I wouldn’t normally post this kind of thing BUT…

Okay, I’ll give you the heads up. A PR company approached me and asked if I’d like to attend an awards night that involved a high profile paint company.That was LAST NIGHT. I’m always curious to see what’s hot in the world of interior design and architecture, so would like to have been there but had to decline due to a full calendar.

Still, they sent me the results and I have to say, I am mighty impressed. Because I wasn’t there, I wouldn’t normally post this BUT being an arty type who dabbles in oil painting, even the use of wall paint intrigues me when it’s done with a bit of imagination. Who knows – maybe these images will inspire you to pull out a paint brush next weekend?

There were winners in both commercial and residential categories, plus interior and exterior awards, but I’m just going to show you the one’s that I liked the best. A quick Blog is a good Blog as Fletch always says…

Here’s just a couple of  winning photos from the DULUX COLOUR AWARDS 2013:

The BIG MOTHER of prizes on the night was the GRAND PRIX 2013 Dulux Colour Award, for – ‘innovative use of colour in architecture and design’. This was awarded to the Atherton Gardens HUB Development in Melbourne and was co-designed by McCabe Architects and Bird de la Coeur Architects. That entry also took out the prize for Best Multi Residential Exterior. What a fantastic use of bright, bold colour to liven up a dull, inner urban environment!  Love it.

Dulux Grand Prix winner - Atherton Gardens, Melbourne

Dulux Grand Prix winner – Atherton Gardens, Melbourne

Winner of the Best Commercial Exterior went to the Wintergarden Façade in Brisbane,  designed by Melbourne company, Studio 505. A very innovative outdoor design  (see below) that reminds me of a structured version of a Jackson Pollock painting – but WAAAAaaaay bigger. Maybe we should add one to Federation Square in Melbourne??

Wintergarden Facade

Wintergarden Facade

The next one, I fancied purely because of the simplicity. It’s perfect for an early-learning centre – bright colours, yet softly co-ordinated. This is from the John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School (JSRACS) Campus, in Western Australia by Brooking Design Architects. Isn’t that something we could all manage – surely? Stripes on a wall. Great idea.

John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School (JSRACS) Campus, in Western Australia

John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School (JSRACS) Campus, in Western Australia

But for me, the category of most interest is Best Residential INTERIOR. I saw these pictures and was instantly BORED with the neutral, safe tones in our living area. I am feeling an urge for change. Big, BOLD colours!!! Like this winning design from a Queen St Residence, Melbourne, by Edwards Moore Projects Pty. Ltd.

Queen Street Residence

Queen Street Residence

Queen Street bathroom

Queen Street bathroom

Bathroom cupboards

Bathroom cupboards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In fact, apparently one of the main judges said on the night that the trend for BRIGHT colours was a common element among most of the entrants and winners. So there you go folks – looks like the days of beige, earthy interiors are over and it’s time to be BRAVE and  immerse yourself in colour! Thank God. I am so OVER neutral. This could be fun…

Looking at the house above, I’m particularly keen on the combo of red and yellow, and yellow and black. I’m going to chat to Fletch about copying this in our backdoor entrance area. Although I think you’d need to get hold of some of those cool door knobs in bright colours too, to make it work. Fletch is going to be SO happy I have found a new domestic project for us!!!!

(If you’d like to see more photos of winners from the Dulux Colour Awards, go to this website: www.dulux.com.au/colourawards)

(NOTE: I was not paid, nor have I received any free paint to post this Blog. I just liked the story and pictures. People still find it hard to believe I don’t do this for money, but it’s true.)

 

 

 

Who was the MYSTERY GUEST at the Aireys Inlet Open Mic Music Festival?

Every year at the Aireys Inlet Open Mic Music Festival, there’s a surprise MYSTERY GUEST – someone famous who’s also achieved industry cred. In past years, the likes of Colin Hay and Tim Rogers have wowed the crowds. Usually this act closes the festival, performing last on the Sunday at around 6pm. It’s always the town’s best kept secret and absolutely NO ONE is allowed to know who the guest star is until they show up on stage.

