I’m a special kind of friend. The kind who takes joy in seeing those close to her somewhat uncomfortable, a little on edge and, at times, down right mad. This is only for certain and very specific occasions. Like a Stagette (Hens) weekend planned for a special person in my life. Enter Ms Terri Chaffey. Terri is probably my polar opposite in many ways. This was brought to light one day when we were making a birthday card for a mutual friend. I filled it with so many colourful, swirly stamps that it made Terri physically anxious. The idea of straight lines and empty spaces makes her excited. Terri is…

   In the past two weeks, the three of us have been pushing the boundaries of food and wine consumption. The space I’d made for cheese and bread in Brisbane has been suitably filled in France. I can officially declare a love affair with French bread and butter. And cheese. And all forms of cured meats that go with all of the above. Did I mention the wine? Yes, that too. I am in a polyamorous relationship with French cuisine. Happily, we are all okay with it.  My last night in France finds us staying the the Champagne region and we have a full day to fill with whatever we…

What does one say about spending three days in Paris? My running path took me through the Tuileries gardens, popping out by the Lourve, before running across and along the Seine and back up to Monte Marte. The running faces were the same, the scenery slightly more cultured! When I first visited Beth in Edinburgh in 2009 on my way to the Canada the first time, I fell in love with the notion that all of these buildings had been touched, trodden and tended to over the centuries prior to me laying eyes on them. I would pause whilst standing on a set of stairs in an apartment building and…