Not-so-fun fact: Maltese terriers’ tracheas often collapse as they get older. It’s a genetic flaw. The breed doesn't have enough cellular rings of cartilage in its windpipe, which can lead to breathing difficulties. My dog Charlie is part-Maltese and his trachea partially collapsed on Friday morning. I am on intimate terms with Dr Google, so... Continue Reading →

Consumer group Choice chipped the Australian Government this week over its promise to deliver “the strongest ever protection” for travellers in its new aviation consumer rights charter. It turns out airlines will not automatically be required to provide refunds for weather-related flight delays or cancellations, with Choice senior campaigns and policy adviser Bea Sherwood noting... Continue Reading →

I went to a conference yesterday at ICC Sydney called Destination Australia, organised by Tourism Australia. Karl Stefanovic was the MC and raced over to give his opening spiel straight after filming The Today Show. He seemed very chill about the quick switch, whereas I was a bit flustered by only remembering the conference at 11.30pm... Continue Reading →

One of my favourite things about expedition cruising is seeing parts of the world that are difficult to access any other way. We disembarked the Scenic Eclipse II in Cairns yesterday after being lucky enough to visit Great Barrier Reef islands including Lady Elliott, Great Keppel, Percy and Magnetic. While some, such as Magnetic, are... Continue Reading →

One of my justifications for booking a 12-day journey from Auckland to the Great Barrier Reef aboard the luxurious Scenic Eclipse II was that the cruise ends today, on my 57th birthday. Happy birthday to me! Blimey, those 57 years went way too fast. As did the cruise. We will be very sad to disembark... Continue Reading →

I hope everyone in the path of Cyclone Alfred is safe and well. We are living in crazy climate-challenged times. I was packing for a cruise from Auckland to Brisbane when the news broke that the city had been issued with its first cyclone warning in 35 years ... The universe must have overheard that... Continue Reading →

How was your weekend? Mine involved lots of food, bluebottles and faffing. The feasting kicked off with pizza with the youngest while we watched the first two episodes of 'Apple Cider Vinegar'. The new six-part series on Netflix tells the true story - well, slightly fictionalised - of a young Australian influencer called Belle Gibson... Continue Reading →

I was such a wine bogan last night. The Bourgogne Wine Board invited me to a media workshop last night and I literally had NO IDEA where Bourgogne was. Well, I knew it was in France, but I’d never heard of the region. You should have seen the look on the face of one of the... Continue Reading →

I am soaking too much up. Well, it was a good soaking late yesterday afternoon when I finally went for a swim at Bilgola. It has been a long time between dips due to life, weather and my back injury. But I went to Brian the physio at lunchtime and he said my disc inflammation... Continue Reading →