The Sun is Up, the Sky is Blue, It’s Beautiful and So Are You
Catherine2023-09-03T15:46:03+00:00September 3rd, 2023|
Coffee, Cake and Conversation
Catherine2023-08-20T15:44:02+00:00August 20th, 2023|
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Selling a Place
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 hasn't been
Home Away from Home
For a long weekend, we are catching up with our Belgian ‘family’. We met by chance eight years ago in a New York restaurant bumping elbows and pardoning each other. We have been friends ever since and promised to see each other once a year. Fast forward sixteen months later and here we are in Sint-Margriete walking in to a BnB and feeling instantly at home. It is a beautiful house in the Belgian countryside with all mod cons offering a sense of peace and calm with a perfect blend of all five Feng Shui elements. The Feng Shui Cycle In
It’s Too Darn Hot!
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 Librarian. It's
Move Your Feng Shui!
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 these areas
It’s Summer!
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 about what
Sweet Dreams
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 bodies and
Friends for Dinner
Dinah Washington sang with emphasis, "what a difference, a day makes, 24 little hours..." This song is in my head as I contemplate the past week of positive outcomes. New work projects, new friends by chance and steps forward in the land of French bureaucracy. It looks as if my social security number may be delivered in the next 10 days. Note the word 'may'! My husband's residency card should be picked up at the end of July and we are both completely vaccinated. A yacht cruise with a group we have never met ended up connecting with four new friends
Exterior Harmony
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 in the