What’s in a bag? Everything…

A woman’s relationship with her bag is complicated, literally full of personal baggage. When we plaintively proclaim, “what will I wear” (for it’s a statement, not a question)… we include ‘the bag’ in that, not specifically mentioned mind you, but implicit. Some women can play the bag field with ease, switching, proudly, between bags. I’m […]

Travels with Our Aunt

‘What a lot of traveling you have done in your day, Aunt Augusta’. ‘I haven’t reached nightfall yet’. In the 1969 book ‘Travels With My Aunt‘ the main character is a rather lacklustre retired Bank Manager Henry Pulling, whose main occupation is tending to his dahlias. At his mother’s funeral his Aunt Augusta sweeps in […]

The town everyone forgot…

Last weekend I spent 2 days in Gundagai with my man, and were so very pleasantly surprised. I had driven past Gundagai many times over the years but had never driven into the town. Arguably best known from the song “track winding back”, there is also much history to this lovely town on the Murrumbidgee. […]

Dilettante or Demented?

Why not both? I am heading off to the launch of the MIFF programme, like the opening of an envelope only better, this is about the launch of a list of films… but really – what to wear? It’s a very cool Melbourne event that is a lead up to the Opening Night of MIFF, […]

Red in the Face…

I don’t live on a high horse like some of my sisters, however I’m happy to make the climb to my high horse when required. I do like things to be a little bit real so when I saw a Red Rooster ad recently I raised one eyebrow until it hurt. The ad shows a […]

Pink Perspective

After a long drive to Sydney from home, I felt super sluggish and knew I had to get the body moving. Exercise is a real motivator for me and I knew how much better I would feel after a brisk walk. I set off in the lovely late Autumn afternoon sunshine and was getting up […]

Jill and the Pudding Doll

Do you remember honorary Aunty Jill, her dimples and stories? She is as engaging as a dinner party host who can’t remember your name and doesn’t want you to know… mind you Jill doesn’t forget much! I last met Jill on the train to the big smoke… “Oh darling, you’ll never guess where I’ve been!”, […]

The Competitive Nature of Us

There is a competitive/compulsive side to our family. Sometimes obvious, extravert almost, and other times just an inner challenge that no one knows or would even care to know.  Here are some starters … Yesterday, on an early morning walk, I saw another walker in front of megoing at a good pace.  The challenge was […]

A Woman in Her Prime

There is a lovely old novel about a school teacher, set in England pre WW2 . The main character is a Miss Jean Brodie and well  … in her prime. The book is called ‘The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie’ by Muriel Spark and it is deliciously discussed here in an episode of The First […]

The Deadly Sins of Networking

Deadly Sins of Networking # 1 You may have skipped lunch knowing that the meeting is at 5.00pm and from memory it is always well catered. Perfect you can fill up there! Noooo. You simply do not have enough hands to be holding onto your business cards, glass of red wine and four sushi rolls. […]