Life Trove

In 2015, I went on a road trip to Tasmania with a group of friends. It was a trip defined by incredible landscapes and some of the best hiki...

I live right next to Brennan Park in Waverton, which is a beautiful stretch of green, but its true crowning glory isn’t the trees or the har...

A friend of mine once shared a story from a solo trip to Thailand that serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of travel-induced optimi...

During our year sharing the Willow Road house, Russell, Ally, and I formed a tight-knit, happy trio. Ally was already a wonderful cook, but ...

I love tennis and have played on and off my entire adult life. If I have a "claim to fame" on the court, it’s the staggering, almo...

In 1996, Ally and I flew to Mozambique for a romantic getaway on the legendary Paradise Island. The hotel had been the height of opulence in...

In 2006, I returned to Cape Town for the Wit Els hike with Ally, Russell, and our friend Mike. It was a formidable four-day undertaking: a s...

When I was an English teacher in Sydney, I taught young adults at a local college. Every lesson began with a high-stakes ritual: marking the...

One evening, I decided to take Mack for a walk. For once, I also brought along Milly—my housemates Matt and Sharmista’s year-old pug-spaniel...

My neighbor Helen was undeniably sexy, and for weeks, there had been a undeniable spark between us—a series of subtle flirtations that seeme...

I have always struggled with seasickness. Over the years, two specific voyages have etched themselves into my memory—not for the scenery, bu...

I have always loved a good shower, but two specific experiences stand out in my memory—one representing the pinnacle of human pleasure, the ...

When I was seven years old, I underwent surgery on both of my Achilles tendons. The recovery required me to have both legs encased in plaste...

My mother never quite saw eye-to-eye with her in-laws. She was English, they were South African, and in their eyes, no woman on earth was ev...

A couple of years back, I invited my meditation group over for an evening of quiet contemplation. We were deep into the "Now," wat...

When I lived in London, I took up rollerblading, and it was pure, unadulterated exhilaration. Every weekend, I would skate from Hammersmith ...

In South Africa, the Matric Dance is the undisputed peak of the school social calendar. It’s a night of high-stakes glamour, tuxedos, and fl...

In her later years, Gran’s driving slowed to a pace that could generously be described as “contemplative.” One Saturday morning we were maki...

In Sydney, the cockroaches aren't just pests; they are armored invaders. They are enormous, incredibly fast, and—for me—a source of prim...

During my university years, I lived in constant awe of my housemate, Oliver. He was studying Business Science Finance—a notoriously grueling...