The Journal

My eyes are red-rimmed and I had a take-away burger for dinner. With chips. I even ate the bread roll, forgetting my current ban on wheat. It's been that sort of day. Not broad enough First there was the rejection email. That story I pitched, the daily note I liked so much I offered it…

Communicating is a tricky business. Sometimes, no matter how carefully words are chosen or thoughtfully delivered, the message misses the mark. Changing guard There's a new boss at the tip of the organisational pyramid and she's breathing fresh air into our sporting organisation. With its small membership base, limited budget and thinly stretched volunteers, our…

Picture me running down Boundary Street in West End, Birkenstocks slapping as I dodge kerb-side tables and sandwich boards in my rush to make it to yoga on time. Summer still burns at full force here and this mid-morning run reduced me to a wet, panting mess. Not a good way to start yoga. But parking…

We celebrated mum's 70th birthday with lunch today. We filled two long tables, even with one child and three grandchildren missing. We're a big family and we're all noisy and confident and brash. If the restaurant had known how noisy they may not have taken our booking. Organisational skills Our approach to special events is…

Today ended with a creme brulee that woke the neighbourhood when, after three solid taps of increasing intensity, its toffee crust ruptured and the shards gave way to warm, sweet, creamy custard beneath. Before leaving the Paddington landmark I told Montrachet owner and chef Shannon Kellam I wanted to record the crunch to play for other…

Roger Federer has just won the Australian Tennis Open, his 18th grand slam victory and his first tournament since taking six months off to recover from a knee injury. He's 35-years-old. Ancient. Hearts bleed for his opponent, Raphael Nadal, who displayed more courage in the game and grace in defeat than the entire new crop of men's hopefuls…

Australia Day. The Husband left early for the hospital to round because even on public holidays people are sick. I slept in, then dragged myself to the gym for a half-hearted exercise session: 17 (slow), boring minutes on the rowing machine followed by step-ups onto a bench to make my butt work, crunches on a ball to remind…

Tonight I belted out 800 words that were so good I've pitched them to a magazine. So you can't read them here. Unless of course they are rejected. Which is possible. OK, highly likely. But then I'll just pitch them somewhere else. Because they're good. For now, I'll just leave you with the title and…

Not every day is noteworthy, yet every day demands a note. Today's challenge is to craft one without using the first person. Clean clothes Clean washing made its way from washing baskets into closets and drawers today. The washing expressed surprise at the care taken with sorting and folding, appreciating the attention given to seam alignment…

Ever since the youngest started grade one, the first day of school has been a day to skake things up. Today, after the Ballerina and I breakfasted at a nearby cafe, I dropped her at the gate to start year eleven. Her older sister berated me for this. She used to catch the bus. What can I say?…

It's been eight weeks since The-Father-in-Law died with a parting instruction to "love each other". He uttered this entreaty within moments of learning about his imminent death. He'd been preaching this all his life and now, with time running out, there was an increased urgency for him to be heard. He may have been addressing his immediate family. But I doubt it. I…

It's been a very long day and it's tempting to fall into bed without a daily note. But that's a slippery slope and it's too early in the piece to be making excuses. So here's a run down. Ballet girl The Ballerina's show opened tonight. She's been rehearsing since May last year, intensely for the…

Tonight we dine with old school friends. Although I don't feel old and I'm sure they'd say the same. But we graduated in 1985 so I reckon the adjective is apt. Our school year was close. The Husband and I met in english class on day one of year 11. We found ourselves in the…

The cafe is insane today. FAMILIES have invaded my usual spot down the back. There's a handful of adults and an army of preschoolers, all squawking and half-standing, half-sitting while they spill juice and fling egg around. (The kids. The adults are pretty well-behaved.) Honestly. Get a take-away and go to the park. That's what…

It's a seductive sport. Three weapons - epee, foil, sabre - with varying rules around giving way and valid contact points, but essentially it's the same game. Hit your opponent before they hit you. The Athlete - The Athlete started playing at high school. Like many millennials who play the sport, she says she was influenced by…