Blog
A Moment in Time
November 16, 2024
Suddenly, surprisingly, here I am – 70 years old. It’s very strange. I don’t feel it, I don’t look it, but there’s no denying it. Today, 70 years ago, I was born. Up until now, I have always marked each new decade with a party. This time, instead, I’m celebrating my birthday with you online.…
Some Shnookals at the Shoreham General Store circa 1960
October 25, 2024
Growing up, I was incredibly lucky to have four siblings and a holiday house at Shoreham. Those long summer days spent as a mob on the beach were the best, and invariably on our way home, we’d stop at the Shoreham General Store. The day that this video was taken was unusual – for we…
The Shneatles – One Performance Only
October 18, 2024
My brother Jim has always loved The Beatles. Growing up, he refused to go to kindergarten until he’d listened multiple times to “She Loves You” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand” on our father’s reel-to-reel tape machine. As an adult, Jim has read, watched and listened to every skerrick of information about The Beatles,…
A Small Tale
October 11, 2024
To tell you the truth, I’ve felt a bit embarrassed about Misha. I never thought that I was the kind of person to have a designer-breed puppy, and an “apricot” coloured one at that! Most of my previous dogs have come from dog shelters as adults, and have been a mix of unknown breeds. All…
Climate Emergency?
October 3, 2024
In September 2014 there I was, second row back, marching and shouting for climate action. That same year, I poured all my frustration into writing a short story about Australia’s indifference to the climate crisis. Ten years on, although the political protagonists are no longer Tony Nero and Julia Caesar, I believe that my short…
A Shit Sandwich
September 26, 2024
If I handed you a salad sandwich with a thinly-sliced piece of dog shit in it, would you eat it? And then, if I took the dog shit out of your sandwich and passed it back to you, would you eat it after that? Of course you wouldn’t! Dog shit is disgusting. For me, meat…
Thor the Wombat
September 13, 2024
Thor is a very unusual wombat. In spite of his hypermasculine name and his size, he loves a cuddle! This wombat is lucky to be alive. When he was tiny and nestled within a pouch, his mother was killed by a car. He managed to survive, and was fortunately discovered not long afterwards. The poor…
Sitting Beside Bushfire Survivors: A Personal Account
September 5, 2024
I was one of the lucky ones. Some of us who lived in St Andrews on 7 February 2009 escaped the Black Saturday inferno simply because the wind changed and took the bushfire to others instead. I didn’t lose my house or possessions; I lost no family members. There are many stories of those who…
Not Your Standard Love Story
August 29, 2024
At the start, I confess that I was more enamoured with my new (and first) bikini. It was gorgeous, with a pink floral print and a ruffle that adorned the top and straps. Murray, on the other hand, was extremely annoying. On the beach, he was always parking his towel way too close to mine,…
Beginning a New Chapter of My Life
August 1, 2024
Five weeks ago, a little Groodle pup moved into my life and home. Absolute chaos has ensued. Misha has survived numerous falls on her head, and has made it to thirteen weeks of age, with no obvious signs of brain damage. My house and I have survived her razor-sharp teeth, also with minimal damage so…