This week, my son's teacher sent us a recipe for Christmas honey biscuits which I thought would make a nice (if a little messy) activity over the weekend. I was not wrong. This is a fun and easy recipe to make with children, but be warned - things could get messy... Ingredients I've called the... Continue Reading →
Postcards from Slovenia #37: Winter Wonderland
I was surprised by how quickly winter descended upon our area as we entered the fourth week of lockdown. I've found it quite enchanting as I haven't seen a hard frost like this for years. Even in the UK before we left for Spain, 'cold and frosty mornings' were a rarity. Here, the temperature doesn't... Continue Reading →
The Quarantine Diaries #34: Chronicles of Lockdownia
Winter has come to the mythical kingdom of Lockdownia, coating the shadow side of the valley in glittering fairy dust. Surely some subtle magic is afoot. As crimson light gilds the high peaks to the North and the moon rises, the Queen grows weary. It has been a week of ups and downs in the... Continue Reading →
Slovene Cuisine #7: Wine List
I've brought you starters, main courses and deserts, so now it's time to take a look at Slovenia's wine list. No culinary tour of Slovenia would be complete without a visit to its wine making regions. History of winemaking in Slovenia Modern-day winemaking in Slovenia. Slovenia's best-kept culinary secret is its wine. Wine has been... Continue Reading →
Postcards from Slovenia #36: The Sava Bohinjka River
The Sava Bohinjka river in Northern Slovenia flows from springs fed by the Triglav Lakes Valley down the Komarca Cliff as the majestic Slap Savica then on into Lake Bohinj. From here it emerges in the village of Ribcev Laz and continues to flow through the valley connecting Bohinj with Bled, skirting the latter lake... Continue Reading →
dVerse Haibun Monday: Old Friends
This near-winter time of year when the nights draw in: I never was a big fan. In fact, typically sadness, fear and age-old anxiety would always hit around this time. I had a taste of it in October, when many days were overcast and cloudy, but oh, what a cold and crystal clear November we've... Continue Reading →
The Quarantine Diaries #33: The brighter side of lockdown
I'm happy to report that I'm feeling much better than I did when I sat down to write the previous diary entry. PMDD has left the building, and so has my mother-in-law, though I must say that the symptoms of the former eased considerably the moment that the latter left. I still struggled with the... Continue Reading →
Postcards from Slovenia #35 The Vrata Valley
The Vrata Valley is one of the most spectacular glacial valleys in the Julian Alps. This valley begins in the town of Mojstrana close to Kranjska Gora, and ends abruptly in the north wall of Slovenia's highest mountain, Triglav. Although it provides a door (literally vrata) to the highest of the Julian Alps, the valley... Continue Reading →
The Quarantine Diaries #32: The ‘How-not-to’ of Lockdown Parenting
I must admit, this week has been something of a car crash for me. My first piece of advice to you in this 'How-not-to' of lockdown parenting would be 'Don't have PMDD;' the second 'don't invite your mother-in-law if you do.' Trials, tribulations and triggers We talk a lot about triggers these days when it... Continue Reading →
Slovene Cuisine #6: Gibanica
Gibanica is possibly the most calorie-dense cake in the world. Perfect for when you've just climbed a towering Alpine peak. Or maybe you just have a craving for something decadently indulgent. If so, read on to find out more. Prekmurska Gibanica Prekmurska Gibanica, to give the desert its full title, originates from the Prekmurje region... Continue Reading →