Sally McCormick

I really enjoyed this memoir, or tasty fusion, of travel, food and live entertainment. The writer shows with clarity the experience of having to 'find her tribe' whilst living in Dubai for a couple of years, accompanying her husband during his work stint there. Not one to benignly fit into the community of 'expats', Badley steers us through various episodes inducing hilarity or seriousness, which take us beyond any stereotypical expectations. The writer's focus on food, both in Dubai and on various away trips, describes with delectable precision the food of the locale, with its street stalls and markets, plus a vast range of restaurants. The chapters on three cities in Iran are particularly evocative of the history, culture, religion and food of these destinations. Throughout 'Bite-Sized World' there are many laugh out loud moments where Badley is true to her comic touch, not least when she relives her contribution to Dubai's festival of ten minute plays. Hers sounds like a riff on 'The Real Inspector Hound' with shades of 'The Play What I Wrote' and 'Noises Off' - all delivered in ten minutes and well received in that year's annual event. Returning to the UK, with the ensuing pandemic and lockdowns, we read in the final chapter how Badley's wings - and arms - are truly clipped. This is a fully satisfying, bite-sized read. Bravo!