Meet Bruce from Yarram
Bruce is a retired stud bull – no longer undertaking his usual duties on the farm due to his size. So, he’s being kept on as a pet and I’d say he looks like he’s thoroughly enjoying the relaxed lifestyle of his retirement. This big boy belongs to my nephew Chris and his partner Dean […]
Who says I don’t have a green thumb …
I’ve never been much of a green thumb when it comes to gardening. But I do enjoy gardens—looking at them, eating the fruit, smelling the flowers and herbs, and occasionally using them in cooking. But my grandmother was the real gardener in the family. She grew flowers, vegetables, and fruit trees on her farm at […]
27 Dresses and Two Shards of Teeth
I screamed. Not because of the pain, but because I had obliterated my best feature—my two front teeth. Even in the dark, I didn’t need to see them to know the damage was done. Instinctively, I lifted my finger to my mouth to assess the wreckage: my front teeth were shattered. One was broken halfway […]
A Tribute to Bev
Since moving to Victoria, only five years ago, grief has been a constant companion in my life. Five cherished friends from Tasmania are now gone, leaving me with only beautiful memories and an ache in my heart that won’t go away. Cancer claimed three, Type 1 diabetes another, and COVID-19, stole yet another. Each loss […]
My Point to Pinnacle Adventure
Sunday 17 November 2024, marked the day my daughter Sarah, and I tackled the legendary Point to Pinnacle in Hobart, Tasmania. This year happened to be the 30th anniversary of the P2P, a gruelling event that begins at Wrest Point Casino and finishes on top of kunanyi – Mount Wellington, the beautiful mountain that overlooks […]
Is Squinting a Sign your Child needs Glasses – or just Plain Cute?
Did you see that? Or would you have missed it, like my youngest brother did for the first 11 years of his life? Glasses for Kids, is a program currently being tested in schools, to screen kids for the need for glasses. If this initiative had been around back in the day, my youngest brother […]
Nannie Memes – #5
Who needs paper or a canvas when they’ve got a body (or a mat, or an easel) to create their latest masterpiece on? Trust me, I’m not going to draw on the mat. And I’m so good. I use my easel. You’re not in trouble because you told the truth. I’d be in trouble if […]
Hot days, proteas and driving without a license – Part 2
One hot Saturday afternoon in a late October, Dad wanted to go to Bunnings to buy a protea. He loved those plants, and I wanted to do everything I could to give him some joy in his last few weeks on earth. So, it was up to me to take him because Mum had an […]
Hot days, proteas and driving without a license – Part 1
One of my favourite podcasts is the Blindboy Podcast. The episode titled ‘Crying and Shame and Underpants’, 23rd November, 2022 brought back painful memories that I had buried decades ago. When Blindboy shared the story of his father dying from cancer and the realities of watching someone succumb to that sinister disease, it reminded me […]
Celebrating Winter Solstice in Hobart, Tasmania
There’s something truly special about stripping down to your bare skin, wearing nothing but a bright red bathing cap, and wrapping yourself in a big white towel. Your skin might be a bit different to the skin you were born in; it’s definitely hairier and shows signs of aging and sun damage, it might be […]