If you're looking for a wow-factor spot to sip cocktails in Sydney, you'd be hard-pressed to beat Aster Bar. Located on Level 32 of the InterContinental Sydney, Aster boasts incredible views of Sydney Harbour. And I got to experience them, along with the bar’s new signature menu on Friday night! I took along my friend... Continue Reading →

It’s my nephew’s birthday this week, which means it’s Teppanyaki time! But tragedy struck when my sister tried to book our regular restaurant and discovered it had shut down … a victim of progress, with the building to be demolished to make way for high-rise apartments. She was devastated - we’ve been going to that... Continue Reading →

I've always enjoyed creating stuff. I would construct endless Lego houses during the school holidays at my grandmother's place. She’d dutifully admire them and take photos of me with each one. I used to dream about buying ugly houses to save them from demolition and turn them into swans, like Three Birds Renovations do. I... Continue Reading →

Eleven years ago this week I announced on HouseGoesHome that I had met someone. It was only eight months after my marriage break-up, so technically it should have just been a rebound fling. Fast forward to 2025 and we're still dating. In early November 2014, I confessed that I’d massaged the truth in a previous... Continue Reading →

If you go on holidays to a certain country right now, I can't bring myself to "like" the photos on social media. I just can't. I am terrified by what's happening there, as it teeters on the edge of totalitarianism, and I’m mystified by the Australian travellers who don't seem the least bit bothered, lured... Continue Reading →

Saturday, November 1, 2025. Club Kotara, Newcastle. “Dear Mr Vernon, we accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong. What we did *was* wrong. But we think you're crazy to make us write an essay telling you who we think we are. What... Continue Reading →

An unexpected blog post dropped into my inbox yesterday. It was from a website called The Rhythm Method, which gives no details about the author. A line at the top simply says "the online journal of Karen Mills". The post was called "Births, deaths and marriages" and it was posted on December 10, 2024, so I have... Continue Reading →

I had a lovely time on Wednesday night with the Calabria family as they marked 80 years of winemaking. They're a good-looking bunch ... That's Elisabeth Calabria on the left and Andrew Calabria on the right. And their wines are pretty fabulous too - they've had the same winemaker, Emma Norbiato (middle), for more than... Continue Reading →

SEEK emailed me yesterday, suggesting I would be a "strong applicant" for the role of Digital Editor at Woman’s Day. Oh, the irony. Fortunately, after spending many years pining for weekly magazines, the only things I miss these days are my former pay check and parking space in the city. In other exciting news, Tim... Continue Reading →

As my hairdresser rinsed out my colour on Saturday afternoon he announced he was closing early because he was done for the day. No! I said. You still need to cut my hair! No! He replied. I've already cut it! I was talking so much - both to him and the woman sitting in the... Continue Reading →