Show-off holiday post – Margaret River, Western Australia

In August 2002, I won the lottery. No, not cash, but I think something better. I was allocated a mothers group (groups were formed on the basis of postcode and when your baby was born). And 22 years later, we are still close friends – we meet regularly for dinner, have weekends away, and attempt to get as many of the children as possible together for an annual photo. We have supported each other through highs and lows, and celebrated milestones. There’s always a lot of laughter.

To mark the occassion of our ‘babies’ turning 21, we took a belated trip to Wadandi Boodja Country / Margaret River in Western Australia. For seven days, we ate the best food, drank the best wine (and gin), swan at the best beaches, had the best coastal views, and did lots of sight-seeing. And saw the aurora!

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Reading the Stella Prize shortlist – Body Friend by Katherine Brabon

I’m loathe to focus on a particular aspect of Katherine Brabon’s novel, Body Friend, for fear of giving away an important aspect of the story (which is best revealed to readers in their own time). The particular aspect of the story that I won’t comment on is the central character’s two new friends, Frida and Sylvia, both of whom she meets while recovering from major surgery (Frida at the hydrotherapy pool and Sylvia in the park). Continue reading

The Joy of Wild Swimming by Lonely Planet

I’m a list-maker. Three of my lists are for travel destinations – one for places I want to visit in Victoria, one for Australia, and one for international destinations. Every place on all three lists has a swimming opportunity. I can’t imagine going on holiday and not taking my bathers.

So obviously, as soon as I spied Lonely Planet’s latest publication, The Joy of Wild Swimming – a book describing 180 ‘…wild swimming spots and … uplifting bathing experiences’ – I had to have it. Continue reading

Things That Are Making Me Happy This Week

01. A visit to the NGV Triennial exhibition. I loved the Maningrida weaving; the spectacular life cycle of flowers by Japanese artist, Azuma Makoto; Jessica Murtagh’s nod to COVID via Athenian ceramic amphoras; and the marvelous confessions (‘I really hate Collingwood’). Continue reading