I recently discovered Australia is gripped by a pharmaceutical crisis that isn't making headlines. There's a worldwide EpiPen shortage. I only became aware of it last month when I was getting the youngest ready for school camp. She's anaphylactic to nuts and I'd left it until a couple of days before she left to get a... Continue Reading →

What did you think being 50 would be like when you were 20 ... or 30 ... or even 40? I thought 50 was really, really old. Although ... I remember working at ACP Magazines as a 24-year-old and thinking the 35-year-olds were geriatric, so everything's relative. I don't feel like an old woman with... Continue Reading →

Turning 12 can be pretty intense when you head to school band practice at 7am, then do a full day of classes, then hop on a bus to skipping practice and jump for 90 minutes, then head home for a pizza dinner while your parents hover intently as you open your birthday gifts. The youngest... Continue Reading →

My Pookalooka turns 12 today. Happy birthday little (big) one ... she's taller than me already and still shooting up. Last night we had our traditional family gathering at the dodgy local teppanyaki. Having food flung at you never gets old. The youngest was very disappointed not to have Nonna and Pop along for the... Continue Reading →

Things went slightly pear-shaped after my party - there hasn't been time to tell you about it until now. I did something really stupid. Exhausted and a little post-party overwrought, I jumped into the ocean for some water therapy on Sunday and got myself into a spot of bother. I raced into the waves ahead... Continue Reading →

I still can't bring myself to watch the video of my speech from the party. I've been having speech regret ever since Sunday morning. Deeeeeeep, deeeeeep speech regret.  I thought my chest was going to explode with regret yesterday. When I confessed my panic to my sister she told me to stop overthinking it. That's... Continue Reading →

As Jennifer Warnes once warbled "I had the time of my life" on Saturday night. The cops even turned up! But you'll have to wait a sec to hear about the fun bits while I debrief the not-so-fun bits. I went to bed a little (lot) sad on Friday about it being my last night... Continue Reading →

I went to the fruit shop yesterday to buy some plums and, as I was handing over the cash, the shop assistant said: "Do you have a Senior's Card?" Do. I. Have. A. Senior's. Card? It took a moment to register what she'd just said. When it did ... I made this face ... I... Continue Reading →

What would you do if a rat ran up to you in the street? Would you ... a. Scream and run b. Call the pest exterminators c. Grab a shovel d. Pick the rat up, put it in a box, take a photo and post it on Facebook, asking if it belonged to anyone. I'm... Continue Reading →

Gwarn, admit it ... how many of you checked what your vagina name was yesterday? A few people privately messaged theirs to me.  It was very entertaining being bombarded with vagina names. The last 12 hours have been far more G-rated. Actually, WHAT AM I TALKING ABOUT? Just before I left work last night I... Continue Reading →