Quick update about upcoming travel plans! As the school year winds down, I am making plans both within Canada and abroad. As soon as school’s out I will be heading to the airport ready for action. We are taking a family (ladies only) vacation to Malta! Sun, Sea, Sand, and Spa. I’m really looking forward for a week in the sun and visiting a new country. I have really been missing the European cafe culture over the past few years…
Just a quick post about a small change to my Port Alice bathroom that makes a big impact. After missing out on the seller’s market, I decided to rent out my Port Alice condo instead so spent a bit of time the past few weeks tidying it up and making a few cosmetic updates. I decided on a whim to paint the bathroom cabinet and change the handles, transforming it from drab to fab! When I purchased the condo it…
This is the first time in almost two years that I’ve felt like I have the time and energy to do things that I enjoy, so after over a year since I last signed in, I’ve decided I’d like to get back into writing again, even if it’s just for myself. For all of us, there have been so many challenges and changes, yet still no end to the ever-mutating Corona Virus Pandemic. After a long hiatus from blogging, it’s…
Today was my first day of working from home (officially) due to the Novel Corona Virus known as COVID-19. Of course as an educator we work from home all the time, usually after a full day at school or over the weekend. I am very much looking forward to keeping work within ‘normal’ working hours now that I probably have more control over what I do and when I do it. Today was a full day from the comfort of…
While China is emerging from weeks of quarantine, and much of Europe is already under various degrees of social isolation, Canada is only just embarking on our own journey of “social distancing”. Around the world many aspects of life as we have been accustomed have ground to a halt. Cafes, bars and restaurants are closed, many people are working from home, schools have moved online, and even some provincial parks are closed. It’s strange to think that the great outdoors…
It’s not often I can honestly say I prefer being in Canada over being in Europe. I have always felt more at home and more alive when I’m over in Europe; both in the UK and on the mainland. That being said I have always tried to focus on what’s great about Canada and I totally understand why many people (including myself for the time being) would choose to make it their home. Canada is so diverse it’s like many…
I recently set my students an assignment to write a few paragraphs about ‘A Day in the Life of’ any career of their choice. I asked them to consider what time they might have to wake up, what they would eat for breakfast, what some of the typical tasks would be, and what time they would take breaks, etc. This got me thinking about my ‘typical’ day. Typical being employed loosely here as I’ve realised that no day ever really…
It has once again been a hundred years since my last post and about a thousand things have changed since then. Quick resume: after 8 months in Paris, I returned back to Vancouver Island where it was time to embark on a new adventure. In July 2018 I purchased my first property; not just any property but a fourplex in need of a major face-lift so I have been getting to grips with power tools, building materials, paint colours, and interior…
It’s been a while again since the last update. I can’t believe how fast time has gone by. I have now been in Île de France (I’d love to say Paris but that really isn’t quite true at this stage) for a little over 5 weeks. When I say it like that it doesn’t seem like long at all and I have actually achieved quite a lot in a short space of time but more on daily life and struggles…
It’s been over a week since I landed in Paris lugging two large suitcases and an inconveniently large carry-on containing more than enough clothes and hopefully all the necessary documents I need to start my Parisienne life. The first week felt rather productive so I am trying hard to keep up the momentum of achieving something each day. I am fortunate to have many close friends in Paris and several of them have helped me out with places to stay…