The “asbestos suit” of love
Love has been on my mind this week. Not romantic love, but the kind of love that makes all things possible and achievable. The kind of…
I ♥ Stones Corner
Discovering a new neighbourhood is a daily exercise in looking out for the new and unusual, the nooks and crannies, and characters that make up a…
Happy little vegemites
Australian travellers throw a jar (or in recent years a plastic tube) of it in their suitcases and backpacks. Expat Aussies hunt it down at specialist…
A sweet, suite treat of a weekend
An upgrade’s always welcome when you’re travelling. I mean, there’s something lovely about an unexpected surprise that makes you more comfortable, whether it’s more legroom on…
Sunset and seafood at Surfers Paradise
A gondola glides past our table overlooking the river. It’s a slightly surreal moment, given that we’re not in Venice (or Vegas), but at Surfer’s Paradise…
Kicking up at Cabaret de Paris
Many years ago, on a best-forgotten bus tour of Europe, I fell in love with Paris. In the years since then, I’ve been back a few…
Dancing in the dust
In an ancient ceremonial bora ring on remote Cape York, the dust is rising as feet pound the earth in what must be one of Australia’s…
Out of the darkness: Tommy’s story
Imagine this. It is 1949. In small-town Australia, a young woman makes a decision that will change her life and – immeasurably – those of her…
Straddie re-visited
Sometimes we don’t have to go far from home to find somewhere special. In my case, a few days away was enough to remind me of…
Courage and creativity…it’s a ‘deadly’ combination
Visitors to Australia may see little of its indigenous culture, unless they seek it out or include Central Australia on their itinerary. An Aboriginal busker playing…
A Glass Half Full 