About
Hi, thanks for checking out my blog, here is a little bit about me and my life.
My name is Joan and I live in Cork, Ireland. For about 27 years of my life I lived in Zimbabwe, and I have four children who were born there, and are now scattered all over – Dubai, Zimbabwe, Germany and London (at the moment). While I miss not having some of the family living with me, I have lots of places to visit and as I now have four grandchildren, 3 in Frankfurt and 1 in Harare, there is even more of an attraction to go travelling! Its also great to look forward to them ‘coming home to Mom’ even if its only for a short while.
After working in office environments all my life. I retired at the end of 2012, and while thinking about some of the things to do to with my free time, my daughter suggested I start a blog, and I thought ‘A blog, whats that?’, but I started off, muddled my way through the confusion of unfamiliar posting, and adding links, and attaching photos, previewing and publishing. How exciting it was to get my first followers, and to get to know people from all parts of the world. I am now into my fourth year of blogging and enjoying the friends I have made along the way, and the new ones just around the corner.
Apart from travelling, I am a member of a hillwalking club, and try to get out on the hills (and smaller mountains) every week. I also took up golf when I retired, and enjoy the new friends I have made through these activities.
I look forward to seeing new places and friends this year, and taking some interesting photos along the way to share on my blog.
lynne hoareau
Feb 27, 2016 @ 06:59:49
Hi Joan, lovely to meet you. Thank you for taking the time and visiting my blog Lynne’s Recipe Trails’ . I noticed you spent many years in Zimbabwe, I am from Durban, Natal in South Africa 🙂 I have only been blogging for a year now, and love it. I look forward to visiting more of your blog. Have a lovely weekend 🙂
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joanfrankham
Feb 27, 2016 @ 15:05:26
Hi Lynne,thanks for visiting,yes I lived in Zimbabwe for about 27 years, so spent many school holidays in Amanzimtoti and Durban…good memories. Looking forward to reading more of your posts.
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M. L. Kappa
Mar 04, 2016 @ 22:29:17
Hi Joan, thanks for the follow. I did the same, your blog is lovely! Lovely photographs.
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joanfrankham
Mar 04, 2016 @ 22:52:15
Thank you, I am looking forward to reading more of your posts, especially as I am going to Preveza for 10 days in May (only my second visit to your beautiful country).
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M. L. Kappa
Mar 05, 2016 @ 07:14:21
Enjoy! If you need any info, don’t hesitate to ask.
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joanfrankham
Mar 05, 2016 @ 09:09:28
Thank you.
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GeorgieMoon
Mar 31, 2016 @ 21:03:02
It sounds like you are having a wonderful retirement! How lovely to be able to travel. I will enjoy reading more about your travels.
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joanfrankham
Mar 31, 2016 @ 21:04:29
Thank you, and thanks for the follow, I have been enjoying reading your posts also.
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Helen Bushe
Apr 24, 2016 @ 18:41:13
Yes, retirement is great is it not!
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joanfrankham
Apr 24, 2016 @ 19:08:21
Yes indeed it is
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Kim McGuire
May 26, 2016 @ 20:23:44
Hi Joan. Hope you don’t mind but I’ve nominated you for a Liebster Award: https://inanirishhome.com/2016/05/26/liebster-award/. If it’s not your kind of thing…no worries…if it is…great! I hope you accept, though, as I’d love to read your answers. All the best. Kim
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joanfrankham
May 27, 2016 @ 14:19:16
Thank you, I will have a look at them
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Judy @ NewEnglandGardenAndThread
Oct 26, 2016 @ 10:29:32
We traveled to your beautiful country just last month and had ten wonderful days of sightseeing. I’d go back in a minute. 🙂
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joanfrankham
Oct 26, 2016 @ 10:42:24
Glad to hear you enjoyed it, which parts did you visit. I am in Cork.
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Judy @ NewEnglandGardenAndThread
Oct 26, 2016 @ 11:28:25
We were on a Globus Tour and started and ended in Dublin for flight purposes. We loved it all but especially the Aran Islands. The countryside was beautiful beyond belief, and the people were gracious to us everywhere. 🙂
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joanfrankham
Oct 26, 2016 @ 12:47:11
Lovely, so glad you enjoyed.
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Anuj Agarwal
Feb 03, 2017 @ 11:01:07
Hi Joan,
My name is Anuj Agarwal. I’m Founder of Feedspot.
I would like to personally congratulate you as your blog Retirement and beyond has been selected by our panelist as one of the Top 100 Retirement Blogs on the web.
http://blog.feedspot.com/retirement_blogs/
I personally give you a high-five and want to thank you for your contribution to this world. This is the most comprehensive list of Top 100 Retirement Blogs on the internet and I’m honored to have you as part of this!
Also, you have the honor of displaying the badge on your blog.
Best,
Anuj
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365dniwobiektywielg
Jun 23, 2017 @ 15:34:40
You are leading a wonderful blog
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New Journey
Oct 06, 2017 @ 17:03:06
Cork Ireland, what a beautiful place to live, its on my bucket list for sure…My name is Kathy and I am glad you came by and looked around my blog, I m looking forward to all your beautiful pictures and enjoying your blog. I have a friend in Cork, and my husband is from Hamburg Germany. A couple things we have in common LOL have a wonderful day.
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joanfrankham
Oct 06, 2017 @ 17:49:43
Thank you. I look forward to reading yours also.
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Frances Macaulay Forde
Jun 06, 2020 @ 14:49:23
HI Joan, sorry I’ve taken a while to check in – catching up on your pages today. I have a question though, did we by any chance, meet up in Cork, at Munster Literature Centre or Middleton Writers? I know I have been following you for a long time because of our African link, (I grew up in NR/Zambia and also holidayed in Durban – specifically Umshlanga Rocks) but have we met in person? Stay safe.
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