It’s Easter today, so I thought a quick little eggy post was in order. In Lagos the Easter eggs used to melt and go hard, melt and go hard, melt and go hard. By the time you got your hands on them they were often deformed, out of date and had that attractive mottled quality… Continue reading Let’s Talk about Eggs
Author: Expatorama
From dodging stray bullets in Lagos, to dodging stray cats in Istanbul, we are now getting cosy in Jozi. Far flung travels and further fetched tales of expat life.
When in Rome
It’s always good manners to try to respect and - when possible - embrace any local traditions in your temporary home country. But what would YOU do if you were asked to join in the NokNok Celebration with Nzeddele tribe? At the end of the summer months South Africa’s little known Nzeddele Tribe gives thanks… Continue reading When in Rome
South African Spiders: Cute as a Button Spider
South Africa is, depending on one's point of view, either blessed or infested with an astonishing variety of arachnids. At least 2000 different types have been recorded. So, in addition our other wildlife encounters here: (Pickle being pinned to a rock by a lion cub, snake infested garages, snakes that are in fact not snakes… Continue reading South African Spiders: Cute as a Button Spider
Water Awareness
It was gold, not water that drew people here in droves. Johannesburg is the only major city in the world that is not built close to a large source of water. Landlocked, it is about as far from the sea as it could be in South Africa and there are no large rivers or lakes here.… Continue reading Water Awareness
In England’s Green and Pleasant Land
Whenever we’ve been away from the UK for any length of time, the last line of William Blake’s Jerusalem comes to me unbidden and starts looping in my head as the plane circles above a patchwork of luscious green landscape below. "In England's green and pleasant land" chimes over and over in a happy way.… Continue reading In England’s Green and Pleasant Land
Not so Plane Sailing
Have you ever flown with children? Have you ever flown on your own with children? Don’t unless you have to. It is the curse of the expat wife. I remember somebody once asking my husband what it was like to fly with the kids. “Oh, it’s no bother”, he replied breezily. Yes, that would be… Continue reading Not so Plane Sailing
Arctic Africa: A Johannesburg Winter
If you're wondering whether a Johannesburg winter is cold, the word on the street is that we are living in Arctic Africa this week. A cold front has whipped up here on chilly Cape Town winds. Winter is here. All in the Same Storm, Not all in the Same Boat Just to be clear, before… Continue reading Arctic Africa: A Johannesburg Winter
Testing the Water
Delhi – India, Circa 2003 Water bottles and glasses were placed the length of the table. We must have been a group of 20 or 30. A party of groggy Brits just landed in Delhi for a wedding. We were having a welcome meal with a few of the Delhi Rellies before the formal celebrations began. I… Continue reading Testing the Water
Endless Summer, Broad Horizons
So, one year into our South African adventure (July 2014) and we are all enjoying our time here, but it is unquestionably the children who are having the time of their little lives. Scarce an eyelid is batted at the power cuts, traffic jams, street hawkers or shacks. They do ask questions about the poverty and disfunctionality they encounter,… Continue reading Endless Summer, Broad Horizons
The Hunt for Red October
“Please could you pick me up some new shoelaces if you’re going to the mall today?” Mr Incredible tossed the tiny challenge lightly over his shoulder on his way out the door. At face value this was one of Mr I’s most simple requests. Arriving at the mall I made a beeline for the first… Continue reading The Hunt for Red October
Expatorama 