The first thing I did was drop the toddler on the floor. In my defense, it was early days and I didn’t know then that she still needed to learn how to bend in the middle. With her legs stuck out like an Olympic skier she went downhill at a hundred miles an hour, fell … More Cousins and other close relations
I’m the sort of person who needs three forms when I’m on the plane going into the US and they tell you you can’t make a mistake on the form. I always make a mistake. It’s because I think faster than I can write and my first thoughts are not necessarily spellchecked or belonging to … More Opportunity lost
I was 18 years old when I flew by myself from New Zealand, to South Bend, Indiana. It was 1972. I cried all the way from Invercargill to Christchurch which is a long trip in a turbo prop plane. I didn’t even have a passport. When I left Auckland a few hours later, I had … More Family
There are things in life that require great contemplation. At what stage of their development should I remove the weeds from the vegetable garden? What should I take out of the freezer for the evening meal? Should I go to the physio for my arthritic knee when there are no guarantees it will help? It … More Slow
Once upon a time we had banks. They were places that kept the money we deposited and held the mortgages over our houses. The bank buildings were ornate and difficult to heat, but they smelled of money and had a big safe somewhere out the back that was filled with the stuff. I know this … More A DIY Life
If it hadn’t been for the honour awarded to my former boss (and mentor) and the nice woman at the gym who got a QSM, I’d have given a rant here about the stupidity of the Honours System. Who wants a country – particularly one the size of ours, full of Dames and Sirs I … More Missed out again
I’m writing this morning – zoning in on the characters I left yesterday – the man whose son was killed and the reporter who heard him say he was going to kill the person who took his son’s life. It’s raining. My husband is in the kitchen being productive by writing down how much it … More The Reality of being a writer
I am a great fan of Elizabeth Strout. For those of you untouched by her genius, she is an American writer – in her glorious 60’s with something to say. I recently recommended her writing to a friend because of her wonderful characters. When I did a little research online, I discovered that everything she … More In awe of Elizabeth Strout
How wonderful it must to be coming out of lockdown into spring. We in New Zealand are looking at autumn leaves and the prospect of cold, rainy days ahead. Everyone seems to be fed up with the solo life and the word “bubble” sends me screaming for cake which has created another problem. Toothache. I … More In praise of modern dentistry
It’s autumn and dark now most mornings when I wake up. The other day my husband was still sleeping when I grabbed my glasses and my slippers and crept out. It was a most unusual morning. Everywhere I looked things were tinged with this miraculous amber light – until I opened the refrigerator and realized … More The Joy of Glasses
I used to think that once I’d learned the days of the week and was able to recall their order I would never be without an anchor to the present. Occasionally I would consult a calendar, but that was for the future. Would I have time, I would ask the calendar, to fit in the … More App appeal
