government provides to citizens who are living or travelling abroad. I guess I always knew…
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The Mediterranean diet in the wild
I have long since dreamed of sitting by the sea in a warm breeze, eating the foods common to the mediterranean. Greece in particular! I’ve hosted Greek pot-luck food parties back when I was in University. My first real cookbook was Lebanese and the only reason I bought it was for the recipe for hummus.…
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Travel smart, there is an app for that!
From watching way too many videos of young travellers, I get a sense of how little these YouTuber’s seem to plan ahead for a trip. Many of them even advise would be travellers to be spontaneous and pre-book as little as possible. In reality, this may not be true, because preparation is the boring and…
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I’ve always wanted to work for a diplomatic mission
Over the years I have had the good fortune of travelling to many countries. Most of the time the reason for a trip was work related. I needed to participate in a multi day meeting, visit an apparel factory or attend a trade show. Sometimes, I would tag on an extra day or two to…
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The countdown has begun
There is something significant about having a big paper calendar marked up with important dates. Rather than a digital version, I mean. The printed version is so much more permanent, looking back at you whenever you walk into the room. The digital record is easily minimized or closed altogether. It needs constant courting, some action…
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A mysterious element hidden in the details
Also known as the ‘the devil is in the details’, although I might like to use the word mystery! Makes it sound like a puzzle or a problem which needs to be solved and if you pay attention to the details, then it can be done. Or the mystery is something which might seem simple at…
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Stop holding your breath
I didn’t realize I was holding my breath until I started to practice deep breathing. This was years ago, before meditation and yoga started to become so popular. Back then, I had not undergone the requisite training for having a baby, which included timed breathing. So I was more inclined to literally hold my breath…
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Towards no fixed address
When I decided, after so much deliberation, that I was going to leave my career, I had no idea what would happen next. I mean, I knew I would not be going to an office everyday. Instead, I could spend my time as I pleased with no outside pressure or deadlines. I had falsely assumed…