Singer Georgia Hughes captivates her audience

Singer Georgia Hughes captivates her audience

So you can imagine the rumour mongering and guessing going on all weekend. Some said it was going to be Neil Young, who was out here from the US, but performing only the night before down the road in Werribee. But I didn’t mind who it was. I was happy enough to have discovered a remarkable young talent strumming the guitar earlier in the day at Truffles Cafe. Young Georgia Hughes is just eleven-years-old but plays the guitar like an old hand. Her play list is also impressive and her version of Skinny Love, made famous by Birdy, was outstanding.

Singer Georgia Hughes, 11-years-old

Singer Georgia Hughes, 11-years-old

 

 

I do have a confession about Georgia. We are actually very distantly related. I ran into her Mum, Erica, the night before at the pub and it turns out we’re step-cousins!!! Which makes Georgia my step-second-cousin, but we’ve never met so I can hardly be accused of bias for featuring her here. I truly think at just 11-years of age, she shows incredible promise and has a wonderful future ahead of her. I can’t wait to hear what develops for her in the years to come.

From Truffles, we headed back over to the Aireys Inlet Pub again to see some of the bigger acts – the likes of Berlin Postmark and Axe Girl from Perth, all drawing huge support. The weather could have been kinder, but the crowd didn’t care. The grounds were packed with punters, soaking up the atmosphere (and the beer!!) and bopping along to the beats.

A packed pub for the festival

A packed pub for the festival

Best seat in the house on the windowsill

Best seat in the house on the windowsill

 

My quick-thinking pal, Vanessa, found one of the best seats in the house up on the windowsill – a huge bonus. Sheltered from occasional drizzle patches, along with good company, a chardy in hand and fantastic music filling my ears – I couldn’t have been happier!

 

 

Later we took a break, eating again at the pub and to be honest, I enjoyed the Thai chicken curry from the previous night so much, I ordered that again… But this time, I also decided to trash my sugar-free diet and scoff down some dessert. Well, when it’s good tucker, it’s hard to say NO.

Dessert at Aireys Inlet Pub

Dessert at Aireys Inlet Pub

Speaking to one of the many publicans, (there are ELEVEN of them after the locals rallied to buy the pub last year to save it from extinction!!!)   I asked which dessert was the best. I couldn’t choose between lemon tart and chocolate mud cake, so I said, ‘I’ll leave it to you.’ And this is what I was served – NOT ONE – but FOUR desserts. I was in sugar heaven. (Told you they are very hospitable down here.)

The gossip still ran hot about who the MYSTERY GUEST was going to be and the clock was ticking down till they were due on stage, so we raced back outside to grab our windowsill seat and see…  tick, tick, tick…

Mystery guest - Mark Seymour

Mystery guest – Mark Seymour

Then WOO HOO! The audience went wild as Mark Seymour appeared. The former Hunters and Collectors singer, performing as Mark Seymour and the Undertow, was brilliant – his powerful voice drawing everyone to the stage with his energy. Especially his rendition of ‘Throw Your Arms Around Me’ – one of those musical spine tingler moments.

 

Festival director Marty Maher, me and Mark Seymour

Festival director Marty Maher, me and Mark Seymour

I was lucky enough to meet Mark after the show, along with Festival Director Marty Maher.  Mark said he was happy to come along to the festival, especially one such as the Aireys Inlet event, which really encourages young people to play instruments and be a part of the community. He’s also just released a new album – a covers album of love songs, which he says is a huge departure from the norm for him.

 

‘It’s a collection of love songs written by all sorts of writers, dating back to the late fifties till now. I just stumbled on the idea last year. I’d started an originals records and then someone suggested I record a cover and then I suddenly had two of them, so thought, why not go down this path?’ he said. ‘It’s really different but they’re all songs I’ve grown up with.’

It was the fantastic community vibe that Mark really loved when he was up on stage. ‘What I really liked was all those little grommets down the front giving me hell. I thought that was absolute gold. It was a very relaxed gig with several generations of people in the audience. That’s one of the great pleasures of gigging – playing to multiple generations in one crowd. It doesn’t get much better than that.’

