01. This week, it was announced that clothing chain Katies, is closing. A bittersweet moment. Katies was my first casual job (in the eighties) – I had desperately wished I was working at Sportsgirl or Portmans or Cherrylane but alas, it was selling elastic-waisted pants to middle-aged women, that filled my Friday nights and Saturday mornings.

Perhaps it was bonding in adversity, but it was at Katies that I met three other girls my age. Thirty-seven years later, we are still the best of friends. We’ve celebrated highs together and supported each other through the lows; we marked our 50th birthdays with a trip to Hawaii; the memories we share and the shorthand we have for so many things is priceless; and every time we meet we laugh and laugh. These women mean the world to me and I love them dearly. So a thank you to Katies.

(The pic above was taken when we returned from Hawaii – my husband greeted us with the Katies sign, which of course made us laugh).

02. Gin cocktails at Bowerbird and then a fabulous dinner at Kekou. The highlight was a scallop ceviche, with coconut, smoked salmon roe, and wonton crisp.

03. Watching: I Love Dick (Prime). It’s really weird and has White Lotus vibes. The fact that it is based on true events is blowing my mind.

04. Hot weather and European Christmas markets don’t really go together but nevertheless, we hit the German market in East Melbourne and the Swedish market in Toorak (now sipping on the Rhabarberschorle – rhubarb spritzer – that I bought at the German market).

05. Eating: Four Pillars Fabbrica tomato sauce with Lello gnocchi. Simply delicious.

06. Listening: Betty Taylor Young Dumb Immature EP and everything Lucy Dacus.