The Journal

A masterclass by legacy media in how to write a press release is self-serving on their part and a waste of time on mine. But my nasty email was unnecessary. Maybe we're both trapped in the twentieth century.

A day-long date with The Husband in south-east Queensland's Scenic Rim

“Would you like the creamy pesto pasta or the ham, coleslaw and potato salad?” They both sounded good to me. Any meal which doesn't involve planning, shopping or cooking on my part is always a winner. But forced to choose I selected the ham salad. Delicious. More on food The flight attendants continued down the…

I have a confession to make. But first, my day. Urgent I woke anxious, worried about the tax return I haven't done. A list of questions from the accountant first hit my in-box last December. A gentle reminder followed in February. A phone call a few days later. Then yesterday, as I was scribbling notes…

A gray day is remarkable here in this city of hard blue skies and flat line thermometers. And when the gray day comes with rain the locals lose the plot, abandoning public transport to travel by car, averse to puddles and umbrellas and possibly wet hair. So when I drove to the cultural precinct for…

I walked into the kitchen at eight o'clock tonight and retrieved a half-full bottle of wine from the fridge. I poured a glass and ripped the plastic wrap from a magazine that arrived in today's mail, the Queensland Writers Centre quarterly. I leaned against the kitchen bench and made space amongst the bread crumbs and…

Writing for a small sport with no media budget poses unique challenges. But like all reporting, the rewards come from getting close to the action.

Tonight I looked up from my book, a novel I started more than a year ago, dusted off for a second chance over a gin and tonic, and noticed the sky. Between the dense foliage of my neighbour's trees the dying light gave a final, defiant shout. Bands of baby boy blue and lobster pink…

Technically it’s two minutes into the second day of the year. But I’ve been thinking about this note for a couple of hours so I’m going to fiddle with the clock and date stamp it 1st January 2018. It’s important that I start the year well (by cheating? No! Writing). Waste Not Want Not The…

December might easily slip by without a note, with no record of what transpired. But today, three days shy of year’s end, I’m carving out some time to mark the month. And as is often the case, it’s because I’m gripped by heightened emotions. I’m bitter and sad and angry, shaking an imagined cage and…

Is three o'clock in the afternoon too soon to document the day? I'm waiting for The Ballerina to emerge from the dance studio and this seems like a more productive use of my phone than aimlessly scrolling through social media. Rain Today's wet. The sky is white grey and the rain is falling in fat…

Today was not a Fun Friday. I didn't do yoga, shop, coffee and chat with The Bestie. No, today was an office grind day. Tax toil I finished the final Business Activity Statement for the quarter, but not without some stumbles. The bank account refused to reconcile, forcing me to go back two quarters and tidy.…

The Champion is sound asleep on the sofa; face down, one leg straight, dangling, the other pulled up to her chest. She sleeps like me. And snores like her father. She's been up since 5:30 this morning running the adult squad at the swim school where she teaches part time. University is over for the…

Today 62 per cent of Australians are happy because their team, the yes vote, won the same-sex marriage survey. There are rainbows everywhere. Getting on with it A Bill to amend the Marriage Act has already been introduced into Parliament. But the nation has no stomach for further discussion. Our weak leaders passed the buck…

It's very late and my forehead feels like it has a tartan octopus strap wrapped around it, secured with hooks at my temples. Storms are breaking up around us, so the air is suffocating without rain's relief. And there is a single fly buzzing around the room adding its drone to the downpipe drip and the blood-pressure…