Catherine Berry's Blog

 Burgundian countrysideKate, it is hard to believe that it has been nearly two years since we last chatted about your French journey. At that time, you and your husband, Nathan, were navigating visa constraints and travelling back and forth between your homes in Australia and France. However, following you on Instagram, I know that there has been an exciting development in your French lives

In Part One of my interview with Clare, we learn why it had to be France for her family, we read her excellent pre-departure tips, she shares the decision-making process which led them to Bordeaux, and hear how her children adapted to life in a new country and language.Today, we discover if the family's French journey is set to continue and her advice to other families who are dreaming of a new

Clare, it has been lovely connecting with you. Thank you for participating in my occasional series, ‘Australians in France.’ I can relate to so much of what you have written - and I am sure that anyone who is thinking of a move to France will appreciate your thoughts on your experience so far. Clare can be found on Instagram @mme_cabernet_franks.Please enjoy Part One of our

On the way up or down?Not many writers have the career highlights to which Jack Heath can lay claim. Notably, how many of us have submitted a manuscript, our first, and had it picked up by a traditional publisher? Quite a few, you might suggest. Yes, yes. But how many of those lucky ones had their first manuscript picked up by a traditional publisher at the age of seventeen? I wouldn’t have a

The bright orange flickers behind the solid oven door in the kitchen looked to be up to the task. The thermometer, unmoved at 13.9 degrees Celsius, stated otherwise.We had had notification of this power outage three times previously with three subsequent reprieves. So, I was mildly optimistic that life on this cold winter’s day in the mountains would again be uninterrupted.Nonetheless, cautious,

Finding the blue sky on a brisk winter's day. Holyrood PalaceSpotify CEO Daniel Ek’s comment that the “cost of creating ‘content’ is close to zero” was recently passed under my nose. On the nose, I’d suggest is more accurate. For whom exactly is the cost close to zero? Could it be that Monsieur Ek is suggesting that every minute, hour, week -nay year- that I spend as a creative,

The last few weeks haven’t been easy, and a few nights ago I was super keen for an early night and a comforting distraction. Whilst I am reading an excellent book that would have taken me someplace else, I did what I often do and picked up my phone to scroll my Instagram feed.“Hai le fette di salame sugli occhi.” – (You have slices of salami on your eyes)  Well, OK, Instagram square.

Talloires under the snow'The review is in Swedish and I've made a quick attempt to find a translation without success.''Send me the link,' my husband texted, from five-thousand kilometres away.'I'd say the listener thinks that you have a nice smile and good arm muscles,' he quipped.'Ha. I'll take that,' I wrote back, chuckling to myself.It had been a couple of weeks since the audiobook version of

 Yes. Italy.There, I said it. You are my witnesses. Many of you know our story: that of a young Australian family with three school-aged children who went to France for a year, stayed for much longer than that, and brought France forever more into their hearts. There, we learned to live with passion and joy - savouring moments differently; appreciating tastes and sounds more intensely; developing

Stormy days. Stormy nights ‘I need help,’ the text message read.We had chatted on the phone not long before and my daughter’s weary voice had clearly conveyed the pain that she was in and the effort that walking the few steps in the heat uphill to her room in Corfu would require. Signing off, she had promised that she would remain where she was until she felt that she had the necessary