It has been a massive three days in HouseGoesHome land. The youngest turned 18 on Friday and we went to the coolest place called The Surf Deck to celebrate. Sitting in the restaurant feels like you've gone on holidays - the decor is tropical and the view is divine. We ordered Pina Coladas and soft... Continue Reading →

My daughter turns 18 today. Eighteen! It feels like it was just yesterday that my baby was a puggle. While the eldest was born with the most perfect, creamy skin, the youngest developed terrible eczema from a very young age and looked like this: Oh, let me rewind, she was born looking like this ...... Continue Reading →

I received an invitation yesterday to a cocktail bar opening at a fancy hotel. The start time said 8.30pm. I replied thanking the marketing person for the kind invitation and asked if the start time was a misprint. 8.30pm? Far out! That's putting-on-my-pyjamas time, not my walking into a bar opening time. I am kind... Continue Reading →

It is not easy to buy me gifts. I feel uncomfortable receiving them and I can never think of anything that I want. I love giving gifts and revel in the excitement of choosing the perfect one for other people. But I hate being the centre of attention while unwrapping a gift and I struggle... Continue Reading →

I was transfixed by an ad I saw yesterday for World Down Syndrome Day, which falls on March 21. Actress and model Madison Tevlin stars in the ad, speaking about the stereotypical ways the world sees her as a person with Down syndrome. She starts by saying: “Hey bartender, you assume that I can’t drink... Continue Reading →

I am still coming to terms with how it feels to be on the wrong side of 50. What I can definitively say is that being 56 hurts and it is a bit tiring. But it is also filled with love and I have so many awesome things to look forward to doing in my... Continue Reading →

You know how I was agonising over cabin types for the cruise we’re contemplating? Well our new travel agent checked into the cheaper, no-balcony cabin and discovered it was designed for passengers in wheelchairs and had a curtain instead of a door into the bathroom, with no separate toilet. Not ideal. Plus we got lots... Continue Reading →

DD asked me yesterday if I was excited about the cruise we're about to book. Kind of, but it's also keeping me awake at night. As much as I love holidays, they make me nervous. I worry about the cost and I'm freaking out that it is too extravagant to book a balcony cabin. I've... Continue Reading →

DD and I attended a cruise information session yesterday. Yep, it was date night. There was lots of obligatory Champagne, paired with obligatory arancini balls. DD gave me his arancini ball after he discovered it was mushroom. He's not a mushroom man. I'm a mushroom woman. We watched lovely videos of Ponant cruises to Antarctica,... Continue Reading →

DD and I made our yearly pilgrimage to a private music festival called Nook over the weekend. Nook is described by its creators as: "our private farm party fundraiser for kids with kidney disease. You know the drill - buy your ticket, pack your tent, bring your food and grog, dance and sing all weekend."... Continue Reading →