Two footballs and three frisbees relaxed on the roof of the school hall on polling day. There were many small dogs on leads, many sausages in bread devoured and much money donated to the school on this perfect autumn day. Kids played football and basketball, and the girls did cartwheels. ... READ MORE
An Easter murmuration of starlings, darkly swerving ribbons of birds in a stuttering sky considering rain. By now we can eat no more chocolate, we have watched no television, played trivia tests and just talked and eaten and after we’re sure the kids are asleep, we place the eggs. Alan, ... READ MORE
These days seem to spring forth from some secret box nature has been keeping for the right day, and here it is. The pin oaks are becoming amber rivers dipping against the impossible blue sky. The bougainvillea is the deep colour of purple wildness held in a pot. The dog ... READ MORE
I had seven rejections for my first novel and each was as painful as a graze. Random House took it on in the end, probably as a favour to my editor/agent, and then held it back from publishing for eighteen months When it was finally published, it was shortlisted for ... READ MORE
The beaches in Sydney were gold and blue and the orange sunsets were probably the best in the world. We lived opposite Wedding Cake Island and the sea surrounded the island like blue clouds. Coogee then was rugged and a bit rough. Mel Gibson had a house two doors up ... READ MORE
Last night Maisy, our old dog, sat outside with the crickets singing along the fence line, just getting along with each other. It was warm and she lifted her head to watch the bone white moon while everyone else was in bed and silence dropped around her until even the ... READ MORE
The other day my granddaughter Hazel and I were sitting on a little table before a creaky fan. We were on tiny chairs in the kid’s room cutting out rainbows when she said, ‘Nan can we have a sleepover at your house soon?’ I’d missed the last one because I ... READ MORE
On the plane the Irishman next to me helps with my seat belt because I’m fumbling, and I feel curiously young and old. He’s reading a thriller. In a jet plane, when the full throttle thrusts, it’s like a carnival ride and then in comes the hefty lift into the ... READ MORE
It’s been a few weeks since A started school. He’s six, now coming on seven and tall in that willowy fair way like a young sapling. I remember him at Nippers in his blue and pink rashie, his nose smeared in zinc. It was probably six weeks ago, and he ... READ MORE
At Mont Park, for a long time the empty Larundel hospital was abandoned. I went there years ago to see it as an adult, in memory of my Pa. The walls were broken, and it seemed the ghosts were near. They fly like birds, you know, diving into the wreckage ... READ MORE