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February 21, 2021

Coffee and a Catch Up 04

21st February 2021
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Making being grateful a habit has had a *grate* bi Making being grateful a habit has had a *grate* big impact on my mental health and now I practice gratitude everrry day.

Right now I'm grateful for:
• Pilates this morning giving me a much needed stretch out
• A lovely evening with friends
• My parents having their covid vaccines
• Another day of the weekend ✨

Sharing some tips + why gratitude is important on my latest blog. Link in bio. What are you grateful for? Tell me 1 (or more!) things in the comments 🌼
Afternoon light hitting just right ✨ (feat. an a Afternoon light hitting just right ✨
(feat. an air purifier and mask because this is 2021 Hanoi)

Forever using tea towels as wall hangings. No regrets ✌🏼
Grateful for these pretty little blossoms for brig Grateful for these pretty little blossoms for brightening up the balcony on even the greyest of days 🌸

What brightens your days at home?

Have a lovely Tuesday ☺️
Slow Sundays 🌿 What are you doing with your Su Slow Sundays 🌿

What are you doing with your Sunday?

Every day this week has felt like a Sunday since we've been off work and self-isolating. That's okay because I think Sunday is my favourite day. Curling up with a hot chocolate & a good book has been just lovely ✨

New Coffee and a Catch Up blog just went up - link in bio. 🌼
My little neighbourhood looks so much prettier in My little neighbourhood looks so much prettier in the sunshine. Today's been very grey; I'd like some rays tomorrow please!☀️

Hanoi is such a hodge podge of new & old buildings side by side. It adds to the charm for sure.

See that tall building on the right? The whole front of that has been demolished. It used to be a theatre and is a huge building! When we moved in, we were worried about construction noise (which is everywhere in Hanoi tbh) but we've been in this apartment since August and it's been abandoned the whole time.

I wondered whether it might be renovated into something like The Apartment Cafes in Saigon. That would've been cool. Perfect building for it (says me, with no knowledge of architecture). But no, for now, it's just an old, interesting building with the front pulled off.
It's Pancake Day! And in celebration of this speci It's Pancake Day! And in celebration of this special day, I've written two blog posts. Yes, two. That's how important Pancake Day is to me. 

🥞 One contains my tried and tested vegan pancake recipe. No funny egg substitutes here, I promise. Whether you're vegan or not, give these a try. I'm not actually vegan myself (I'm trying!), but now I've tried these, I honestly don't think anyone needs to be using eggs + dairy milk to make them! Give them a whirl and let me know what you think!

🥞 The other is entitled 'The Joy of Pancake Day' and is a look back at my the pancakes of my past. It's about why Pancake Day is so important to me - the reason being something I hadn't quite realised until today.

Will you be celebrating Pancake Day today? Breakfast, dinner or both?! And what is your topping of choice?

We've done breakfast & will have a few more after dinner. I'm a syrup or sugar & lemon gal!
Self-isolating for a few days thanks to a trip to Self-isolating for a few days thanks to a trip to Starbucks ☕*

So so lucky that I haven't had to do this since last May. Also so lucky that we moved flat and now have this open view & a couple of balconies instead so we can still get some air.

However, I'll be honest, it's 8:30pm. I'm still in my PJs. I've only done 1000 steps because all I've done all day is a jigsaw (1000 pieces smashed in a day ✌🏼).

So, I know isolation isn't the dream thing to be an expert in, but for the seasoned pros - some advice please? I won't be working til next Monday so best isolation tips + kindle/Netflix/online course suggestions please! And things that don't involve a screen!

---

*someone who lives in the building that Starbucks is in tested positive, so anyone who went there (or elsewhere in the high rise building) has to self-isolate for 2 weeks. Sounds a bit dramatic but it's this approach that seems to have worked in Vietnam 🤞🏼🤞🏼
Another landscape design! Where does this bring to Another landscape design! Where does this bring to mind for you? 🦀🐚🌊

This piece is inspired by Quy Nhon, a small, coastal city often missed by tourists visiting Vietnam. However, I wanted to keep these landscapes open to interpretation. A picture of Quy Nhon to me might awaken memories of somewhere completely different to you.

Quy Nhon is host to some of my favourite coast line in Vietnam. Here are some words I wrote during my time there last summer:

"Bright blue skies and golden sand. Turquoise waves that lap against the shore, breathing in and breathing out. Craggy rocks jut out of the beach, beautiful shells are dotted around the sand and fishing boats scatter the waters. The cool sea breeze blows on my face as I read in the pool and I gaze out at the tropical landscape at the end of every page.

The sea touches the shore gently, yet just metres out, the waves are larger. We swim, we splash, we surf (without boards, which isn’t all that successful to be honest). The warm water is a haven from the heat of the air, and we lie back and float, bobbing about on the waves.

My favourite colours, my favourite landscape, my favourite sounds. A beautiful place to be."

