Well, it has been a full year since I got the keys to Castle Ryan. As I look around, I can see how much I…
It’s been a long time since I shared my goal to finally get my UK driving licence. Indeed, I began the application process for a…
Faithful followers of Just Frances will know that, after many trials and tribulations, I am now a dual citizen of the United States and the…
Well, here I am! Another year has rushed by, and today I find myself turning 51. It feels like just yesterday I was celebrating my…
Wow! JustFrances.com hit the 15-year milestone today! I don’t know that I expected that when I first registered the domain, but here I am, marking…
It has finally happened: I am now a United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland citizen*. That means no more visas, no more immigration…
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…
Ah, Christmas is here. All twelve days of it. And, more importantly, all 12 days of Mum’s 12 Days of Christmas ornament project, which I’ve…
Today I took one of the last steps towards becoming a UK Citizen: I enrolled my biometrics for my citizenship application which I submitted last…
Welcome to Castle Ryan, my new house that I hope to transform into a home. It was about 16 years ago that I last made…
Regular readers will know that I am a runner and have been one pretty much my entire life. From a little 5K jaunt to dust…
In the past several months, I have hinted at Big Things that are afoot – and I even came close to saying outright said that…
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…
Well, it has finally happened. I have finally applied for settled status in the UK. And let me just say, it’s not been without 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…
One of the sorrows of death is the “unfinished” things. No matter how well-planned or how expected death is, there is always going to be…
Today is the start of my annual letter-writing month, which means another call for letter receivers! It also means another challenge to others to write…
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…