Catherine

Back to work tomorrow for many of us and that means for most, back to having dual working spaces, partners and online meetings. At the moment, many are working between two different rooms as online calls take place at the same time as those of other family or flatmates. It isn't easy especially when volume is required, confidentiality and space. Here's hoping that by February, crossing fingers, we will have the apartment below which will merge two small places together. A staircase is the next venture, something that hasn't been on our list before. However, a key joy will

New Year's Eve is coming up which in any normal year is a strange event and this year has been a rollercoaster. The night often has the feel of if you don't attend something, you are the uncool kid at school who wasn't invited to the party. In the past, I have attended balls, parties, spent it on a Thai boat and babysat in my youth with mixed results and often a sense of why? This year we are finally in France and we have a Covid curfew of 8pm. We will meet other careful friends for lunch outside

We are coming up for what would normally be the busiest food, cooking and drinking time of the year, whatever your family traditions are. However, in Europe, we are sadly going into a variety of second and third lockdowns. Some are saying that they can't be bothered with anything and have given up. Tempting, but in our second week of being here, we are going to make an effort. So get those decorations out and dress the table. Style on a Budget I have friends who are budgeting on a shoe string at the moment and can't afford to

We have finally arrived in France after much planning. Lots of small potential dramas with solutions and support usually at the 13th hour, just to add to the general stress of moving with two cats at Christmas and with a pandemic on! Not ideal but we managed and the cats seem to have settled in more quickly than we have. After sorting out boxes and placing furniture where we could, we decided to find the Christmas decorations and get in to the general spirit of things. Our local Christmas markets have opened and it was a lovely night of

“If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.” -Paulo Coehlo It is amazing to think that after over five years, this will be the final Berlin-based post before we move. It has been a pragmatic weekend packing final bits and pieces and we still have some to finish off. Moving is a strange combination of cleaning up and letting go and wondering if you should hang on to something rediscovered. We have been in this mode for a few weeks now and tend to retreat with the cats to the sofa in

In the Northern Hemisphere, Christmas lights and decorations are essential to brighten up some dull dark days. It isn't easy getting up in the dark and feeling like you should go to bed at 17:00! I am not a fan of winter and yearn for bright blue days even if cold. We are getting close to December in a difficult year and as I walked down a major high street in Berlin it was sad to see that none of the normal Christmas street lights, the little train, the little aeroplane or even the Berlin sign were up. It

On one of our last holiday days in France, we both said if only each room was a bit bigger. The next day our friend/agent let us know that the apartment below is for sale and completely newly renovated! So despite me saying never again - yes, Lesley - we had a look, made an offer and it has been accepted. We must be crazy! Back in the land of mortgages and paperwork and yes it is a bit of risk and there is a caveat, we will only buy if we can build an interior staircase to link

Having visited interior design stores this weekend, it seems they are stuck in the dark, sombre tones of drab potato colours. It wasn't inspiring, just depressing and I racked my brain wondering what to write about. The day was a blue sky day but we are coming in to my least favourite time of year, winter, and we need light and life even more this year. Some people even suffer from sad affective disorder (SAD) and use light therapy to lift their spirits. Yes, the comfy colours of Christmas red and green are around the corner but white, beige

Well, here we are again and it is difficult to write a post that doesn't sound trivial. This is a time of looking at Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. I hope that you have the basic needs of access to money, a roof over your head, food and water followed closely by safety. I have friends who have been made redundant and are seeking new jobs at a difficult time and are nervous financially. Others have had relationships crumble under the stress of being together or due to the natural 'flight and fight' aspects of dealing with a situation that

We have been in France for a week with the usual rollercoaster of highs and challenges. Anything involving internet service and banking always has the potential to derail. Fortunately, both were sorted out. Cementing friendships was also key. I am lucky to have met potential 3am friends - those who show up regardless of the situation. Those who are there for you in spite of your stupidity, sadness and crazy antics. I can see some of our new friends showing signs of this and I am grateful. As we count down the next few weeks to our permanent move,