Writer, EFL teacher, trainer, and translator, I was born in Tanzania, have lived in a dozen countries over three continents, and describe myself as an ‘expatriate sin patria’. Wherever I go I make it my business to learn the language, get to know the local people and customs, and discover the country’s remotest corners. I became interested in writing in mid-2006, did a short Open University creative writing course and a Writers’ Bureau course, and began getting articles published in 2007.

=> Read more!

If you'd like to see some photos of my horse trekking experience in the Lake Region of Argentina, click here:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=44859&l=6e4cb&id=664241054

To see the hotel where we stayed, and surroundings, click here:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=44872&l=567fe&id=664241054

...or I may have got those back to front!

(First published in the Buenos Aires Herald, June 2008)
With a lot of encouragement, Luna, my nag, carried my to the top of Cerro Belvedere, from where the view was unbelievable. Is cobalt the colour I mean? No, I don´t think cobalt is as clear. Aquamarine? Or maybe there´s a colour called Argentine Late Summer Lake Blue´ You´ll understand when I get home,and upload some photos.

=> Read more!

Dear Friends,

The biggest challenges of this holiday are a) finding vegetarian food other than pizza, and b) doing my leg exercises.

=> Read more!

Our seasons are upside down in Montevideo, Uruguay. The palo borracho trees lining the avenues splash into impressionistic rosy bloom in mid-February, summoning sun-parched holidaymakers back to the city from the beach resorts. The days are getting shorter, deserted offices and stores open up again, and stationers’ shops buzz with mums and kids buying the latest fad in schoolbags and felt tips. A week after the schools open, the clocks go back, and yet another hour of sunshine is lost.

=> Read more!

First of all, apologies to David and Marit who have serious knee problems – my saga is inconsequential in comparison. But the knee and its knoblessness have dominated much of my last couple of months.

=> Read more!

Well, there I was blogging away on Greta (my brand-new Gateway laptop) this morning when suddenly it all started closing down on me 'saving settings', jingles, the lot, down to black screen and restart. What button did I touch by mistake? And is there no easy way to transfer everything from my old computer?

=> Read more!

Some of you may remember my 'How the other half live' piece, about the project where I help out. The link (if this works) is http://www.writelink.co.uk/blogs/Chausiku?p=1321&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1#more1321
The piece has been accepted for publication by 'The Oldie' in their expat column. And you may remember a story (no link - I've censored it!) in which Pru is hoping to wheedle some funds from someone for one of her good causes...Anyway

=> Read more!