I expect most people reading this blog will be people who know me – but in case you stumble across my online journal about my expat adventures – here is the standard about page.

 

I moved to KL from Wellington, New Zealand in late 2015 with my husband who had accepted a two year contract in Malaysia. I have four adult children, two who are in Wellington, one in Brisbane and one in Perth. My fifth, youngest child has just finished his last year at boarding school in New Zealand.

My career has taken some interesting twists and turns, mainly involving developing online resources and communities, primarily with an education focus. You can check out my LinkedIn profile if you’d like to know more.

My twitter profile (@sonjanz) summary is pretty accurate in describing who I am although I could probably also add some words about my fascination with cultural interfaces in the online space and broaden out my craft activities to include a wide variety of needlecraft.

An eclectic blend of me, including web usability & content strategy, innovative, learner centred education, new technology, feminism and even some knitting.

This is not the first time I have followed my husband off shore, but it is the first time I haven’t had children to look after, or the option to pursue my own career objectives. I was at a bit of a crossroads anyway so that is not necessarily a bad thing, between reading, writing and craft I’m sure I can fill quite a bit of time.

Why “A jangle of bangles”?

In transit to Kuala Lumpur I spent the weekend in Napier, where I bought three wonderful silver bracelets from Frances Stachl.   It was a purchase to celebrate change and the beginning of a new adventure.

I was wearing them on Sunday morning and noticed them jingling together when we were sharing iPad screens and discussing knitting patterns for a KAL. It occurred to me that sound had a degree of symbolism about my new life. For the past 8 or more years I have worked in information technology and policy environments – so much of my time has been at a keyboard that bangles that jangle together are an annoyance. Wearing bangles that jangled was a sign that the quality of my days had changed. And so there and then, in the Napier sunshine, amongst friends discussing how I would keep in touch,  this blog found a name.