I haven’t written on this blog in years and I’m back with a bucket list?! Yes, that’s right! During one of the many lockdowns of the covid era, I created this 40 before 40 list. What a bizarre choice to create a bucket list when one is stuck at home. But after years of what felt like purgatory, why not? Is there a better time to look back and look ahead and hope for the best…or for something at the very least? At the time, a friend had discovered my blog and asked if I had a 40 before 40 list. I had one for reaching 30 after all. So here it is, in no particular order. Image: That’s Her Busines ..read more

Hello again! I’ve left this wee corner of the internet to silence for too long, but I’m back with an update 2021 and some more blogs in the weeks and months to come. After a tough 2020, 2021 has been a toughie as well (as for the whole planet I’m sure). I started the year with hopes that I’d get to see my family this summer but that quickly evaporated. A close relative also lost her life early in the year and it was very difficult to be away. To live through the grief from afar is a reality of immigration, but it doesn’t make it less difficult especially in times of pandemic when travel is res ..read more

I’m already a fair few books into my 2021 challenge, but I wanted to take the time to look back at my top books of 2020, with short reviews and recommendations. I had a goal of 40, but managed 45. I discovered audiobooks, joined a book club, and finally signed up for the fantastic online selection of my local library, making my list a mix of all kinds of books. All books marked with * were given to me through Netgalley in return for an honest review. Top fiction reads for 2020 My Sister, the Serial Killer. Oyinkan Braithwaite. 4 stars Dark humour novel where the main protagonist cleans after h ..read more

I shall dispense with the happy new year and such and such. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have some hopes and goals for 2021. Indeed, I decided to focus my time and energy on reading and writing, two things that make me happy. So I’m setting some reading goals for 2021 and adding a list of books I hope to devour this year. Maybe you’ll join me? Read at least 50 books My overall goal is to read 50 books this year. I read 45 in 2020 and that’s without picking a book for nearly two months of the year, so 50 should be feasible for 2021. Read more women In 2020, I read 35 books by women writers, w ..read more

Looking back at 2020 is a difficult one. What a forsaken year this has been, right? I’m sure we’re all happy to see the back of 2020. I can’t quite yet tell if 2021 will really be better, but at least there is hope out there! It’s a year that I’ll be keen to forget. I’m sure I’m not alone, but the Brit becoming ill with Covid in March was one of the worst times of my life. So scary! So many of our plans got cancelled of course, like everyone else. We had planned to travel to England, go to Canada, Sweden and finally set off on our honeymoon. Well, we know where this one ended up, right? It als ..read more

Oh hello again! It’s been half a year since I posted last, hasn’t it? Generally the global pandemic affecting our lives has not made me want to think about my favourite travel moments in Scotland. But this post has been in the works since May, so here it is! September 2020 marked 8 years since I first moved to Scotland. I’ve been away twice in that period for visa reasons, but mostly, Scotland has been home for over 7 years. Throughout this time, I’ve travelled around the country to explore more of my adoptive home. There is so much to love about this gorgeous land and today I look back at my ..read more

Hello! I hope you’re all doing well during these difficult times. We’re entering our tenth week of being at home. The Brit and I are lucky enough that our jobs are easily done at home and that we live in a nice quiet area near the countryside. We weren’t so lucky because, as you may have seen on social media, the Brit contracted Covid-19 and was extremely sick. He’s thankfully on the mend. Working in tourism has been very difficult too. No idea when we’ll be able to welcome guests again, or what will happen to the company. It’s all shrouded in the unknown, like much of the world right now. At ..read more

Another year has come and gone. We celebrated the arrival of 2020 quietly at home. We live right below Stirling castle so we just popped out at midnight to watch the fireworks. It’s mad to think we’re now in the 20s of our generation! I was thinking of doing a goals posts for the year and decade ahead, but that seems unreasonable. In truth, I have no idea where we may be in 10 years. I hope the Brit and I are still together and thriving. Still travelling, still loving our jobs. I hope that maybe I have a PhD and maybe children, but who knows! We’ll see where things go and we’ll keep tak ..read more

Happy new year! 2019 was such a big year for me and the Brit! That’s why the blog has been quiet. But I’m here with an update, looking back at 2019 and my favourite moments of the year. LIFE Loads happened this year, and you’ll have seen the highlights if you have followed the blog and my Instagram! >> I got married to my Brit! Twice as well, in St Andrews, where we met, and in my hometown, Montreal. People keep asking how it is to be married and I’ve got to tell you, it’s changed nothing (Except people keep calling me the wrong name. Not changing my name is the hill I will di ..read more

Another week gone and we’re almost in November already! I haven’t posted in two months, which is very me this year it seems! Work has been keeping me busy with writing of all kinds, and the weddings and visa application have been our personal mountains to climb this year.  The last update I gave was in July when we’d just come back from our whirlwind trip to Canada. Here are the highlights of the last few months:   >> The biggest highlight is definitely having my spouse visa renewed. It cost an arm and a leg, but so pleased that this step is behind us. I’m now allowed to be here until 20 ..read more