The mag hag rises

I may not work in the magazines (or even journalism) anymore, but it doesn't stop my brain whirring about the cult of celebrity. For many  years I've believed the way forward for gossip mags, in the age of paparazzi photos and celebrity news being incredibly hard to keep exclusive, was the have a bit more... Continue Reading →

So beautiful to me

I never tire of gazing at the ocean and hearing the waves crash, so when DD invited friends up for Sunday lunch I suggested we do a bit of sightseeing while they were in the Northern Beaches 'hood. Top of my list was Barrenjoey Lighthouse, so we could combine viewing pleasure with hard yakka. The... Continue Reading →

Celebration time

It's my dad's birthday tomorrow. We celebrated last night at my sister's place. Most family events play out my sister's deck these days - weddings, birthdays, Christmas, Easter - though my mum reckons my 50th should be a Waikiki affair. She's piling up the Frequent Flyer points ... who am I to argue? My sister's... Continue Reading →

Remembering the way we were

You know you're getting old when you sit around the dining table regaling children with stories about what it was like when I was young. That's what I found myself doing at a friend's house last night. We told them about how there were no ATMs, so you had to make sure you got enough... Continue Reading →

That slice of anger in the pie of your brain

A post popped up in my Facebook feed yesterday from my break-up bible, Huffington Post Divorce. It was an extract from the dearly departed Nora Ephron's book I Remember Nothing And Other Reflections. I love Nora Ephron. I dream of writing the way she did. I shed so many tears and found so much comfort... Continue Reading →

I can see clearly now

Old age, you terrible thing. I drove over my glasses the other day. I'd spent days wondering where they were. They were here ... in the driveway ... Kinda arty, really. They must have been in my lap then fallen on the ground when I got out of the car. I didn't notice and they... Continue Reading →

A DIY Brazilian story WAAAAAAY funnier than mine

Remember my DIY Brazilian? (How could you forget?) Well, one of my readers shared this story with me from a forum. I have no idea of its origin or authenticity, but it made me laugh until I cried so I thought you might enjoy a giggle too. In her case, it went horrible wrong ...... Continue Reading →

How James Packer & Mariah (and other celebs) celebrated July 4

I was MOST amused to see the posts from Mariah Carey on how she spent July 4. In Capri. On the Arctic P. With James Packer. And dem babies. And fireworks. Initially I thought to myself: "How strange that the Isle of Capri celebrates July 4 with fireworks, oh well ..." Until I got to... Continue Reading →

The seasons of my life

There was ice all over my car windscreen yesterday morning. I don't remember EVER having ice on my car in Sydney before. I was so bloody cold last night that I couldn't get to sleep. Flannelette pyjamas, bed socks, doona, dressing gown draped over the top ... and still shivering an hour later. DD, however,... Continue Reading →

Adventure awaits me in …

A few weeks ago, booking.com sent me an email with a header that said: "Alana, we've found last-minute deals for you in Ryde!" I thought it was a little odd, as I've never expressed the slightest desire to visit Ryde while on the booking.com site. I drive through the Northern Sydney suburb of Ryde on... Continue Reading →

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