During my Newcastle youth, there was a Chinese restaurant called the House of the Rising Sun. I think it was in Charlestown - my friend Megan will know for sure, she has a photographic memory of our past. The House of the Rising Sun also introduced me to cocktails. It served Fluffy Ducks, Blue Lagoons... Continue Reading →

I'm obsessed with a show on Netflix called Atypical. It's comedy/drama about a high school student called Sam who has autism. In the first season he gets a girlfriend, but doesn't know whether he loves her … how can he tell? He decides, based on the facts, that he must. But then his therapist teaches... Continue Reading →

One of my all-time favourite writers among the Australian pioneers of blogging is Mrs Woog. She had a bit of a break from writing last year, but started again recently. She’s in a similar headspace to me, except she's managing to be really funny in the current lockdown. I'm sure I'll crack you up again... Continue Reading →

One of the things I love about my new bedroom ... other than the ultra-soft carpet donated by my brother-in-law and the non-teenager-defiled loo ... is the sunrises. The room is at the back of the house and faces east. When I wake up in the mornings, I lie in bed and watch the rays... Continue Reading →

I may be stuck in lockdown with two teenagers and two yappy, demanding dogs, but I'm feeling good inside. Well ... being stuck inside the house every day isn't great, but things are going pretty well inside Alana House. Perhaps I’ve reached another life milestone on the ageing path or maybe I’ve advanced on the... Continue Reading →

You know the apartment I was thinking about buying? Well ... it went for hundreds of thousands of dollars more than the price guide. Wanna know the final figure under the hammer at auction? $1.44million. The ad said $1.15million. How crazy is that? Very, very crazy. Although Sydney people are so accustomed to the insanity... Continue Reading →

I did so much walking over the weekend. Three ambles a day. Lockdown is such a bore. And it looks like we’re in it for the loooooong haul. I walked with my dogs, I walked with my sister, I walked with my friend Wendy, I walked with my friend Alice, I walked with my friend... Continue Reading →

There’s a lot of tellie being watched at my place during the plod through lockdown. The kids take turns to sit with me on the couch because they have very different taste. I got it wrong last night - I introduced the youngest to Heathers. Remember the movie with Winona Ryder and Christian Slater? I... Continue Reading →

Sydney is staying in lockdown for another week and, while I'm disappointed for my kids, I feel pretty zen about my own situation. I've just been on the holiday of a lifetime. I can still take the dogs to get my takeaway coffee each morning. I have lots of local friends to join me on... Continue Reading →