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In Romania, as in every country, there are stereotypes about which places are worth visiting. If I tell people I am from Scotland many say they would love to visit Edinburgh but it is rare you hear people saying they want to see Glasgow, which is a more interesting city in many ways. When I travelled round India (20 years ago) everyone said I should avoid Calcutta (now Kalkota) as it is just a vast sprawling slum full of insolent Bengalis. But I found it to be the most compelling place in India. read more…

There is nothing more exciting and nauseating then staring at the little nervous line that smugly blinks in your face on a blank Word page. I know only one way to deal with it: start filling it with words until the little bugger is exhausted and begs for forgiveness. I am a merciful creature most of the time and know when to stop.

I love writing, it give me a sense of purpose and it comforts me because when I try my hand at fiction (I recently started and I am very defensive about it), I can break my everyday boundaries. I have no idea if I am good at fiction, I’m not even sure I want to find out. I do feel somewhat divided about the whole process. On one hand I am doing it for myself, because it gives me pleasure and a way to read more…

It came in a shiny tin box for Christmas.  The Romanian version, with credit cards instead of cash.

There were four of us: me and Alina; Lara, who is 9, and Luca who is 6.

We laid the board out on the floor of the kids bedroom, which is a bit cramped.  But we were enthusiastic, especially Luca whose only aim in life is to play, and we had the whole weekend ahead.

The game dragged on and on.  Hours passed before anyone won a street, without which you can’t sting people for rent.  Avoiding bankruptcy was a constant struggle.  I became irritable and annoying. read more…