You know that feeling you get when you totally nail the perfect gift? I got it last night as I sat in the fourth row of a Tim Minchin concert at the Sydney Opera House forecourt, sharing the Christmas pressie I gave DD. Those seats were sooooooo AWESOME. As was Tim. Go the gingers! Tim... Continue Reading →

I thought I'd settled into "comfortable" middle age until I was unceremoniously flung back into the dating pool at the not-so-tender age of 46. I'd adopted a style of dressing that would make Maggie Tabberer proud, thrown away most of my heels, loved my utilitarian Bonds undies, went to bed at 9.30pm every night, cooked elaborate... Continue Reading →

I usually do a weekly round-up on a Sunday. But it's been a massive "my year" and I'm curious: do you think it's normal to have so much happen? It feels like I've transformed into a one-woman soap opera. A school mum noted in the playground last week that my life is always dramatic. I'm... Continue Reading →

Do we let our children grow up too soon? Are we doing it all wrong? I look at my towering eldest and compare her life at 11 with mine. It's like we're from different planets. When I was a kid, going out never got more exotic than honey king prawns at the local Chinese restaurant.... Continue Reading →

Kids' brains - and their limitless imaginations - totally fascinate me. Here's a poem my eight-year-old wrote at school ... It was pinned to the wall in her classroom - my ex spotted it on parent information night and sent me a snap. (The youngest has the most awesome teacher: Mrs L. This is our... Continue Reading →

It's dangerous when I have time on my hands ... I get sucked into the digital vortex ... even more so than usual. As I sat at home recovering from my op yesterday, I couldn't stop edging towards the phone, iPad and computer for yet another fix. I should have been lying on the couch... Continue Reading →

I've had worse days. I feel weary but pretty good, all things considered. Everyone was so lovely at the hospital. The nurse who admitted me even waved as they wheeled me past to surgery. Everything went according to plan. My Googling Gyno gave me the thumbs up afterwards. The only hiccup: my blood pressure lingered in... Continue Reading →

8am is a VERY inconvenient time for school mum friends and busy corporate types to deliver me to hospital, so I've bitten the bullet and asked my ex. He's been really nice about it, but part of him surely has to be thinking: isn't this the sort of stuff you get to skip after breaking... Continue Reading →

Recalibrating as a family post-separation can be unsettling sometimes. I felt guilty yesterday morning, for example, when I left my ex and the kids at home and headed out for the day. It was like I was deserting them and should have hung around so we could spend some quality time together. But spending quality... Continue Reading →

A week containing Friday the 13th AND Valentine's Day is a scary thing ... especially when it's the anniversary of your marriage breaking up. And mine somehow found new dramas to deliver. Fortunately, it's become a bit water off a duck's back. So I was totally whatever when I got a nasty comment yesterday from... Continue Reading →