(More words about destinations in Vietnam are on my blog under 'A Postcard From...')
Chúc mừng năm mới! Happy Lunar New Year / Te Chúc mừng năm mới! Happy Lunar New Year / Tet to anyone celebrating!
In Hanoi, the pagodas have been busy, the áo dàis are our and the kumquat trees and cherry blossoms have been lining the streets 🐂🎉🎊🎆
I hope 2021 & the year of the ox is kind to us all xxxx
In case you missed yesterday's blog post... I've g In case you missed yesterday's blog post... I've got something to tell you! I'm moving back home after 3 years in Vietnam! 🇬🇧🇻🇳 

I'm not going til June so I'll continue posting allll the Vietnam pics & coffee shop recs (obvs) for the next few months (any beyond, let's be honest). Hope you'll stick around for the ride! ✌🏼

I'm nervous and excited. There are many reasons why I want to go back, but many, many things I'll miss from Vietnam too. I feel so lucky that I've been able to make this crazy city, this beautiful country, my home away from home. ✨

More info on my blog - link in bio x
In Hanoi, some buildings are like Jenga towers, li In Hanoi, some buildings are like Jenga towers, little bits sticking out here and there, yet still standing tall and proud.

I used to live near this building and have recently driven past a few times. Every time I see it, it makes me smile. The crumbling colours and the nooks and crannies; it reminds me you don't need to be perfect to be pretty ✨ 

Ps, new blog post up. Nothing to do with buildings but just wanted to share! Link in bio as usual!
#homesroundhere
Mai Chau is a place I've visited, and could visit, Mai Chau is a place I've visited, and could visit, over & over & over again. It's a breath of fresh air compared to the city and - though a long drive - is a perfect rural weekender from Hanoi. 🌱

I've been lucky enough to visit Mai Chau at various times of year; the photos above show autumn, late summer, early summer and spring respectively.

The district is full of rice paddies which sit in valleys between the rugged mountains. In the photos, you can see the distinct phases of rice production in the paddies. Germination in the water, the vegetive phase as the seedling grows, the lush green plants as they become fully grown. 

🔥 Then the burning comes. Following harvesting, farmers burn what's left on the fields, ready to begin again.

Rice is important here. It's a huge industry, and many livelihoods depend on it. Many meals depend on it too - it's a staple. 🍚

Which photo of Mai Chau do you prefer? Which phase would you most like to see?
A little digital update of a painting I did last s A little digital update of a painting I did last summer, inspired by Mai Chau. Mai Chau is a beautiful, rural, green & luscious spot I've spent a few weekends in to get away from the hustle & bustle of the city. 🌱

The paddies, plants, trees and mountains all around are offer the perfect escape into nature.

~ I did lots of these artworks of various places in Vietnam last summer. Let me know in the comments if you'd like to see more of them turned digital! 

Half term has just begun for me and I'm excited for a couple of weeks writing, drawing, eating, sleeping, reading & relaxing. I hope you're all having a lovely Friday too. Enjoy the weekend xxx
Throwback to an October evening in Mai Chau, cycli Throwback to an October evening in Mai Chau, cycling through rice paddy fields, pastel skies moving slowly overhead, laughing along with two of my favourite people. Hills & mountains surround the pockets of human life nestled within the valleys, as crickets and birds remind us of the wilderness all around. 

An evening reconnecting with nature. That's what I enjoyed then, and what I'd love to have again now. 🌱

#homesroundhere
Life on the train tracks 🚃 A few weeks ago we Life on the train tracks 🚃

A few weeks ago we walked across Long Bien bridge, a Hanoi icon. 

It's a railway bridge with a road either side for motorbikes. No cars allowed. For 2 people scared of heights and on a windy day, it was a tad sketchy. It's a long bridge (almost 2km) crossing over the Red River and 'Banana Island'. Still, it showed parts of Hanoi I've never seen, so I'm pleased we went. I loved seeing the buildings that stand at the sides with their rickety roofs and terraces full of plants. 
~
After the covid outbreak on Thursday, Hanoi has shut all schools, so today I was working from home and teaching online. Fingers crossed the quick decisions and procedures like this pay off.
January in Hanoi in 4 emojis: 😷🌫️☁️🍊 (a kumquat, not an orange)

A new monthly blog series in which I dive into the realities of that month in Hanoi, looking at things like pollution, traffic, weather and festivities. 

Link in bio! ✨

Enjoy the rest of your Sundays, lovelies! xxx
Slow Saturdays, with a pinch of sweetness. 🌼 A Slow Saturdays, with a pinch of sweetness. 🌼

A lazy morning in a cosy bed. A quick tidy up + setting the washing off spinning. Mixing up a batter. Singing along to Dermot Kennedy and Tay. Vegan banana & choc chip pancakes ~ stacked up just for us.

(I got so excited for the pancakes that I moved as soon as I pressed the shutter button.)
Well, covid has made its way back into Vietnam and Well, covid has made its way back into Vietnam and today marked the first community outbreak in months. Already, the affected town (in Hai Duong) has been locked down for 21 days, thousands are being tested and areas are being mass disinfected.

There are now suspected cases in Hanoi too, so we'll see how things go. Streets have been closed as testing takes place.

This country works fast. Let's hope it pays off again. Stay safe everyone 💛 🇻🇳🇻🇳🇻🇳

(News source @vne_international)

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