Festival Director Marty Maher

Festival Director Marty Maher

 

And while Mark was the star attraction on the night, the other guy the entire community treated like a rock star was Festival Director, Marty Maher, who is pretty much a local legend. He started up the festival six years ago and says he likes giving back to the community, as he has two successful local businesses – a real estate agency and a bookstore. He says it’s important to give young people a chance to showcase their talents on stage and to have an event that draws the community together.

 

I asked him he managed to keep the festival as a FREE event and he said it was surprising how much people gave to the Donation Buckets scattered around the event venues. ‘People really do love this event and we ask them to give what they think it’s worth. You’d be surprised how many hundred-dollar bills turn up. It’s great.’

Local band Altitude

Local band Altitude

When you see young acts like the band, Altitude (who I saw the night before) and Georgia Hughes, Marty’s vision makes perfect sense. Altitude’s lead singer, Liam Brenner, has since sent me an mp3 file of one of their songs so you can hear it too.

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I’m sure we’ll hear more from them both in years to come. And maybe in their Grammy speeches, they’ll thank Marty Maher for encouraging them along the way.

(Great Ocean Retreats kindly provided my accommodation for the duration of the Aireys Inlet Open Mic Music Festival. Their website is here: http://www.greatoceanretreats.com.au/accommodation/5261)

 

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One Helluva Brilliant Weekend – The Aireys Inlet Music Festival

I’m still recovering and still basking in the musical afterglow of an extraordinary weekend at Aireys Inlet. A combination of both relaxing time-out away from the family with girlfriends, combined with pumping action at the Aireys Inlet Pub – the hub of the local music festival.

The coastal town of Aireys Inlet

The coastal town of Aireys Inlet

Driving along the Great Ocean Road, the coastal town of Aireys Inlet seems pretty quiet and sedate. Houses are dotted sporadically through the bush and there’s still a rural feel with plenty of dirt roads, squawking cockatoos and the crash of the ocean in the distance.

Aireys Inlet General Store

Aireys Inlet General Store

Even the General Store, with its petrol pumps out front, harks back to a bygone era. But last weekend, if you’d crossed the road to the Aireys Inlet Pub, it was another world altogether – a bustling, thumping hive of creativity and musical passion.

 

Aireys Inlet Pub

Aireys Inlet Pub

 

The car park was rammed as visitors from all over Australia and some international guests, joined locals for the annual Aireys Inlet Open Mic Music Festival.

 

 

 

The Pulse radio station van

The Pulse radio station van

 

Even Geelong’s community radio station The Pulse came along for an on-the-spot broadcasting opportunity.

 

 

 

 

A lone toddler gets up close and personal with a performer.

A lone toddler gets up close and personal with a performer.

It’s an eclectic festival featuring more than 160 acts, which all donate their time and energy. What’s extraordinary about this event, is the wonderful community feel. It seems like everyone is the area has contributed on some level. Families turn up with toddlers and grandparents, while teenagers rock out up front, close to the stage.

 

 

Singer Ben Brown travelled from Bendigo to perform at the festival.

Singer Ben Brown travelled from Bendigo to perform at the festival.

 

The local school kids painted designs over cardboard cutouts of guitars, which are plastered all over venues about town. Plus, this wonderful event is actually FREE. Guests are only asked to contribute cash to buckets at performances, with what they feel the festival has been worth to them. Wow. That’s unheard of!

 

 

Dinner at the Aireys Inlet Pub

Dinner at the Aireys Inlet Pub

And the food at the Aireys Inlet Pub is sensational! I was reluctantly talked into ordering a Thai Green Chicken Curry for main course, as mostly Asian food in rural areas tends to disappoint… Not so here. In fact, I think I’d be hard-pressed to think of a Melbourne restaurant that does one better. DELICIOUS. As for the chicken parmigiana, my girlfriend Vanessa couldn’t even eat half, the serving was so huge.

