Tag: family

Flashback Friday – On The Same Frequency

musings, poetry
Me, aged about 14 in the studio at Two State FM, Barham, March 2000
Me, aged about 14 in the studio at Two State FM, Barham, March 2000
Bob McKinnon, Jason Nahrung, Zoe Werner & myself at Voice FM, Ballarat, May 2019. Photo by Pauline O'Shannessy Dowling.
Bob McKinnon, Jason Nahrung, Zoe Werner & myself at Voice FM, Ballarat, May 2019. Photo by Pauline O’Shannessy Dowling.

I had such a good time recently on air on The Arts Program on 99.9 Voice FM as a guest presenter, that I’ll be doing it semi-regularly. Sitting in the studio is always a beautifully nostalgic place for me, because it takes me back to my formative years and reminds me of how connected I am to my parents.

Continue reading “Flashback Friday – On The Same Frequency” →

As Pretty As Flowers And As Funny As A Clown – Thoughts on Mother’s Day.

musings, poetry

In the past I’ve been very against Mother’s Day. The marketing machine dictating that mothers like all things fluffy, pink and scented annoys me. It’s a cop-out to give the woman who you should really know very well a off-the-shelf on a certain day of the year for doing a job and maintaining a relationship that she is obligated to.

Continue reading “As Pretty As Flowers And As Funny As A Clown – Thoughts on Mother’s Day.” →

Starting School

musings

Yesterday, my eldest child started school.

I’ve been counting down for five years until this moment. I thought I would skip off merrily after dropping him on the first day, and with a big sigh of relief have myself a mid-morning cocktail and a rest. I was sure I wouldn’t cry.

Continue reading “Starting School” →

Christmas Is Now

musings, poetry
Lego heads
Megan & Audrey brave the surf at Point Impossible
A Present for Mum

I hope everyone had a good day yesterday although I’m aware that this is absolutely not “the most wonderful time of the year” for a lot of people. And despite my attempted avoidance of all things Christmas (see my previous blog post), I did end up opening presents under a tree with my children at seven am and Santa is definitely gaining a foothold in reality.

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I Wish I Was Boycotting Xmas.

musings

I wish I was boycotting Christmas, but I can’t.

I’ve threatened to “go bush” over Xmas for a few years now (both metaphorically and literally). This year, I naively thought I might really do it. No tree, no presents, no family, no food, no cakes, no carols. I was all for being the biggest Scrooge-Grinch and flying my anti-Xmas flag in the face of popular convention but it’s too hard.

Continue reading “I Wish I Was Boycotting Xmas.” →

Flashback Friday – Poem “Pram Pusher”

poetry

I don’t know exactly when I wrote this poem, but it would’ve been sometime when my son was still an infant. It’s quite weird to read it back and be taken back into the anger and frustration I felt about becoming a mother. Continue reading “Flashback Friday – Poem “Pram Pusher”” →

The Sum of Them – a thank you note to my parents on closing night.

musings, theatre
Audrey & Grandad
Dad & Jeff, The Sum of Us
Nan & Leon

I am currently sitting at my desk, drafting thank you notes to the cast of The Sum of Us – the fab four – in preparation for tonight. Being closing night, I have the equally awesome and awkward task of accepting thanks and accolades for a production well done and showering the cast and crew with the praise they deserve.

But the two people that enable this entire production to happen, and dedicated hours towards this show – the two people I most want to thank – never even stepped foot inside the theatre.

Continue reading “The Sum of Them – a thank you note to my parents on closing night.” →