Do you know there are only 65 days left to Christmas? One thing is for sure, our retailers won’t be letting us forget. Big W is said to have started displaying Christmas decorations on their shelves more than a month ago. Meanwhile reports from the UK claim Christmas cards, wrapping paper and mince pies have […]

Did you know that the magpie is Australia’s favourite bird? Known to many as a familiar friend, that doting black and white songbird can become a bit of a nightmare during the breeding season. Pedestrians and cyclists, alike, can be subject to terrifying aerial assaults as magpies seek to protect their young. But it’s a […]

Sadly, our Federal Parliament reached a shocking new low recently as manifestations of sexism, bullying and harassment came to the fore. During a debate in the Upper House on making pepper spray and tasers available to women, sexual slurs from an independent Senator from NSW again raised serious questions about male attitudes and behaviours towards […]

I adore my pet cat. Yes, I know, cats are not for everybody. But for those of us who delight in being owned by a cat, the idea of coming home at night to a cosy, cuddly, welcoming little friend is something to be cherished! With a cat around, one is never lonely. Cats are […]

There’s a craze going around the internet at present. It concerns a low-quality audio clip that says “Laurel” – or is it “Yanny”? This is a cause for great debate as some people hear the name “Laurel” and others hear “Yanny”. I can vouch for this. While watching ABC News, I distinctly heard the name […]

Weddings are special and my daughter’s wedding last Saturday was no exception. Preparations seemed to go on forever while the actual day was just perfect despite some of the imperfections that occurred. Clouds moved in to threaten a light shower. The bride was late for the ceremony. My one year grandson, who was to be […]

The pain of being separated or cut-off from a loved one is incalculable. We never get over it. On this Sunday I am particularly aware of the anguish and the heartache of those indigenous mothers whose children were snatched from their arms by authorities whose intention was to separate these kids from their Aboriginal communities […]

While Australia’s success at the Commonwealth Games has taken the heat out of our test cricketers recent dismal loss in South Africa, “cricket tragics” like myself are still in shock over the debacle that was the ball-tampering affair. It’s just not cricket! What is supposed to be the “gentlemen’s game” (I do acknowledge that women, […]

This year Easter falls on April Fools Day, a day of jokes, pranks and hoaxes. In 1975 the ABC television program “This Day Tonight” announced the country would be converting to “metric time” with 100 seconds to the minute, 100 minutes to the hour and 20 hours to the day. Viewers were mystified. One person […]

I must admit there are things in my life for which I feel shame. For instance, when I drive to West Epping I always park at the rear of the cottage in the space adjacent to the back wall. When someone else parks there I feel irritated and annoyed because “my” spot has been taken! […]