Hello!  I’m Ella Dickinson and I live in historic Petersburg, VA in a home with a most lovely porch.  This is my favorite spot to entertain my friends and family.  I’m originally from England, have two teenage boys, work for a Financial Advisor during the day and also do catering with a friend along with writing this blog!   I founded and ran a British-style pub, The Brickhouse Run, for just over 12 years before selling it in 2013.  My two main passions in life are travel and food.  I believe the two intertwine beautifully and I love nothing better than exploring a place with camera in hand, going in search of fabulous local food.  I have had the fortune to have visited 35 countries and counting.

The past four years have been quite complex and transformative for me, but ultimately my senses have been reawakened, my appreciation for life’s simple pleasures has come back in a significant way and my creativity has returned.  It has been a time of incredible personal growth and I like to think of it as a midlife renaissance!  Since starting this blog in 2016, I added Breast Cancer to my journey when I was diagnosed on June 6th, 2017.  I have written about my experiences here and hope by doing so, I will help raise awareness and understanding.  Fortunately, my prognosis is excellent.  This blog not only reflects my travels and food experiences, but I like to think it does so in the context of my journey through life.  I think there’s an incredible richness to middle age and I’m embracing it wholeheartedly.  Thanks for stopping by!