An Elephant in my Suitcase
I am a child of Africa, born in Zimbabwe and grew up on a beautiful tobacco and cattle farm. I’ve moved countless times and do not really know where I want to put down my forever roots.
My stories are short spurts of adventures through life all over, how and where I travel, funny happenings and the harsh reality of depression who most of us have met.
You are here to escape the humdrum of life and boring chores in small bites, between hanging the washing and going to the next office meeting.
You’ll discover I am cautious though adventurous. An extroverted introvert. And, just like you, hungry to discover new things, the why of the way we feel, new cultures and countries – and hey, ho – everyday life through fresh eyes.
My packing advice is to take your passport, medical kit, credit card .. and your smile.
Welcome all Flying Sardines
Fasten your seatbelts …... for some on-board ramblings. Let me introduce to you to lovely Peach Piche, the owner of Fresh Eyes and founder of Drinkerbell (founded after her daughter's drink was spiked). Peach has a humour to wish for and contagious enthusiasm for life...
Zagreb’s gastronomical delights
She was just a whistle stop who has a never ending story of gastronomical delights, ancient buildings, friendly people and – well, more delicious food. What a wonderful surprise awaited us, who would have guessed us eating our way around the beautiful capital of Croatia
She slips off her old coat to reveal a beautiful ballerina
Arriving in Sofia was a shocking disappointment yesterday. However, today we discovered a beautiful City of dancing children, vibrant streets and souls from a bygone era. Tree lined streets scattered cafes and wine bars like stardust everywhere. Come walk with me
Sofia, Bulgaria – a princess in a beggars coat
Expectations run high when one is told a place is beautiful and amazing. Upon arrival we find a dirty crowded dump and were lost because everything is written in a foreign language but there is always light at the end of the tunnel
One disastrous night in Budapest, Hungary
Have you ever messed up your accommodation dates? I’ll tell you how we earned that awful T’Shirt. A night of roaches, rats, bats, gnats but sadly no party hats
Jumping Buskers, Aquamarine Emerald Waters, Starlight nights – Mostar I love you
She watches, the Stari Most Bridge presides over history – past and present. Talk to strangers to find the hidden gems of the world. See what we found, come and walk the stone cobbled streets of Mostar, Bosnia, with me. The most beautiful small city we’ve ever visited.
Love locks and secrets whisper over River Miljacka, Sarajevo
Sarajevo – as I cross the River Miljacka, where east meets west, I tumble my fingers over many rusty love locks intertwined onto the bridge railings – wondering what secrets they, and the capital city of Bosnia & Herzegovina, have to share with me on this journey
Plunged into the World of Technology and Computer Jargon
I plunged myself into the depths of IT and into the bowels of computer speak, media platforms and all sorts of scary stuff that made no sense…. just to begin a blog…. to keep the brain active after 50-something
New Beginnings, adventuring into the heart of the name of my blog
You have asked “why did you name your blog An Elephant in my Suitcase” which is not all about elephant, though I love these giants of the wild, but stories of my life and travel memoirs. Thank you for the question
Are you misunderstood, confused, lost and lonely
Are our brains like Gearboxes – made of different substances, with cogs and teeth missing here and there?Some are perfect and the best of the best. Some don’t quite fit. Who of us are misunderstood and struggle to find our way, becoming lost and lonely? Maybe most of us actually feel like a palm trees in a tornado.
What habits make you mad?
Maddening bad habits thread through my story,
some are irritating, others grossly gory.
Come have a laugh,
between eating lunch and managing your staff.
Introducing Ralph Sibande, my Guest Writer
Introducing a humble guest writer who ‘sings’ stories. He has a large following throughout South Africa, in fact also around the world, amongst fellow bush lovers and visitors to the Kruger National Park.
An Elephant in my Suitcase features at least one story a month for your enjoyment.
Thank you Ralph Sibande
Keep on keeping on
World Elephant Day
Hi, are you here because you love elephant? World Elephant has just passed and each year I summarise the progress or deterioration of the care of or destruction of these wonderful giants. We need to be the voices for our wildlife.
