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Tag: traditions

Posted on8 January 202320 January 2023Travels, Adventures & Explorations

My 2022/23 winter holiday recap

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on My 2022/23 winter holiday recap

Now that my winter holidays to the Homeland are over (and my bags are unpacked and tidied away) it’s time for my traditional holiday recap.…

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Posted on12 December 202220 December 2022Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

Sunday Skype traditions

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Sunday Skype traditions

It’s been a year since my last Skype call with Mum. It was a “short” call lasting just 2 hours 33 minutes and 39 seconds.…

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Posted on10 December 202210 December 2022Musings & Ramblings, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Travelling traditions

by Just Frances2 Comments on Travelling traditions

I am on my holidays… again! It’s a little odd making my third big trip back to the Homeland in less than 365 days, after…

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Posted on9 June 20224 August 2022Everyday Life, Musings & Ramblings

Rosaries and rifles

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Rosaries and rifles

My mother’s funeral was yesterday. It began with a Rosary and ended with rifle fire. Just the way she would have wanted it. It’s still…

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Posted on29 May 202217 June 2022Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Welcome to America, again

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Welcome to America, again

I am home in America, again. Yes, it feels like just yesterday that I was leaving, and now I am back. I had always planned…

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Posted on21 February 202228 February 2022Everyday Life, Fitness & Exercise, Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Blessings at 48

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Blessings at 48

Today, I am 48 years old. And today hurts. Not because I’m 48, but rather because I am now officially older than my late husband.…

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Posted on7 February 202227 February 2022Musings & Ramblings, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

Home and heartbroken

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Home and heartbroken

I arrived home in Scotland yesterday, a month later than my initial plan. Home, and heartbroken… My holiday was meant to be a wonderfully happy…

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Posted on1 February 202221 February 2022Everyday Life

It’s our year, Tiger!

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on It’s our year, Tiger!

Today is the Lunar New Year, marking the Year of the Tiger. This is an important “zodiac” sign* for me because I was born in…

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Posted on25 December 202120 January 2022Everyday Life

Christmas in Cle Elum

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Christmas in Cle Elum

I have enjoyed a nice, relaxing Christmas in Cle Elum with my parents. And I have to say, it’s been wonderful, although not a typical…

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Posted on22 December 20213 January 2022Crafting & Creating, Culinary Arts, Everyday Life

The (gingerbread) house that love built

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on The (gingerbread) house that love built

I built my first gingerbread house today, and I loved it! Not least because I built it with my darling Godson, whom I’ve not seen…

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Posted on18 December 20204 July 2021Crafting & Creating

My Prosecco Christmas wreath

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on My Prosecco Christmas wreath

I have (finally) made myself a lovely Christmas wreath out of corks and muselets from various bottles of fizz* – mostly Prosecco, Cava, Champagne, and…

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Posted on21 August 20204 July 2021Everyday Life

A treat for my “half” birthday

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on A treat for my “half” birthday

I don’t really celebrate my birthday, however, in recent years I have marked the occasion by treating myself to a nice present or a trip…

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Posted on26 April 20204 July 2021Travels, Adventures & Explorations, Widow Life

A pilgrimage by proxy

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on A pilgrimage by proxy

Today marks 11 years since my beloved husband, Paul, passed away so unexpectedly. His death has impacted my life more than I ever could have…

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Posted on5 January 20204 July 2021Everyday Life, Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings, Widow Life

Stronger holidays

by Just Frances1 Comment on Stronger holidays

My primary goal for 2020 is to be a stronger and more confident me. But if I’m honest, it’s a goal that I have been heading…

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Posted on1 January 20204 July 2021Everyday Life, Fitness & Exercise, Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

A stronger, more confident 2020

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on A stronger, more confident 2020

I don’t know about you, but I find annual resolution-setting to be a challenge in itself. I love the idea of a strong resolution to…

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Posted on31 December 201916 July 2021Academic Life, Everyday Life, Fitness & Exercise, Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings, Travels, Adventures & Explorations, Widow Life

A look back at 2019

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on A look back at 2019

And with that, it’s time for another annual re-cap post. Although quite how we’ve got to 31 December 2019, I couldn’t tell you! Yet, here…

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Posted on30 December 201916 July 2021Everyday Life

Sharing my New Year’s traditions

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on Sharing my New Year’s traditions

I am allowing someone to enter into my little holiday bubble this year. She’s an American PhD student who is “fresh off the boat”, so I extended…

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Posted on24 December 201916 July 2021Fitness & Exercise, Travels, Adventures & Explorations

A Christmas Eve walk to Allermuir and more

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on A Christmas Eve walk to Allermuir and more

As has become a tradition, I went for a Christmas Eve walk in the Pentlands with my friend Adrian this afternoon. This year our mission was “simple”:…

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Posted on26 April 201916 July 2021Musings & Ramblings, Travels, Adventures & Explorations, Widow Life

Ten years a widow

by Just Frances1 Comment on Ten years a widow

Today marks ten years of widowhood; ten years since my darling husband died so unexpectedly in the middle of the night. These past ten years have…

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Posted on1 January 201916 July 2021Health & Wellness, Musings & Ramblings

A mindful 2019

by Just FrancesLeave a comment on A mindful 2019

As is tradition, a new year means a new resolution. Generally, my resolutions are set as a way to focus on self-improvement in realistic terms.…

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About Just Frances

Just Frances is a personal website maintained by me, Frances Ryan. I am a quirky runner, writer, thinker, drinker, crafter, adventurer, and researcher. I am also a daughter, sister, aunty, friend, and widow. But mostly, I am just Frances. (She/Her)

I blog about my life, including my travels and adventures, my experiences with PKD and ITP, my life as a young(ish) widow, and my life in general, really. Learn more about the topics I write about here.

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