01. Sunday by the MTC was absolutely brilliant. I took this sneaky pic at the end to capture the way that the set designers had created an oak tree (of course, the pic doesn’t do it justice – it was a magical thing that moved in the ‘breeze’). So much of my Yarra walking time is spent around Heide and the magnificent old oaks planted in that area. Continue reading
Dear Dolly by Dolly Alderton Continue reading
I did away with ‘top tens’ a few years ago, and instead I finish the reading year with a recap of the books that are still speaking to me (less about four and five-star ratings, more about what has stuck). Continue reading
01. Melbourne Writers Festival program – an apt theme, given our uncertain times. In The Comfort Book, Matt Haig quotes film director Jean-Luc Godard who says a story should have a beginning, middle and end, but not necessarily in that order. Is it fair to say that we’re all craving classic narratives and conclusive endings, right now?! Continue reading
Illness is like a natural disaster. In that way, it is simple, because you have little choice but to accept it.
Through my work, I am in contact with many people living with, or caring for others with chronic illness. COVID presents an interesting situation for these people – on one hand, they are under increased pressure because regular support services have stopped or are reduced, and with that comes isolation. On the other, many have told me that now ‘everyone’ is experiencing what they live with every single day – a sense of isolation, having to plan every outing, and being fearful for their health.
Jacinta Parsons’s memoir, Unseen, chronicles her experience with chronic illness. It was published last year, in the middle of the pandemic, and she refers to the ‘groundhog day’ elements of COVID and chronic illness – Continue reading