• writer • philosopher • dog magnet •
We recently replaced our old worn out mattresses. Not before time, because you can’t beat a good night’s sleep. They’ve had a decade of good solid use. And they’ve probably seen the rise and fall of a civilisation or two of bacteria and other creatures. Who probably got a better night’s sleep than we did. The mattresses are mostly made…
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Since I read Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying, I keep falling over intense, library voice (whispered) bookish debates about whether to keep or not keep books. More often than not, the argument centres on not keeping, and Ms Kondo’s insistence on only keeping those that “spark joy.” Can/does a book “spark joy”? Well, I guess that depends on…
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If you hadn’t noticed, we’re just starting the Chinese Year of the Pig. I have a few words about pig perspicacity. Mainly because it’s a nice alliteration. Though according to Chinese lore, pigs aren’t very clever (or perspicacious). But they’re not bent on world domination or harming others. They’re pretty laid back and generally make good friends. And their chubby…
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Have you ever had one of those days where you spill your coffee, nick yourself shaving, or some other little thing? All of a sudden what seemed like a reasonable day is in a ditch, and you’re looking for ways to make a bad day better. Preferably before you end up in a Newton’s Third Law style chain of cause…
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This Stress Free Bushfire Dinner Party is a bit of a cheat because if you’re having a Dinner Party and a bushfire breaks out, it’s time to abandon the party and activate your bushfire plan! Having said that, I was inspired by local tv coverage of a cafe madly making lunches for the volunteer firefighters working to save the town….
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That’s January 2019 been and gone. I feel like we’re off to a good start, but I’m exhausted thinking about all the stuff I hope to get done should I survive the Summer. January 2019, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, was the warmest on record here in Victoria, as well as Australia as a whole. And with a Federal…
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If you’ve caught up with the Project Worthwhile Life, then you’ll know I’m changing direction. Getting back in the swing is more like falling off the swing, hoping there’s a safety net somewhere. Or ricocheting off the roundabout onto a new swing entirely. I’m a bit nervous, and a bit scared, both good things to be when you’re embarking on a…
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I’ve had some thoughts on things: The things we buy, The things we keep, and The things we throw away. That’s a lot of things. Things We Buy My thinking is partly inspired by shopping for Christmas gifts, and partly because we discovered an antique/junk warehouse. And for the first hour, it was exciting and fascinating, but after a while…
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Before we start planning 2019, let’s take a quick look back. According to global horoscope predictions, 2017 would be a difficult year full of turbulence (check). and 2018 a year or rebuilding and gradual progress (maybe). And now 2019 brings positive change and offers hope for a joyful and focused year (about time). 2019 Vision, Misson and Virtues Last year…
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So… I started 2018 with the vision of a happily married dynamic businesswoman who makes good money and lives in a beautiful house with a tranquil garden. And my mission was to entertain and share my wisdom by writing prolifically and publishing widely. And I chose the virtues of: Wisdom: possibly most important; street smart but flexible and adaptable, dreaming up…
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Ah, December 2018 – gone almost before it existed. And pretty much good riddance too! December’s always such a drag trying to get stuff finished by the end of the year so you can take some time off without stressing about what got left undone. And for me, it was all about getting Ms Blaelock’s Book of Minimally Viable Housekeeping…
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Hello, and here’s to a happy 2019! I feel much more optimistic about a happy 2019 than I was about 2018. It feels like the year is full of possibilities. All I have to do is reach out and grab them. I’m not sure if that’s because I have a plan, or if it’s because it’s too early in the…
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Admittedly November 2018 is almost a month ago, but it feels as though it never happened at all. I feel there’s no evidence it existed at all! Mind you, it was almost exclusively all about getting Ms Blaelock’s Book of Minimally Viable Housekeeping on the market, and not much else happened. Virtue Oct Nov Notes WisdomI learn and grow every…
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A few days ago, Mary Beard asked; “How do you celebrate your 100th birthday?” Like her, I don’t have a fond hope for reaching 100 years, though in my case it’s because my treatment options are likely to be few when my transplant fails (though hopefully, that’s a while away yet). But would you even reach your 100th birthday? Your…
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