Unwelcome Change

Unwelcome Change

transient /tranziәnt/  □ adj. lasting only for a short time; impermanent    □ n. 1. A person who is staying or working in a place for a short time only 2. a momentary variation in current, voltage, or frequency                   We slowed down and stopped across the road from the Shepherd’s house. The gates were open, […]

A Magical Encounter

A Magical Encounter

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”― Roald Dahl “There’s the fox.” I say to Michael as I grab his arm. We stand like two statues in the half-light […]

Lost in Translation

Lost in Translation

“Even if you live your life engaged in full, frenetic, rumbustious activity, you cannot avoid coming into contact with others or stumbling over obstacles, however small, or feeling time pass. – from: The Book of Disquiet by Fernando Pessoa With the appropriate accompaniment of hand gestures to support his request in English, interspersed with a […]

Unexpected Visitors

Unexpected Visitors

“What makes life interesting is the unknown. It is the risks that we take every single moment of a single day.” – Paulo Coelho “Did you see the snake?” Michael asked. “What snake?” “The one you nearly stepped on.” “Oh.” I surprised myself by remaining calm. “No.” When we both had a closer look, we […]

Unplanned Jobs

“There are the places you wish to go, there are the places you desperately wish you never left, there are the places you imagine you should be, and there is the place called here.” – Padraig O Tuama from his beautiful book In the Shelter The Electrician promised us in an e-mail that he will […]

Building a Real Bathroom

“Slow and steady wins the race.”   – Aesop In November last year Michael installed the channels and studs for the bathroom wall, and hung the door. Instantly the space looked and felt different. Having had to make do with a temporary outside bathroom, this first step to build our indoor bathroom felt huge. To accommodate […]

A Bump in the Road

A Bump in the Road

“You don’t get over the shadows inside you simply by walking away from them.” – Pico Iyer I pried my eyes open and tried to focus on the white doctor’s jacket that swam into my vision. “You are a tough woman.” He said. I didn’t feel tough, but I was alive. The pain I experienced […]

On Showering

“Happiness does not depend on outer things, but on the way we see them.” – Leo Tolstoy With our tickets booked for our June visit to the land, I’ve done some research to see what we can expect temperature wise, especially as none of the future comforts and conveniences are yet in place. It seems […]