I worked 54 hours last week as a contractor. When I moaned that I was tired, my friends noted that at least I was being paid by the hour for my efforts. Yeah, that's true, I suppose. However, being paid by the hour has put a very different spin on my spending. Every time I... Continue Reading →

I had an epiphany as I stood on a ladder yesterday painting my eaves. I don't want a house any more. I am done. It was an unseasonably warm Sunday. The sun was shining, the air temperature was 25C, the water temperature was 22C and I wanted a swim SO BADLY. But, no, I was... Continue Reading →

I feel fortunate that my divorce was so civilised. We calmly discussed our co-parenting arrangements and the division of assets. There were no lawyers or astronomical legal bills or screaming matches over who deserved what. And while my husband left, my connections with his family remained. I could pick up the phone to any one... Continue Reading →

It felt a bit like when I walked The Pilgrim Trail at my place yesterday. It was cold and relentless, filled with sore muscles and mud. The only things missing were the smell of horses’ piss and farting Frenchmen. Oh and it all took place in suburban Sydney rather than Spain. The day was a... Continue Reading →

It's weird how everyone [who isn't immuno-compromised] was completely terrified by COVID-19 one minute, then totally blase about it the next. It's still raging through the community, but we've decided to get on with the business of living. While we no longer fret about daily COVID-19 numbers and hardly anyone wears a mask, it's irrevocably... Continue Reading →

The youngest informed me yesterday that one of her teachers had quietly asked if everything was OK at home. The teacher was concerned that she was being physically abused because she is covered in bruises. The youngest thought it was very funny that her AFL injuries had been mistaken for domestic violence. I was mortified!... Continue Reading →

When the youngest asked me what I wanted for Mother's Day I said tickets to the local Rotary fireworks on Saturday night … with her. She screwed up her nose, rolled her eyes and groaned: "Whhhhhy?" She doesn't like fireworks. She thinks they're boring and environmentally unfriendly. They don't do much for me when they're... Continue Reading →

The irony of motherhood saw me limp into the local physio clinic to take the youngest for an appointment. She has nerve pain in her thigh. Her mother has pain just about everywhere after hefting 20kg of pull-up banners across Sydney CBD on Wednesday. Even turning the steering wheel to get to the clinic was... Continue Reading →

I strained my shoulder yesterday hefting four pull-up banners from The Rocks to Martin Place. I was using them as the backdrop for a pre-recorded speech that was being filmed for a conference. I was supposed to catch a taxi there, but it was 3pm - changeover time - and I have a massive phone... Continue Reading →

I went to the launch of Australian Cocktail Month last night at a cool new venue in The Rocks called Hickson House Distilling. I was home by 9pm because I am old. Actually, it wasn’t because I'm old. I've always had a touch of the Cinderella about me. It was the subject of much mirth... Continue Reading →