iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

(As an aside, the name Tianmu came from a foreigner asking what this area was called. A local responded Tian Mu, meaning “it has no name”. But the name Tianmu then stuck. Here’s a photo of one of the great cafes in this area and our multi-national pooch).

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In the words of Ted Lasso (or Walt Whitman before him) - “be curious, not judgmental”. Kindness and empathy go a long way.

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With immigration, we so often ignore the reason people make such a huge life change and how hard it is to learn a language as an adult and fit into a completely new way of life. I have huge respect for all immigrants of all walks of life in all parts of the world.

and shop in stores that have products I recognise and interact with other foreigners who understand my culture and the struggles of living in a foreign country. It doesn’t take away my fondness for this country and its people and I am grateful for the opportunity to live here.

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The Taiwanese could argue that I don’t even try to assimilate - I clearly don’t know the language and I live in an area with other expats. But in a place that is so different, it feels more comforting to be able to speak my own language..

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I am trying to learn Chinese, but most of my interactions with locals are in English, often with the help of translation aids. I live in a part of Taipei that has lots of foreigners, called Tianmu, where it is more common for shop and restaurant staff to speak English.

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Allie B @solomumlife.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

I’ve been thinking a lot about immigration and assimilation, as the appalling One Nation becomes more popular in Australia and racism and becomes more in the open. I live as an immigrant in Taiwan, albeit a temporary one. #immigration

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Saying she is overdressed IS literally a comment on her appearance. Who cares what she’s wearing? Stop with this crap.

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Allie B @solomumlife.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

We have just returned from a holiday that included Paris, Annecy and Chamonix. The French were helpful, polite and friendly without exception, including in Paris. We used some basic french when we could and it was always appreciated.

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Allie B @solomumlife.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

Merry Christmas. Totally normal to do a photo shoot (with my phone) and the dog, right? The little person wasn’t nearly as cooperative.

Small tan poodle in a Christmas hat posing in front of a living room Christmas tree.

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Allie B @solomumlife.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Inspired by @georgepenney.bsky.social style: A small human (3?) approaches a friendly ‘oodle relaxing at a park. Small human offers the dog his dinosaur with a “rarrr”. Dog politely ignores him. Small human returns with a stick. Dog chomps it appreciatively. Success! Now to find more tasty sticks!

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Allie B @solomumlife.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

Lily Allen should re-release F*ck You. Those lyrics are still totally appropriate even if they are about a different president.

Album cover for It’s Not Me Not You, by Lily Allen. Shows Lily sitting in a big L shape.

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Allie B @solomumlife.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

Had a conversation about what to look for if someone hits their head. I still have a headache but Hopefully it will all feel better tomorrow 🤞😩

Allie B @solomumlife.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

Hit my head hard earlier today. Was looking for the damn off-switch on the TV and forgot about the wooden overhang above the TV. Staggered backwards to foetal position on the couch, heard miss 9 yell “mum!” in an anguished voice and then after croaking I was fine, she dashed to get an ice pack.

Allie B @solomumlife.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

Setting up bank accounts in Taiwan. The forms used 3 different date formats on different pages (MMDDYYYY, DDMMYYY, YYYYMMDD). It hurt my brain and I wrote 2025 as my year of birth more than once in the confusion 😂🤦‍♀️

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Allie B @solomumlife.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

The message was sent from the Philippines, so unlikely!

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Allie B @solomumlife.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

Met a (65 yr?) American lady by our hotel pool. A published poet, living in Portugal, also has lived in Sydney. Told me immediately she voted for Trump (totally unprompted - we were talking about our kids). How does an educated, well traveled woman vote like this? I just don’t understand 🤯😩

Allie B @solomumlife.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

My “discover” feed is a mix of Australian, Canadian and US politics. With Canada and Australia both heading to elections, it provides a few confused moments. There is no confusion with US politics, just dismay on a scale previously unknown.

Allie B @solomumlife.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

Thanks for responding. I do get it 😊 The problem is the right wing nutters that think people are hired for DEI and not merit will also not understand the nuance of your wit 😅

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Allie B @solomumlife.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

I very much agree with the sentiment, but can we all agree to not give the “DEI hire” myth any semblance of support as a concept, even jokingly. It legitimises it and that only hurts us DEI’s (women, POC, LGBTQ+ etc) in the long-run.

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Allie B @solomumlife.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

TD: well at least he’s not Biden. He was a puppet. So stupid….and Kamala was just a face. Not intelligent. Me: (after disputing the Biden and Kamala claims) So knowing what you do now, who would you vote for. Harris or Trump? TD: Trump And this is why women feel despair (well, one reason of many!)

Allie B @solomumlife.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

Conversation with a taxi driver in Singapore: TD: what a crazy world we live in. Trump is so crazy. These tariffs are going to cause so much damage. Me: I can’t believe so many people voted for him (Conversation ensues about education and poverty in USA). ⬇️

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Allie B @solomumlife.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

After three years in Singapore, I just realized that there are no bookstores here. We have a stationery store that sells the top popular books nearby, but now that I’m searching for a particular book, it’s clear how rare bookstores are. So strange!

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Allie B @solomumlife.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

Our dog has always lived in high rises with elevators/lifts. I routinely ponder what goes through her mind when we step into the small box and step out again a short time later? What does she make of it as she hears the ding and gently nudges the doors open with her nose? #dog

Small dog (tan-coloured poodle-cross), standing in the lift/elevator waiting for the doors to open and the new dimension to reveal itself.

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Allie B @solomumlife.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

Just checked the date… thought I was going crazy too. Thanks for validating my sanity.

Allie B @solomumlife.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

We’re about to move internationally again for work. As a solo parent, everything is on you -it has been incredibly stressful to coordinate the move and still be present for my daughter and my current role. So it was nice to see a hornbill out the window to force me to take a deep breath.

Black and white Singapore hornbill in a tree outside a window

Nicole Tersigni @nicsigni.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

Reposted by Allie B

you’re fired. wait you’re rehired. email us a list of things you’ve done today wait forget it you’re fired again. come back your job was important. you’re fired. or hired. come in to the office. wait the office has no computers go home. we are the department of government efficiency.

15249606726494

Reposted by Allie B

Simon Kuestenmacher @simongerman600.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

When you can’t beat em, join em.

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Allie B @solomumlife.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

I’m waiting for when Dutton says we should annex New Zealand 🙄

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Allie B @solomumlife.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

Timeline cleansing kangaroo in my parents backyard over Christmas. My mother’s response when I showed her the video - “not the mulberry tree! “. We put out buckets of water for the kangaroos on the hot (40+C) days and listened to the thunder of wild animals across the roof through the night.

Allie B @solomumlife.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

Some countries have monkeys, some have bird species. The winner has to be the Quokka of Rottnest Island - the cutest, most mild mannered species

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Allie B @solomumlife.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

I took my 8 year old daughter to see The Nutcracker ballet. At one point after the intermission she looked like she was getting a bit bored, until suddenly she turned to me with wide eyes… “This music is from Bluey!”

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Allie B @solomumlife.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

This sign made me laugh a lot recently. Zombie children crossing? Very slow children crossing? Saying slow down: children crossing might have been more efficient 😂

Allie B @solomumlife.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

The rainy season in Singapore has arrived. This morning’s school drop off was soggy, but at least someone had fun!

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Allie B @solomumlife.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

I thought I’d post here progressively about my solo mum journey. When I first started considering this path, I decided to give dating one final red hot go to find Mr (mostly) Right. I took time off work and was contacting men on dating sites to set up dates. It was a truly awful idea.