I almost never “talk politics” here on Just Frances, but today I am making an exception. Because today is a hard day for me, as…
I am a goal-setter and, mostly, a goal-getter. But sometimes I set too many overly ambitious goals, and I struggle to meet them. It’s not…
For 2024, I set out to breathe new life into old things, and I managed that – although it will be an ongoing objective as…
As I sit on the entrance ramp towards 2025, it’s time to look back at the road I travelled in 2024 and all the goodness*…
Today is International Pronouns Day, so please let me introduce myself to you, again. (And again.) Hello, my name is Frances, and my pronouns are…
Today marks 19 years since I became Mrs Ryan. And much like every year when this day comes around, I am feeling quite sad that…
Today marks 15 years since my husband’s death and that means I am doing a lot of reflecting. Some of that reflection is about the…
It’s been four years since the world stopped and mass isolations began to take place in many nations and communities. Indeed, my own COVID isolation…
Time is a funny thing. It can fly by at supersonic speeds, or be slowed to a crawl. And sometimes, it feels like both speeds…
And so, it begins. I am now a quinquagenarian; more commonly known as a human in their 50s. This is not a bad thing to…
Today marks two years since my mother died and I am still heartbroken. She was my friend as much as my mother and her absence…
With the start of the new year, it’s time to start thinking about new things. New goals, new adventures, and new life. In recent years,…
My overarching goal for 2023 was “simply me”. The objective was to focus on my needs and to prioritise them a bit (something I have…
With 2023 slowly crawling to an end, it’s time to reflect on the year so that I can step boldly into 2024 in just a…
It has been more than 22 years since I first arrived in Scotland, and now it’s time to test my knowledge of this place I…
Twenty-two years ago, I arrived in Scotland to begin a one-year study abroad programme. It is sometimes hard to believe that it was that long…
Another year has passed without my beloved husband and my heart aches from his absence these 14 years. Yes, the pain is softer now. But…
I found a photo of Mum a couple of months ago, taken the day after her 48th birthday. As I looked at it, I smiled…
It’s been a year since my mother died. A year without her laughter. A year without her smile. A year without her friendship. It’s been…
Food is an important part of my life. Not just for the nutritional necessities or the flavourful enjoyment, but for the social and cultural importance…