Jan 5
The weather here in Lithuania is currently not playing ball. I was promised discreet seasons – snow, spring, sun, autumn. That was the deal. That was why I left rainy ole Ireland. (Well, no, but it was certainly part of it!) Read more
The veg patch has been ploughed, the clocks have rolled back and the flocks of geese and cranes have ceased their noisy flyovers on their way to warmer parts. A cosy space has been prepared in a shed for our beautiful goat, Julė, to spend her nights protected from the cold and rain, and with the feast of Samhain, we enter the dark half of the year. Read more
Capturing birds is not easy, especially in the late evening when they are busy feeding. They hover, they flap and flutter, they swoop and dive, they peck, they look around in rapid jerks, constantly on alert for predators or provisions. They are never still. Read more
Winter can be dull and gloomy, especially after the festive lights of Christmas have come down. Days are short and cold. Snow falls, making simple jobs like walking the dog or getting to the shops more difficult. But then the sun comes out. And magic happens… Read more
For our honeymoon we went to South Africa. We drove from Cape Town through the beautiful winelands Stellenbosch and Franschhoek to Oudtshoorn, where I sampled ostrich and crocodile for the first time. (Both were delicious!) While in Cape Town we drove south to the Cape of Good Hope. A small funicular brought us to the top of the point, where we found a signpost with distances to various destinations. Here’s a small selection of photos (taken with an old camera, so please excuse the quality), including one with my new name! Read more
India has been on my bucket list for many years, primarily as a food destination. I watched Rick Stein and Gordon Ramsay travel around India in search of authentic Indian dishes. I was enchanted by the diversity of both the food and the landscape. I felt I would never get true Indian food anywhere except in India, no matter how many cookbooks I bought or restaurants I visited. I would have to go there myself. Read more
Lithuanian graveyards are bustling at this time of year, not with the dead (as some movies might suggest), but with the living. In every town, in every village, people gather in graveyards to tidy graves in preparation for All Souls’ Day (Vėlinės). Read more
I’ve been sitting here quietly for so long even I’ve forgotten I’m here. I had dressed snugly for the cold October weather and warmth of the sun on my dark down coat is having a soporific effect. I’m awake but not fully aware as I gaze out from the high hide on the scene around me, patiently waiting for wildlife to appear. Read more
It’s curious how seemingly ordinary and even mundane moments can bring on a flash of nostalgia. Twice a day I walk the dog around our beautiful village. I never find it boring – there are always new things to see, whether it’s the coming and going of storks, the gradual change of the seasons, the cutting of hay and other crops or the sound of a pair of hedgehogs engaged in mating calls. There are lots of animals – at least one dog in every home, cats, ducks, geese, frogs, birds – but yesterday it was this horse that caught my eye and sent me into a kink of laughter. Read more
My first courgette (zucchini) flower of the season. Pure beauty. Read more
He’s getting older by the day. We can see it in his face. His eyes look tired and a little melancholic. Except, that is, when it’s time for a walk or when he’s presented with a juicy bone. His freckles and grey hairs have become more prominent, giving him the look of a wise old man. We can see it in his energy levels and the amount of time he spends napping. He’s nearly 100 in dog years so he’s doing well to be as fit and able as he is. But he’s slowing down. He’s well loved and contented. What a lovely old face he has. Read more
Winter changed to spring overnight, like someone flipped a switch. One day it was dark and grey with a distinct chill during the day and ground frost at night. The next day the sky was clear blue and temperatures hit 22˚ C (72˚ F). It was time, finally, to get out into the garden and start planting. While I was ankle and wrist-deep in earth, life sprung up all around me. The grass grew thick and lush, heavily peppered with blazing yellow dandelions. Here and there, pockets of blue and pink flowers added colour, while large white daisies looked pure and serene against their tangled green backdrop. What a beautiful office I have. Read more
A clear blue sky can be a thing of beauty. It brings warmth, clear air and a bright, happy mood. But sometimes a dark and sinister sky can be far more interesting. I find myself weaving tales as I look at these photos – will Thor suddenly appear with his mighty hammer, will a truck pull up to plant some meteorological measuring device into the centre of the impending cyclone, or will the houses simply lift and spin upwards into the sky, leaving grey Kansas for a Technicolor land of magic and munchkins. Read more
My Food Odyssey 