We managed to get away and took Clever Girl for a long walk along the beach. While we were there, we saw a little seal pup. As we walked, we saw a big black lump on the sand, and I wondered if it was a dead seal. Mainly because we’ve met dead seals on the […]
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Is Your Home Your Castle or Prison?
Recently, I’ve been wondering whether your home is your castle or prison – does it keep you, or do you keep it? By now you’ll be aware of my thoughts on wealth – it’s not one thing or the other but a constant tradeoff between your time, health, and money. The suburb I live in […]
Too Late Now!
I admit it – now and again; I get annoyed with Clever Girl and want to send her back. But I recently realised it’s too late now. We can’t let her go. Where I live, pet regulation leans heavily toward desexing. Not that everyone does it, but that it’s more common than not. Clever Girl’s […]
Leaving a Legacy
Just recently, the notion of leaving a legacy keeps coming up again and again as I research and write blog posts and stories. For example, during research for a recent story, I discovered a large oak tree near here (which I’m particularly fond of) was planted sometime around 1870. Planted specifically to shade the house […]
Daffodils in Bloom
The other day, I happened to notice the daffodils are out. It’s not as exciting as when I lived in the UK – one day nothing, the next masses of them, but then again, mine have only been in the ground for a few years; not long enough to naturalise. But the thing I love […]
Dance of Death
When you die far from home An abandoned Australian outback town. Pulled by four skeletal horses, the ghost of a Cobb & Co carriage careens down the street. A light breeze blows red dust from one side of the road to the other. Li Quan is far from home. The last person in town. Grows […]
2022 Summer Wardrobe Plan
It’s cold and raining outside right now as I start thinking about my 2022 Summer wardrobe plan. I’m well rugged up with layers and layers trying to keep warm. 2021 Summer/2022 Winter Recap Last Summer I was wearing a lot of black, and found it uncomfortable to wear anything else (after the stroke). Coming out […]
July-August 2022 Progress Report
This is a combined July-August 2022 report, because quite frankly I’ve no idea why I didn’t do one in July. And I’m not going to bother this late. I suppose because I caught so many lurgies in June, I carried them through to July as well. Spent a lot of time asleep – going to […]
2022 Winter Wardrobe Update
As it turns out, my 2022 Winter Wardrobe Update is a tale of two sides of a coin – had to buy more than expected, but enjoyed in-person shopping. And I’m glad winter is almost over, because I’ll need to get more warm bottoms next year. 2022 Winter Wardrobe Recap Bascially, I slimmed down a […]
Dingo Hunting
Find your own pack Poor pretty, dark-haired Katie belonged to Steve. But kids are kids, and Steve was Steve, and Katie didn’t really have a choice in the matter. Until she takes matters into her own hands, and gets more than she bargained for. A story about fitting in, standing out, and finding the courage […]
Coming Soon! Australia Felix
I’m so excited! Australia Felix, my passion project is coming soon – set for release at the end of August. I hinted at the work on this in May 2021, so it’s been a long road getting here. I even had to learn a whole new suite of design tools! I’ll have to do another […]
In Case of Doubt
I recently came across an emergency alarm – “in case of emergency, break glass”. A clear and simple instruction, along with a clear and simple action – break the glass. I’m assuming the action triggers an alarm to sound, providing the opportunity to do something to help the situation. Which in turn, would make you […]
Climate Change in the Garden
We’ve seen climate change in the garden recently, because we took the first step toward our extension by cutting down some of the trees and shrubs, most of them weed species that had to be removed anyway. We’re all a bit in shock at how ruthless it’s been. On the one hand, the house is […]
Q3 2022 Plan
I can’t help but feel more positive about my Q3 2022 plan, there’s just enough change to make me feel like I might be getting somewhere. According to Dean Wesley Smith, the third quarter is the time of Great Regret, when you suddenly wake up realising the year is half gone. Not that I regret […]
Q2 2022 Review
So. Q2 2022 Review eh? Pffffffffff! For those who don’t know, that’s how you write the sound of someone blowing a raspberry (a very long one). Which coincidentally, is pretty much how I feel about the quarter. I can’t say there was much in the way of Great Forgetting, as I managed to stay more […]
June 2022 Progress Report
June 2022, was pretty much missing in action – I went out to visit a doctor and came home with a lurgy or two. It seems I need to build up my immunity after being confined to the house for the better part of two years. Even had to drop the 04:30 wakeup calls for […]
Latest Release! Taipan vs Brown
Today I want to share my exiting new latest release with you – a private eye mystery! It was great fun to write, and I hope you enjoy it. The Robin Hood of Private Detectives Georgia Garside. Foul-mouthed Private Investigator. Ex-contorionist. Out of her depth. In over her head. Caught up in the war between […]
May 2022 Progress Report
What can I say about May 2022, except that it came and went way too quickly. And I discovered there’s a world day for bees! Clever Girl and I visited her best friend, and I took a solo trip into town for my transplant review – then did some shopping, caught a tram, a train, […]
Dream House
Home is where the heart is A big block halfway up a hill in a quiet cul-de-sac. White weatherboard cottage with a heritage red steel roof. Fragrant yellow roses in the front garden. Gum trees out the back. White picket fence. Bill the postman knows exactly where his forever home is. But can he ever […]
The Greatest Ever Haiku
I wrote the Greatest Ever Haiku this morning, and I was so excited to share it with you. But there is a thing that sometimes happens to writers. It’s distraction. I’m sure it happens to other kinds of people too. When they’re doing whatever it is they do. But for a writer, it can be […]
Inflation and You
I’ve been watching the inflation rate with interest. And the local commercial tv stations running around like headless chickens talking about how disastrous inflation is and how we’re all ruined, yet not offering any concrete examples of how to manage you money to get the best band for each buck. Backgound To put it in […]
When Enough is Enough
Recently, I’ve been a bit short tempered and snappy. Prone to watering eyes at the oddest of occaisions. Thinking enough is enough! But not long ago I read an article by Peggy Kern, that made sense of it all. According to Kern, tears are an outer reflection of out internal state, triggering when we feel […]
World Day for Bees!
I recently discovered there is a day for bees. World Bee Day was created by Slovenia and endorsed by 115 UN members. It aims to create awareness of the “significance of bees and other pollinators for our survival.” You can what Australia’s Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) has to […]
Signature Wardrobe Warm Outfit
In the midst of energy price increases, we’ve had a cold snap, and my thoughts are turning to the kind of warm outfit you can wear when working from home on your own. While not turning the heating on. In the old days, people wore layers. Lots of layers. Their homes weren’t always windproof, and […]
The Second Son Squad
Danger within. Danger without. Abby Fisher wakes in the body of a girl masquerading as a boy at an Elite Military Academy. She must figure out why she’s there before she can get back home. But first, there’s the small matter of the rebellion to deal with. And who’s side is she on? The Princess […]