One of the beautiful mysteries of travel is that we often end up meeting fascinating people who teach us things we never expected to learn. That is how Ethan ended up learning to cook authentic Chinese cuisine during his time studying in Germany – a practice that created not only a long lasting bond of friendship, but also a new love of a cuisine that was once foreign, but became as familiar as his own.

A grateful arrivederci to the place and the people I love the most. (Don’t worry, Meet Me at the Long Table isn’t going anywhere; I’ll just be a bit more remote than usual).

Fairytales speak to us in certain ways – to many they are an escape, a fantasy filled with magic, adventure and love. However, they can prove to be allegorical – and can reach into your life unexpectedly. Such is the case with my friend Alyse and the story of Snow White, a fairytale she never understood until she had to open her own cottage door to an intruder that she both trusted and feared, a decision she found she had not any more say in than Snow White herself.

A story of memories of the West – this time from another generation and perspective. A sixty year journey through the great outdoors – from a wild youth to later adventures with family and how life changes and grows in the best possible ways.