I suppose I should do the obligatory summer post. It doesn’t matter how long I live here, I will always continue to be amazed by the intensity of the short-lived Latvian summer. It’s three months of shining beauty that surface from the eon of cold and darkness, which is the norm. Everything grows, flowers and fruits at an incredible pace and you find yourself frantic with the activity of trying to “do it all” in such a short space of time. Not just the earthy activities of planting, mowing,...

Look at this kid's t-shirt Jem found in the shop today. How bizarre - considering it was on sale in "Maxima", an East-European supermarket... Have you guys in Oz got kids t-shirts for sale in Big W with "Liepaja" written on them and pics of people in Latvian ethnographic dress smiling idiotically????...

Brengulu brewery, yummiest local beer...