Elaine Massung

Elaine Massung June 26, 2019 Bath, England

THE SOUNDS OF SUMMER

I consider Bath a city I know well: my PhD research focused on the Roman Baths; when MrElaineous was just known as Jon, we went on countless dates to the local cinema and Theatre Royal; our first year(ish) of marriage was spent living near Sydney Gardens. So I tend not to play the tourist when visiting, typically going from A to… View Post

Elaine Massung June 12, 2019

WEIRD. WONDERFUL. WALES.

Great Britain is composed of three nations: England, Wales, and Scotland. The United Kingdom adds Northern Ireland to the mix, and hence the official name of the country is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The point of mentioning this terminology is that both Scotland and Northern Ireland are parts of the UK that are some distance… View Post

Elaine Massung June 5, 2019 Sheffield

SHEFFIELD: A COMPLICATED RELATIONSHIP

People often talk about love at first sight, whether it’s meeting that special someone to spend your life with or buying a house. But what about the opposite? Because that was my reaction to Sheffield when I first encountered this northern city almost fifteen years ago. I was on a flying visit to find a place to situate one of… View Post

Elaine Massung May 29, 2019

RETURNING TO ROUSHAM

The cliché that lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same place is patently false: after all, lightning rods are designed specifically for the task! But when it comes to magical moments, there is often a kernel of truth in the statement. How often have you gone somewhere and had a fantastic time—maybe it was an incredibly delicious meal at a… View Post

Elaine Massung May 8, 2019

THE SWEET TASTE OF TRAVEL

Gallons of ink, both real and virtual, have been spilled extolling the virtues of travel, with quite a few pints by yours truly. Whether described as expanding one’s horizons, sampling new experiences and cultures, or simply part of shaking up a daily routine, it can’t be denied that going to new places can introduce you to things you never imagined… View Post

Elaine Massung May 6, 2019

DEAR MEGHAN: CONGRATULATIONS!

Dear Meghan, Congratulations on the arrival of little Seven! I’m sure you, Harry, and the entire Royal Family must be overjoyed. I certainly hope you’re all doing well and gearing up for one of life’s greatest adventures: navigating parenthood in a different country than the one you grew up in. Parenthood itself may be a universal experience, but as an… View Post

Elaine Massung April 11, 2019 London

A POSTCARD FROM LONDON: SOHO TO MAYFAIR

“When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.” This much beloved, much overused quote by Samuel Johnson is just as true now as it was two centuries ago. No matter how many times I visit London (and trust me, I visit a lot), I always find something new to see. A recent excursion was no exception.… View Post

Elaine Massung April 3, 2019 Cotswold Water Park

OF LIONS, LAMBS, AND A WALK ALONG THE BOW WOW

In like a lion, out like a lamb. This familiar quip about the month of March actually seems quite logical. After all, the beginning is still winter, with the spring equinox arriving at the tail end of the month. Which is, I admit, no guarantee of good weather, but this year it proved to be more accurate than anticipated. Early… View Post

Elaine Massung March 27, 2019 Chippenham, Wiltshire

BLOSSOMS AND BLUE SKIES: A CHIPPENHAM MINI-ADVENTURE

It’s a common joke, and one I’ve made before myself, that one of the best things about Chippenham is how easy it is to get to other places. From having the picturesque villages of the Cotswolds on its doorstep to train links to London, Chippenham tends to be viewed as a place you live, not visit. However, a recent morning… View Post

Elaine Massung March 20, 2019 Cotswold Water Park

THE “OTHER” LAKE DISTRICT

The English Lake District is one of the most visited (and beloved) regions of the country. Located in the northwest county of Cumbria, it is a dramatic landscape of rocky fells, steep valleys, picturesque villages, and, as implied in the name, lakes. It was a favourite haunt of the Romantic poets in the early 19th century, and it became a… View Post

Elaine Massung March 7, 2019 Bristol

A BRIEF LOVE LETTER

I sometimes find myself saying “I grew up in Bristol”, which is patently untrue as anyone with half an ear can tell my accent lacks the required West Country twang. But I do consider the city my adopted hometown, and it’s a place that has shaped my life more than most: spending a year as a study abroad student was… View Post

Elaine Massung February 27, 2019

POSTCARDS FROM FEBRUARY

Postcards feel like a modern day anachronism: bits of paper covered with photographs, a scribbled line or two on the back, and sent through a postal system that operates at human speed rather than almost instantaneously. Why bother with all this when you can pop a picture on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter in the time it takes to hit a… View Post

Elaine Massung February 20, 2019 Painswick, Gloucestershire

A ROYAL VISIT TO THE COTSWOLDS

Okay, I admit it: I am addicted to snowdrops. If you have been following along with Facebook or Instagram over the past few weeks, you’ll have seen these little white flowers have had a starring role in my February travels. One of the first things I learned as a novice snowdrop hunter is the importance of sun to bring out… View Post

Elaine Massung February 13, 2019

A Simply Stunning Seasonal Spectacle

Japan is known for its sakura, ornamental cherry trees that cover the country in billowing clouds of pink and white blossoms. Their blooming is considered an annual event, not just a sign of the season. There are daily forecasts that track the developing buds and, once open, families, friends, and work colleagues participate in hanami, viewing parties to enjoy the… View Post

Elaine Massung February 6, 2019

PSA: Public Science Announcement

I grew up immersed in science. From class projects as a kindergartener to individual science projects with my own custom-made backboard (thank you, dad!), I loved having the opportunity to delve into any topic that interested me and figure out how it worked. Being exposed to the scientific method at a young age was perhaps one of the most important… View Post

Elaine Massung January 29, 2019

There’s Something about Wales

I don’t usually write book reviews (book lists on the other hand …), but in a stroke of serendipity I recently finished reading Kate Humble’s Thinking on my Feet: The Small Joy of Putting One Foot in front of Another, an elegant meditation on the power of walking to both calm the mind and challenge the body, enlighten the spirit… View Post

Elaine Massung December 26, 2018

A Light in the Darkness

I never gave much thought to winter before moving to the UK. After all, I grew up in Florida and if there’s one thing it’s known for besides Disney World, it’s sunshine, palm trees, and a tropical climate. Okay, that’s three things but you get the idea. Temperatures in Florida range from warm to scorching, with a side helping of… View Post

Elaine Massung December 26, 2018

DEAR MEGHAN: A CHRISTMAS LETTER

Dear Meghan, It’s me again! I hope this finds you doing well and that you are settling into life within the Royal Family and in the UK. You’ve certainly been busy this past year, what with publishing a cookbook, singlehandedly reviving the UK’s tabloid industry, and growing a whole new heir to the throne (admittedly number seven in line, but still, many congratulations!). I… View Post

Elaine Massung December 16, 2018

Reaching New Heights in Edinburgh

[ PART 1 ] [ PART 2 ] [ This is a continuation of last week’s post about my explorations of Edinburgh on a sunny autumn day. Check out the first part or keep reading to see whether I managed to face my fears and get a new perspective on the capital city. ] As I finished my circuit of Princes Street Gardens,… View Post