Ciao tutti! Welcome to a short series of daily blogs from the centre of Roma! I'm very excited to be here and already exhausted and saturated with new ideas and glimpses of knowledge. Some of you may know that I'm away for this week in Rome courtesy of Northern Bridge, the body through which my … Continue reading Five Days in Rome (Day 1)
The Writing Groove
I've been thinking about writing a post for a few weeks. It's not the one I intended to write. It has been 3.5 months since I started a PhD at Queen's University, Belfast and everything is about writing. I've been on writing courses, I've submitted pieces to be assessed and learned how to handle positive … Continue reading The Writing Groove
The Everydayness of Living to Work…
Living to Work, Working to Live... I'm unsure who coined that pithy phrase but it captures, in its own imperfect way, the dilemma many of us feel about the position of work in our lives; lives for which we have high expectations which 'work', most often, defies with its very everydayness. The very suggestion of … Continue reading The Everydayness of Living to Work…
Culture: Ulster American (Play) at Adelaide Festival
When you're new to a place, you make some schoolboy (or schoolgirl) errors. Mainly schoolboy. Misreading Google Maps is one of those problems. When you want to walk somewhere and switch it on, even though the little torch icon points you in (allegedly) the right direction, I have to set off in a direction before … Continue reading Culture: Ulster American (Play) at Adelaide Festival
Drinks: Hains & Co, Adelaide
Here's a quickie post! Just before meeting my old chum, Toby, on our visit to Apothecary in Adelaide, we arranged to meet up for a beveranda at a hip and happening bar in a formerly unattractive quarter of Adelaide, made over for the purpose. I was a bit early and got chatting to the bar … Continue reading Drinks: Hains & Co, Adelaide
Eating Out: Apothecary, Adelaide
My friend from Anúna days, Toby Gilbert, moved to Adelaide many moons ago where he and his family have settled and I hoped I would get to meet up with him! A visit to 'Apothecary', one of the top-rated spots in Adelaide was it! We were first to arrive into an interesting pharmacy-inspired interior, the … Continue reading Eating Out: Apothecary, Adelaide
Eating Out: Flinders St Project, Adelaide
Everyone knows I am no hipster, neither in demeanour nor intent, and yet I find myself drawn to cafes and eateries frequented by earnest millenials pondering whether THIS smashed avocado surpasses the unexpected finery of a spring pea guacamole at THAT vegan pop-up. Such were the online debates about the Flinders St Project in Adelaide, … Continue reading Eating Out: Flinders St Project, Adelaide
Eating Out: Hey Jupiter, Adelaide
'Hey Jupiter' is not only the name of one of my favourite songs by Tori Amos (click here), but also the name of a French breakfast joint in downtown Adelaide, much recommended. It certainly had the classic good looks of a Parisian street-side scene, if not the crowds milling past, someone smoking a Gitane outside … Continue reading Eating Out: Hey Jupiter, Adelaide
Eating Out: La Rambla, Adelaide
When I arrived into Adelaide, it was a Sunday evening and I was surprised at just how quiet the streets of the city centre were. Later, a friend explained that - at the weekends - the CBD is quiet as most Adelaidians live in one or other suburb and each of those areas has its … Continue reading Eating Out: La Rambla, Adelaide
Tours: McLaren Vale Wine Tour
After a rather disappointing wine tour of the Barossa Valley (click here) and a fun/easy outing to the National Wine Centre, I wondered if I had over-organised by booking three wine trips in a week in Adelaide?! I waited outside my hotel for the bus to arrive... no bus, but a tall and heavyset gentleman … Continue reading Tours: McLaren Vale Wine Tour