Interiors

My mentor, Clear Englebert, has just published his latest book, Feng Shui for Real Estate. I am looking forward to reading it but am lucky to have his wisdom at hand. He has guided me through the different countries and places we have lived in. So I went back to his books to look at how best to sell our upstairs apartment. For once, we are being zen about selling- something that doesn't come naturally to me! We are not in the usual rush of selling to leave a country and enter another. We understand that our likely buyer

As Nat King Cole once sang, today was 'one of those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer'. Even a dip in the sea takes energy and we have retreated indoors to flop around. The cats are as low and flat as they can be, seeking a cool spot. Cold honeydew melon and pineapple has been eaten offering just a short, sweet spike in the day. Even a lovely ceramics market only highlighted thoughts of a heated kiln! Any thoughts of Feng Shui conversation is swept aside and I find myself on the sofa reading a wonderful book, The Personal

Get your Feng Shui moving! Having had several interesting conversations about Feng Shui over the last few weeks, I always mention that it isn't a miracle cure as we have some control over our thoughts and actions and Feng Shui often reflects those. However, if a sector in your life isn't working including love, health, career, money and friendships, look around your living space and see if it is achieving interior harmony for you. Sometimes it can just be a case of cleaning and decluttering an area, putting shoes and items away or minimising the decor. Any hiccups in

The skies are blue, the sea shimmers, the beaches beckon and we are in the days of suntan oil, salt and sand everywhere. Shops are full of gelato colours in hues of blue, pink, lemon and lime. There are sunshades in classic blue and white stripes or turquoise and all things marine seem to be on the shelves. The yachts and big boats are here and while I am horrified at the money attached, I would welcome an invitation as a guest! So before you go out and redecorate your living space in shells, anchors and fish, let's talk

Years ago, a young friend of 11 years asked, "so, what are your dreams?" I had to think about it then and I still think about it now as they shift shape around and through the years. Goals and expectations continue to change and often life's turns throw out surprises which override those desires. As we are working through a post-Covid summer, dreams have turned to friendships, good food and wine, chocolate and a pair of blue summer shorts with matching sandals on sale! But seriously, a good night's sleep is often undervalued and it is key for our

It had been one of those weeks. An uncle from the invisible side of the family - a long typical Irish foster story that only the Irish are not upset by or astounded at - had passed away. The rollercoaster of moving to a new place continues with new friends offering moments of delight and other friends letting you down when you least expect it. The grand old story of life. So we walked to the nearest cocktail bar on the beach, a pseudo Balinese affair. It offered solace with wonderfully kitsch decor, garish cocktails and sitting with feet

A lovely jewellery shop, or bijoux as they call it in France, has opened up opposite us. We have got to know the owners and by serendipity, he is interested in permaculture and alternative thinking. We were offered a glass of champagne on their opening day. As we discussed Feng Shui it was immediately clear that the shop has a corridor effect that could quickly be fixed. Hallways & Corridors Many houses and spaces have a door that opens straight into a long hallway. Some corridors even go right out a back door or through to windows. The energy

On holiday, a lovely brass fish caught my eye in our hotel. Having been told that I tend to swim against the tide, it was amusing to think of a Thai koi out of place in a French Provençal hotel but adding a ‘je ne sais quoi’. It resonated with the last six months of leaving one country to enter another. We often get asked where is home and answer wherever good friends and our favorite furniture is along with the cats. We too are fish displaced but hopefully we add to the local culture and find a sense