 

I was even impressed with the wine list. GOOD CHARDONNAY!! Yay – my favourite, a local wine, Scotchman’s Hill completed my overwhelming satisfaction with the evening. They’re pretty good at hospitality, these folk at the Aireys Inlet Pub.

Anna, Melanie and MIa

Anna, Melanie and Mia

 

And what a small world. Another girlfriend, Melanie, ran into a former school pal and her daughter in the crowd.

 

 

 

 

Local band Altitude

Local band Altitude

After dinner, we braved the testing weather to head outside, but soon forgot about the cold when local band Altitude turned up the volume. These guys are one of the festival’s youngest, coolest and most popular bands – being veterans who’ve performed here for the past six years.

 

 

Altitude - a clearer shot

Altitude – a clearer shot

Here’s a clearer but less colourful shot. My camera was playing up in the weather… Lead singer and band manager Liam Brennan describes their sound as ‘garage rock’. He says like most rock bands, they’re hoping for fame and glory, all the while writing good music and having fun.

 

 

The guys have just left school and plan to focus on writing a heap more music while at uni before looking for serious professional management. They are super talented, so I’d advise anyone in management to take a look and get in line.

Number 8 Beach Road, Aireys Inlet

Number 8 Beach Road, Aireys Inlet

 

It wasn’t too hard to head home at the end of the night. As much as I’d LOVED the music and the vibe at the pub, I knew I was heading back to Number 8 Beach Road. Luckily, just stumbling distance up the road…

 

 

Kitchen and living area

Kitchen and living area

 

I gave you a sneak peak on Saturday at the main living area with the vast kitchen, benches and stunning view.

 

 

 

Main lounge-room

Main lounge-room

 

There’s also a comfy lounge-room, complete with open fireplace. We were too tired after the festival to light one up, but I was impressed there was chopped wood ready and waiting by the back door if we’d wanted one.

 

 

Lili Biderman, of Great Ocean Retreats

Lili Biderman, of Great Ocean Retreats

Earlier in the day, I’d caught up with Lili Biderman, from Great Ocean Retreats, who told me how she’d had the business for seven years, and couldn’t think of a better job. She says they have several properties, catering to both ends of the market – those on the budget end and high-end. And just to make you feel at home, they can also organise catering or car hire if needed. Now that’s service…

 

I want to tell you more about the mystery guest who performed at the festival on Sunday, plus the 11-year-old girl who stole my heart with her singing… but I’ve rambled on for long enough, so you’ll have to wait till tomorrow to hear that.

But one more thing before I go, if you would like to stay in the wonderful Number 8 Beach Road in Aireys Inlet, just get in touch with Great Ocean Retreats. This is their website, plus the rates for the property. Get in quick though. I’m seriously thinking about booking for next summer…

Holiday Rates
Peak Season (mid Dec – start of Feb) $2750 a week $450 a night
Mid Season (Start of Feb – May/ September – mid December excludes school holidays & public Holidays) $2000 a week $325 a night
Low Season (May – September excludes public holidays & school holidays) $1700 1 week $325 a night
(Great Ocean Retreats kindly provided my accommodation for the duration of the Aireys Inlet Open Mic Music Festival)

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Why Fletch gets a huge gold star this weekend…

Sometimes the logistics of running a family get tricky. For instance, what happens if your husband has bought a ticket to a Neil Young concert this weekend (in Geelong) and then at the same time, you’re offered an amazing weekend away along the Great Ocean Road,  staying at an up-market beach property overlooking the sea, to cover the Airey’s Inlet Music Festival – but your teen daughter needs DESPERATELY to go to a party in Melbourne and your son is playing in an all-important school cricket match???

Ezard's wedding anniversary dessert

Ezard’s wedding anniversary dessert

Hmmm… As I said, tricky. Plus, this weekend happens to be our 23rd wedding anniversary. Which we celebrated in fine style at Ezard’s restaurant in the city last night. Definitely one of Melbourne’s best on every level. I was particularly impressed that they noted it was a special occasion and decorated our desserts to suit.

