As I was driving the kids to school yesterday, the almost-9-year-old announced that a girl in the book she was reading liked to cut shapes in her hand with a pencil sharpener and drip blood onto her school books. Inwardly, I was horrified, but outwardly I attempted to stay calm. I didn't want to raise... Continue Reading →

Ah, Melbourne Cup Day ... so many memories. During my glory years at Woman's Day I hosted many a fancy luncheon, once the advertising department even kitted out stables at Moore Park for a soiree. During leaner times, the food director would bake sausage rolls for the staff to inhale while we slurped cheap champagne... Continue Reading →

I so can't afford this place, but that doesn't stop me perving. When I worked in Double Bay - many bizarre moons ago, there's probably a blog in it - I used to gaze longingly at this property as I walked down the hill from Edgecliff station. It's a house on top of an apartment... Continue Reading →

I spent my first day back in an office yesterday. It didn't kill me. Although the discovery of a Diet Coke machine in the staff kitchen might. It's crammed with budget-priced $1.40 cans, all calling my name. I had such good intentions, I even took a box of peppermint tea bags and a mug to... Continue Reading →

Ah, now this is the way to entertain ... have your friend bring a few kilos of lamb and rice from her favourite Lebanese bakery in Arncliffe, plus a kilo of fattoush salad. Accessorise with a haloumi, pumpkin and rocket salad (just so you feel you've contributed something). Scoop a few pre-made dips into ceramic... Continue Reading →

Never ones to let the grass grow under our feet, the Household enjoyed an insanely hectic Sunday. First we hosted a lunch for 11 (recipes to come this arvo), then we dashed to Bondi to catch the final day of Sculpture By The Sea, before finally parking ourselves at the Bondi Icebergs (the cheap seats)... Continue Reading →

I was planning to make a fancy miso-marinated grilled chicken dish last night, but discovered the miso was over expiry. Damn. So I improvised and made this dish. The Sprogs whinged their heads off at first - don't give me too much soup, don't give me too many noodles, I want bread with it ...... Continue Reading →

Husband has started working weekends. Blah. So I'm touring the fetes and fairs of Sydney to amuse the Sprogs in his craft-obsessed absence. Yesterday we visited a Steiner school fair, which involved lots of hippie clothing stalls, earnest entertainment for the kids and a healthy dose of school envy for me. It's not that I... Continue Reading →