I have no idea how I grew up in Newcastle and spent years visiting in-laws on the Central Coast, yet never knew Somersby Falls existed. Somersby had always seemed such an in-betweeny place to me - just a turn-off on the freeway during my trips back to Newie. But DD's friends hired a house there for... Continue Reading →

How did you ring in 2016? DD and I crashed a party held by my sister's friends. So many lovely, friendly people and THE BEST slow-cooked beef brisket sliders with mac 'n' cheese and coleslaw. Mmmmmm. At 9pm we nicked off to the harbour to watch the fireworks from DD's favourite secret spot. Before After... Continue Reading →

My brain was a bit fried yesterday, so I was stoked to receive an email from my blogging platform, WordPress, containing HouseGoesHome's annual report. Phew, I thought, no need to come up with a blog topic for today. Here are some of the highlights ... "The Louvre Museum has 8.5 million visitors per year. This... Continue Reading →

I am the opposite of spontaneous. I like order and at least a month's notice. DD is very spur-of-the-moment in his approach to life. I have no idea how we ended up together. (Actually, I do, RSVP ... but anyways ...) Case in point: as I sat at my computer working in my sweaty gym... Continue Reading →

What are you having for breakfast this morning? I'm nibbling on pumpkin and goat's cheese risotto as I write this blog. I got up early and cooked myself a batch - I just couldn't face more scrambled eggs, they were making me nauseous. While I was laid up after my pre-Christmas surgical procedure, all I could... Continue Reading →

I wanted to do boring things yesterday, like shop for groceries and tidy up the house. My fridge is bare and my floors are filthy. But DD wanted to take his family on one of his favourite adventures - the ferry from Palm Beach to Ettalong. And he was keen for me to join the... Continue Reading →

DD was heading to Leichhardt for a farewell cup of coffee with his sister yesterday before she jetted across to the west coast, so he offered to drop me into the city for the sales. I thought it sounded like fun - I've never been to the Boxing Day sales in the city. It was... Continue Reading →

How does your family celebrate Christmas? It's traditional for the extended HouseGoesHome clan to kick off their festivities at Balmoral Beach with fish and chips on Christmas Eve. The sporty members of the family hit the sand for beach games while the more sedentary members sip champagne in folding chairs under a nice, shady tree.... Continue Reading →

Remember the eldest writing me a letter that thanked me for being "firm" with her? Well, it's a selective sort of firm. I have zero tolerance for rudeness, disrespect and cruelty. But I'm pretty much a pushover with everything else. (Case in point: the trapeze in the youngest's bedroom.) And, when the eldest asked me... Continue Reading →

Always the optimist, I was expecting to be way more mobile by now. But popping heavy-duty pain meds means I'm the total oppposite: I haven't been able to drive anywhere or get any Christmas prep done. Eeeeeek. So I'm going to try and go drug-free today - well, at least hard stuff - so I... Continue Reading →