Hello, I’m David, a storyteller, wanderer, and long-time “in-betweener” living a slower, more thoughtful life here in the heart of the Balkans.
Free subscribers can enjoy regular posts about life in Bosnia and Herzegovina, slices of local culture, stories that I come across, and the little everyday moments that make this place so special.
Curious to go deeper? Paid members get access to everything I create, including exclusive podcasts, behind-the-scenes reflections, photo essays, and more that I only share with my inner circle.
Fancy joining me? Click subscribe and let’s explore this unique corner of the world together, one Coffee and Rakija at a time. ☕✨
A Winter Sunday in Bosnia
Sunday afternoons in winter have a particular weight to them here.
The light is flat, the sky hangs low, and everything feels slightly muted. Yesterday was one of those days, the kind where the weather seeps into your thinking whether you invite it in or not.
Outside, the air wasn’t great.
Wood smoke hung in the valley, the result of geography, weather, and the simple fact that in rural Bosnia, wood is still the main fuel for staying warm. It doesn’t dominate daily life, but it’s there, especially at this time of year.
It reminded me, oddly, of childhood winters in London, when smog had a smell you never quite forgot.
Living Between Calendars
With Christmas approaching, Tamara and I have started talking about our plans.
Living in a predominantly Serbian Orthodox area means the festive calendar runs on a different rhythm.
Their Christmas arrives in early January, while ours, my rather English version, comes sooner.
Over the years, our celebrations have changed.
What began as an attempt to recreate a full British Christmas has softened into something more blended.
Cheese scones instead of crackers, roast beef rather than turkey, and a sense that tradition doesn’t have to be rigid to be meaningful.
Winter Food and Village Life
Around us, the village is deep into winter preparation.
Pigs have been butchered, meat is being cured and smoked, sausages prepared for the months ahead.
It’s practical, communal, and rooted in necessity rather than nostalgia.
Nothing is wasted. Nothing is hurried.
Even after more than twenty years here, I still find this rhythm fascinating, the way seasons shape daily life rather than merely decorate it.
Quiet Reflections
Today hasn’t been a dramatic day.
Just a Sunday afternoon in northern Bosnia, marked by smoke, food, planning, and thought.
Sometimes, those are the moments that say the most.
