During the in-denial early years of my marriage irrevocably falling apart, I saw a movie called Hope Springs. It was about a couple in their 50s - played by Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones - who’ve forgotten how to touch, love or connect with each other. I was quite devastated by Meryl Streep’s abject unhappiness in her... Continue Reading →
Gripped by crisis, mostly of the middle-aged variety
My ex thoughtfully forwarded me an email from domain.com.au yesterday that announced: The award winning series Avalon Now is back for Season 2. At the heart of Sydney’s idyllic Northern Beaches lies the sunny suburb of Avalon, where attractive, socially-progressive families cruise through life in four-wheel drives. But beneath the sunny veneer the suburb is... Continue Reading →
Things I’d rather not forget
I have a terrible, terrible, terrible memory. It erases whole swathes of events and people. It's obviously decided that capacity is limited so tough decisions need to be made about freeing up the hard drive. But I will never understand how it manages to totally erase people. Especially ones who remember me, by name. Like... Continue Reading →
The big news
I search the news sites each morning for stories that might interest members of the drinks association. It invariably leaves me with the skewed view that the world has morphed into a pretty weird and horrifying place. Yesterday was a total corker. Here were some of the headlines on smh.com.au ... >> Funeral 'interrupted by... Continue Reading →
My fractured life
Mondays are a tricky beast for me. By the time night falls, the kids have been gone for 48 hours and the house is feeling lonely without them. Normally I dodge the silence by going for a walk with friends, but everyone was pretty dusty in the wake of Catherine's 50th on Sunday night. So... Continue Reading →
No self-restraint, none at all
I had the best intentions when it came to my friend Catherine's 50th birthday party on Saturday night. An early one, I said. Not too much to drink, I said. Pffffft! As if there's the tiniest bit of self-restraint in me ... I mean, things were never going to be low-key when they started with... Continue Reading →
Mixology with a minor
The youngest was pestering me to "make something" with her yesterday. So we concocted some strawberry shortcake-infused vodka together. I'm not sure that's in the Mum of the Year handbook. The youngest was initially resistant to making infused vodka until I pointed out she was currently sugar free and couldn't eat baked goods anyway. And... Continue Reading →
My lost night with Simon Baker
There's a celebrity moment from my past I haven't told you about. It involves me almost spending the night swing dancing with Simon Baker in New York. I realise it would be a much better story if I HAD spent the night swing dancing with Simon Baker in New York. But I didn't, so you'll... Continue Reading →
Time for a change
When my life was feeling a little uncertain last year I borrowed some money from the bank. I told the bank manager it was for home renovations, but it was really to keep me - and the kids - afloat if times got tough. Now I have a full-time gig I'm thinking I might use... Continue Reading →
My birthday boy
I spent months wondering how to make DD's birthday (today) special. So many plans flitted through my head. But - as you and Woody Allen both know - if you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans. So nothing turned out quite the way I expected. Well, one thing did. Actually, it... Continue Reading →