By Elizabeth Henzell To my readers: This is my last Instinct column for The Bali Times. It’s been great fun writing about the dogs and cats of Bali but it’s time to take a break. – Elizabeth Henzell The accent gets me every time. I love it. It is that wonderful English accent that is [...]

By Elizabeth Henzell The news on ABC’s Just In is not pleasant. Stabbings in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne, and the sad story of a father who drowned while attempting to save his two sons and their friend from a rip on a New South Wales surf Beach is heartbreaking. However, I read with joy the [...]

A Guide to the Birds of East Africa” is the latest book I am savouring. Savouring isn’t actually the truth. The truth is I am the slowest reader ever and due to always eating breakfast or drinking coffee while I read and having the attention span of a two-year-old – that is I am easily [...]

By Elizabeth Henzell The Bali Times Check your departure time, please! I begged Isobella. “Yes, yes,” promised my dutiful daughter, the one who listens respectfully and then does exactly whatever she pleases. This time was no different and when she finally did, my fears were confirmed. Whilst her departure was on Saturday, it was 10 [...]

By Elizabeth Henzell I read something funny on tripadvisor.com the other day. I was described as the American boss of the Casa Luna restaurant in Ubud. It said I “issued a demand” that I “sit in the private dining area” in Casa Luna. On all counts incorrect, but the accusations still stand as tripadvisor has [...]

It would have been a very happy suitor a few years back if my ability to hold my alcohol had been as pathetic as it is today. Whatever, it was Christmas night and I was on roller skates with absolutely no brakes. I would like, however, to categorically put the blame all in the court [...]

Jilly Cooper’s Class, written in 1979, was a hysterically funny book that took a massive swipe at the pretentiousness of the class system in Britain. It caused a huge uproar that even had the Duke of Edinburgh irritated enough to accost her at a function to deny such a thing still existed in Britain. Cooper [...]

Call me stupid! Go ahead – because sticks and stones… But I can tell you I am learning. I am learning daily and that is better than stagnating at this time in my life and just assuming I know it all because I’ve attained this… umm, age. So The Doorman is my perfect case in [...]

The trip to Tabanan to see how Lana and Messy, two BAWA – Bali Animal Welfare Association – puppies, were enjoying their new home had been planned for the previous weekend. For one reason or another I couldn’t make it and moped around all week feeling less than on top of the world until I [...]

CALOUNDRA ~ My trip home coincided with my son’s flying visit to arrange his US visa. He was in town for just five days and I blinked and he was back in New York. How time flies when you are having a good time. I dropped him at the airport and sobbed during the hour-long [...]

By Elizabeth Henzell For The Bali Times UBUD ~ With the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival less than three weeks away I thought this would be a good time to remind you that once again BAWA – Bali Animal Welfare Association – is sponsoring a writing workshop for children and what better way to introduce [...]

By Elizabeth Henzell For The Bali Times UBUD ~ The voice of a dog should be easy, right? Writers do it all the time with great effect. And a Bali street dog should be a breeze, right? Aren’t they all loud, unfriendly and ready to bite at the heels of every unsuspecting tourist? Even those [...]