Was anyone else a little freaked out by the PM's announcement that he was beefing up Australia's defence capabilities by spending $270 billion to protect us in the “dangerous“ post-COVID-19 world? Far out it unsettled me. "We have not seen the conflation of global economic and strategic uncertainty now being experienced here in Australia, in... Continue Reading →

I forgot to tell you - a burly family popped over to my house on Saturday, hefted my art deco lounge suite into a trailer and drove it away. One of the blokes was so burly he simply wrapped his arms around an armchair, straightened up and strode out the door with it. The family... Continue Reading →

I took a half day off on Friday and another on Monday, so I'm a bit frantic catching up on work. I'm keeping the words in this blog post to a minimum and sticking to the visuals. Since we last spoke, DD took an arty fireside whisky photo for me for The Thirsty Travellers: Click... Continue Reading →

I shouldn't be shocked by this news, but I am: Qantas chief Alan Joyce reckons we won't be travelling internationally until July next year. And I think by "internationally" he means New Zealand. Joyce said yesterday that the “travel bubble” with New Zealand has progressed, but access was unlikely until 2021. “(For) international, we have... Continue Reading →

Forgive the air of mystery yesterday - various stresses, including a dear friend being very ill, got me down. I don't think kids understand how unrelenting life as an adult can be - you can't stop the world when you want to get off, there are too many bills to be paid. Everything needs to... Continue Reading →

I have a heavy heart and I need to distract myself. So I’m going to prattle about celebrities today instead of the big stuff. Here goes ... Remember me blogging about  Bruce Willis and Demi Moore quarantining together with their kids during COVID-19? Daughter Tallulah explained at the time: “We made the choice to quarantine together and... Continue Reading →

DD sent me an article yesterday from the SMH, featuring journalists reminiscing about their encounters with Kerry Packer during his rein at ACP. It was such a step back in time. The article slipped up when it said: "Overlooking Hyde Park, the top floor private dining room with its full time chef and waiters was... Continue Reading →

The youngest wants to get her cartilage pierced, so I gave her a lift to the shopping centre on Saturday to try her luck. She was convinced she could pass for 16 and get it done without parental permission. As if! I didn't even bother objecting to the cartilage piercing idea, I knew I was... Continue Reading →

When I was flush with cash I loved shopping on US & UK fashion websites. My favourites included The Outnet, Shop Bop, Lucky Brand and Gap. Outnet still sends me emails. I must remember to unsubscribe, because I'm pretty sure I will never buy designer sale items from there again unless I have a lottery... Continue Reading →

I was shocked to read an AFR article yesterday about Bauer selling its Australian magazine operations to private equity firm Mercury Capital. The sale comes just months after it was forced to continue with its acquisition of Pacific Magazines from Seven West Media for $40 million. Bauer entered the Aussie market in 2012, when it paid... Continue Reading →