Spending time in London a couple of weeks ago, I saw that the shops were filled with pastel colours, summer dresses and platform sandals. This pleased me. Finally I could stop looking wistfully a faux fur jackets and cowboys boots online.  Hurrah, summer clothes have arrived!

This enthusiasm for summery stuff is recent. Until fairly recently, the beautiful first days of Spring were tinged with dread at the thought of casting off winter clothes and emerging, blinking into the unforgiving sunlight.  Like a butterfly.  A thread-veined, grey-ish white, butterfly. Continue reading →

We returned to British Virgin Islands today after just over a week in the UK. After having lived in the Caribbean for over a year, we reacted with childish glee to the availability of what to most people would be fairly quotidian items (scotch egg, anyone?).  So how do two former Englishers treat themselves when back in their former home?

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ON 6 SEPTEMBER 2017 HURRICANE IRMA ripped through the Eastern Caribbean leaving catastrophic damage.  It was followed by the devastating Hurricane Maria.  (I don’t know why I’m saying this as if it’s news when I’ve had mentionitis about it for nearly 6 months.)

The long-suffering friends and family of Caribbean residents might have noticed a smattering of hurricane jargon being used by their loved ones.  Here is a quick glossary for your information: Continue reading →

I have been living out of suitcases for a couple of months, with another 6 weeks to go. Here are a few tips for staying sane if you find yourself in a similar situation. Continue reading →