Are you keeping secrets
Life is full of twists and turns, changes and crossroads. How we adapt is all in our attitude, and perhaps some guidance from the secrets that are written into our hands. Welcome to my new journey with An Elephant in my Suitcase
The smell of a new box of chocolates
These are some of our favourite things. A whiff of the ocean, the delightful aroma of a newly opened box of chocolates and freshly cut grass ….
Etched into the palm of your hands, your life
When quirky things fascinate a person, set them free to learn & discover. Are you aware of the special story engrained in the lines running through your hands, your skin and even the moons in peeping through your nails! Stop thinking hocus pocus and be sensible – they are there just as skin blemishes show sun damage and liver spots from lifestyle and genetic make up. Pop on over for a read
The wonderful life of being a woman
The trials and tribulations of public toilets when you are a woman. Take a glimpse into the hilarious challenges women face when using public amenities
Brain Fog 2021, squirrel meat and epic auto correct fails
When your story goes pear shaped because the distractions have you laughing so much, you have to share
Our New World, Beginning the Year of 2020
A recap of the changing world 2019, 2020 – 2021, as the coronavirus has hit us like a tsunami and lockdowns began, churning our lives about and changing the new normal. Where to from here? How about some pot !?
fiddling fat cats, barking dogs, jumping cows & a new moon
At Autumnal Eqinox in the Southern Hemisphere cows line up to jump over the moon at midnight. A bit of fun and silliness in this crazy Covid restricted world.
In Love With Magical Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik with a difference because we go with the flow when we travel and discover unusual places secretly hiding amongst milling tourists and lovers loving. Oh, but the steps, oh no the millions of steps! !
Coffee – that golden magic
Say what, said the monkey to the kangaroo..... Well, hello again - coffee drinkers - and a few teapots and some teetotalers. You will regret abstaining from alcohol when you visit us for a dinner with more than 5 other people - remember, dog pellets served with warm...
Did you hear what happened?
When life throws you lemons, make lemonade. That is the best motto in the whole wide world. My home, the hats I wear and midnight dances at our nursery – all keeping social media and my friends entertained.
How do you cope when your whole world goes dim?
When that black dog haunts our lives and invades the light, bringing dark dreary empty days that blend into each other. May I suggest a few things that help me, no quick fix but any light through those clouds helps.
Cappuccino Coffee on the move
Driving instructions & learning to be a Barista level out the playing fields And so it goes………… “Oh, through a veil of mist Sipho asks – “so what do you think you did wrong there?”. Wrong there – flip I’m trying to put the indicator on, watch the road,...
The fascinating world of longest & most intriguing words
Discovering words is intriguing and makes one realise how basic and limited our everyday spoken language use is. Read about the longest words to the hysterical phobias to words using only vowels or only consonants. Whoopee, come & coddiwomple in the dictionary with me a while.
Love, friendship, last Christmas & midnight champagne
Drifting through Christmas into New Year with ‘Dinner for One’, grounding poetry and peculiar 2020 most popular google words – just 5 minutes to stop, breathe, contemplate?
Episode 1 – Horse, hound & a man went to the desert
Three best friends travel to the desert, mesmerised by murmurations of birds, scorched by searing sun, dreaming starlit dreams, meeting strange people and heading into an almighty storm – an analogy – nature vs life
HSP, my Doggie and Me
Can you hear your pet talk? Do you listen to their thoughts and follow their guidance? Stop, hear and love. Let them take your hand in time of need – they are here for you too. Oh we are so blessed to share our lives with dogs and cats and … horses too.
A blend of Highly Sensitive people, Coffee and Me
In a world where life becomes a bit hairy because the volume has been turned too high, you smell smells acutely & things taste wierd. Too much is going on at one time …. in a rush and your mind turns to mush. Relax, have a look at yourself & laugh. It’s not that bad. Maybe you are a little different (and that is okay), or a family member is – or perhaps a friend. Time to understand HSP and no coffee.
Mozambique, Africa
Plagues of Africa, experienced in Moz on this trip. Mosquitoes, floods and traffic police. Mix in the ingredients of smiles, cashew nuts and perfect seaside. Oh what a mix of colours, tastes, sounds and feelings.
Belly Dancing and Baklava in Istanbul
Glorious Istanbul, a mish mash of cultures, food, people and tourists – a place that just works whomever you are. The days of travel without complications, taking in sights, sounds and being overwhelmed by salesmen and gorgeous cats