Midweek Moment #52: It’s Our First Birthday!
It's our birthday: one year of Midweek Moments! Sometimes it's been hard to find the time, and it's certainly required thought to come up with a unique photo each week, but Monique and I agree that this little project of ours has been worth the effort. Not...
Marlish Glorie: Looking Back, Going Forward—Being a Writer at Sixty
I'm starting a new series on my blog, in which I invite writers into the attic to share their stories of what it's like to be a writer. To kickstart the series, I'm thrilled to welcome: Marlish Glorie. (If Marlish's story inspires...
Midweek Moment #51: Lake Life
Once again, Monique and I have been of similar minds: Both of us have visited nearby lakes and captured the bird life. For me, the lake at sunset is like a balm. The softer light, its golden glow, and the longer shadows. Oftentimes, the surface of the water...
Midweek Moment #50: Time Out
We've taken time out from our busy lives to capture our 'midweek moments' this week. Although winter seems to have returned today, we had a break from it earlier in the week. The mornings were still bracing, but for a few days the skies were blue and...
Midweek Moment #49: Opposites
Monique and I have gone in opposite directions in more ways than one this week. Due to the cold weather, I kept my camera inside, while Monique spent time outdoors in Balingup. Mine's also a little, shall we say, abstract, whereas Monique's is real and sharp...
On Not Giving Up
This post could also be called On Failure, or On Working Hard, or On Learning Life's Lessons the Hard Way. When I was young, I spent most of each summer in our above-ground pool, swimming and jumping and tumbling and doing laps of its 20-foot...
Midweek Moment #48—Winter Light and Colour
It's mid-winter and even in sunny Perth the moss is flourishing. It's crept into our garden—over and between the pavers on the shady side of the house, and up the retaining walls. At the Lake the other day, I spotted it climbing the tree trunks, as if to...
Midweek Moment #47
They might be a bit late, but our Moments this week are still and serene: Earlier in the week, I spent an hour down at the lake photographing the bird life. I find that place so soothing, not just for the images of water, birds, and plant life, but also for...
I Have An Agent!
Just in case someone didn't hear me shouting it from the rooftops of Facebook on Monday, I have an agent. Yes, a literary agent has agreed to represent my novel, Ida's Children. That's a big step forward for Ida and me, as she's...
Midweek Moment #46
Monique and I love the opportunities the rain brings, although I'm more of a summer person—well, most of me is, except my skin. Blue skies are inviting, and I feel more energetic, and want to venture out for walks and photos. I whinge when it's grey and...
Midweek Moment #45
Monique and I are trying something different this week: Instead of posting a single photo, we're posting a series. By bringing you more photos, we'll (hopefully) give you more enjoyment! I spotted these flowers in St Kilda Botanical Gardens when I was in...
When You Don’t Want Your Kids To Make the Same Mistakes As You
Last week, I wrote about how I'd found it hard to let go of my children at puberty—the age when they started wanting autonomy over their lives. Although I spent a long time writing that post, I felt as if I'd barely skimmed the surface....
Midweek Moment #44—Winter Leaves
It's been a strange week, one that's made me feel grateful for my family and our health. Last week, my daughter fell from her bike and fractured her collar bone. She lives in Melbourne, on the other side of the country, so I flew over to be with her. My...
Negotiating Puberty—Parenting Reflection #3
When I was growing up, I found puberty difficult. I wasn't keen on the physical changes—I quite liked having a flat chest, hair that didn't get oily, and armpits that were hairless and didn't sweat. As a child, I hadn't felt particularly comfortable within...
Midweek Moment #43 – Bird-Spotting
Without each other's knowledge, both Monique and I went out bird-spotting this week: Monique visited the Wellard Wetlands, near Baldivis, and recommends it for those who love bird-spotting and taking photos. The bird life was relatively quiet because it was...