Reclaiming the home...

Keeping a home healthy, happy and well fed isn't something that happens by accident...

Whether you're a stay at home mum or working..it takes time, thought and a sense of purpose.

And I have learnt this late in life...

There is a profound sense of fulfilment to be had from knowing that those you love, feel cared for by you and that your efforts at home give them a deep feeling of contentment and happiness.

Don't get me wrong though..not everyday is bathed in sunshine and smiles.

But even on the days when the laundry seems like it's never going to end, when the water has gone off just as you were about to start the all important (in DZ!) morning clean, and you have no idea what to cook because you forgot to get anything fresh in the day before, we get through and get it done.

As I've said before I'm not a natural housekeeper, But I've learnt to love the satisfaction it gives me to see the results of my work on the faces of my loved ones.

So if their happiness means dilligently budgeting so that I can put a hearty spread on the table, then so be it.

And if my sole purpose, after worshipping Allah ta'ala is to gather them all together and keep them a tight happy unit, then I'm content with that.

Feeding everyone though has not been an easy task here in Algeria,

There have been plenty of hurdles to jump in the past year, and its sometimes been a steep learning curve,

both for me and my purse

The challenge has been an interesting one though,and I'm gathering lots of information and cooking tips from the Algerian women around me, which helps enormously, and which I'll hopefully be able to share over time insha'allah.

I learned farly early on, that if I wanted my budget to withstand the hardships it was likely to face then learning to cook like an Algerian was going to be a neccesary part of that..

And it's made a huge difference...

I can honestly say that without the love and support of the Algerian women I've met here, the whole procees of settling down and learning to fit in would have taken alot longer and would have much harder going.

I'm almost at the start of a new frugal homekeeping month, so connection permitting..I'll be sharing tips and recipes along the way insha'allah.

I'm off now to have my first coffee of the day and do some menu planning....