Five year-old granddaughter and I had an unexpected sleepover last Saturday. Her dad was in bed with a cold and her mum needed a break. I glanced at the kitchen clock. We had enough time to squeeze in a movie before bedtime. She’d only been to two before-a princess one, and Paddington Bear with a scary […]

A warm welcome from Yours Australia magazine.

Strange how life can loop back on itself. A few months ago, when the editor of Yours magazine, Lisa Sinclair, phoned to ask if I’d write a column for her my reaction was instantaneous. No thanks. Having been a columnist in New Zealand for more decades than I cared to remember, I assumed the world […]

  We live in dangerous times. I must be on constant look out for Enemies. Scribbler’s no help. In fact, she makes a point of befriending my foes. Take this roaring monster, for example… Though she knows I hate it, she insists on taking it out of prison and letting it roam around the house […]

Honestly, Scribbler’s such a slacker. First, she takes off around the world for nine weeks. Then she comes home and claims she’s TOO TIRED to write to you this month. So who has to climb into the swivel chair? That’s great news for you, of course. I may technically belong to the feline species, but […]

The hills were alive with the sound of hang gliders. They whooped as they soared off emerald slopes into clear alpine skies. A tanned young man caught my eye. Decked out in a crash helmet and long red socks, he unraveled the cords attached to his sail. Leaning back and surrendering to the wind, he […]

I was nervous about seeing Bono again. Chances of him recognizing me were zero. But the impact one small scruffy street cat can have on a human being is surprising. Bono was one of the main reasons I needed to return to New York.

As the nation prepares to celebrate the fierce irrational force that is motherhood, I think of Mum’s last words to me – “What would you know?”

Autumn’s my favourite time of year in Melbourne. The old Greek lady around the corner grumbles about the mountain of leaves in her front garden, but I love the crisp blue sky – and the promise of sleeping without the whoosh of aircon. Easter holidays bring back memories of Dad roping our tent and camping […]

How long is a cat entitled to snub you after you’ve been away? They’re supposed to have no sense of time, but Jonah seemed to realise I’d abandoned him for only three nights. My punishment was minimal. I received a frosty greeting at the door when I arrived home. He glowered at my suitcase, which […]