 

But back to this weekend. Often my amazing Mum and step-father help out with the kids, but as it turns out, my older brother had already booked their services… So Fletch, bless him, realised this was a great blogging opportunity for me and gave up his ticket to see Mr Young to stay home and ferry the kids about to their various commitments. What a guy!!!

THAT IS WHY FLETCH GETS A HUGE GOLD STAR THIS WEEKEND.

This ALSO left me free to turn this into a ‘girl’s weekend’ and invite along a few mates for a break from domestic and kiddie duties. And yes, they were pretty happy with the offer to head down to one of Victoria’s most picturesque holiday locations for an uber cool music festival AND stay at a beautiful holiday home.

View of the Great Ocean Road

View of the Great Ocean Road

Driving down to Airey’s Inlet, I had to stop along the way and marvel at the view from the Great Ocean Road. Truly stunning, isn’t it? As a child, I was lucky enough to enjoy several family holidays at Fairhaven, just up the road from Airey’s Inlet, so it felt a bit like going home.

 

Erin Hughes, from Great Ocean Retreats sorts us out

Erin Hughes, from Great Ocean Retreats sorts us out

I dropped in to Great Ocean Retreats to pick up our keys and was mighty impressed with their organisational talents. Marketing manager Erin Hughes had printed lanyards for the music festival ready and waiting, printed directions to our property with the keys AND she had even found out what wine I liked and told me TWO BOTTLES of chardonnay plus a cheese platter were in the fridge waiting for us. Tick, tick and DOUBLE tick. I knew from the moment I met her she was my kinda gal!

 

My beachside bedroom

My beachside bedroom

Then we set off to the house and found a magnificent two storey property, with double-bedrooms both upstairs and downstairs, two bedrooms with bunks for the kids we left behind, and two living areas. Both double bedrooms also come with their own massive ensuite bathrooms.

 

 

Our living area

Our living area

The kitchen is modern and open-plan, with wonderful wide benches, which would be brilliant if we actually wanted to cook, but no, maybe next time… There’s too many bands to see down here to waste time slaving over a hot stove.

 

 

Even better, most of the bands are playing at the Airey’s Inlet Pub which JUST HAPPENS to be a stone’s throw from our beachside mansion!!! Now ain’t that a happy coincidence… Oh yes, the house is also walking distance from the beach too. Of course.

I’m going to show you more pictures and give you the lowdown on the music festival on Monday, but for now, I want to get to the pub and enjoy myself. And if you haven’t got anything planned for tomorrow, jump in the car and head on down. Cheers!

 

 

An Über way to ride

 

Melbourne taxis

Melbourne taxis

Sometimes Melbourne’s taxi services leave a lot to be desired. I really tire of drivers who don’t know left from right, let alone how to get anywhere, such as the location of our major icons – even the MCG. Why they don’t have to pass a test like the London cabbies do – with THE KNOWLEDGE – beats me.

 

And then, with our recent spell of hot weather, there’s the matter of personal hygiene… EWW! Shouldn’t the use of deodorant be mandatory??? Even better, let’s lobby for legislation.

But it’s not within my budget to afford a limo every time we go out. Heck, I’m quite happy with public transport if I’m not in high heels with trussed up hair heading somewhere fancy. But hang on… I do wear heels quite a bit….

Uber logo

So I was delighted when I heard a new service, called UBER, was being introduced in Melbourne, to fill that gap in the market – for those wanting something more up-market than a taxi but not so pricey as a limo. It’s already proved a hit overseas, with Uber cars in most major cities including London, Paris, New York and Berlin.

UBER promises a service with sleek black cars, air-conditioning and drivers who know exactly where they’re heading. (And are groomed appropriately!) Even better, Uber has an amazing I-phone App which is incredibly accurate. It will tell you exactly how many minutes away your driver is, so you can decide to proceed with a booking or not.

THIS is how a travelled when I headed out last night. Mev, the Uber driver, turned up to within a second of the estimated time and I never had to tell him which way to go to get to The Smith restaurant in Prahran. (one of my favourites!!)

Merv and his Uber car

Mev and his Uber car

It might cost a few dollars more (the average cost compared with a taxi ride is about 30% more) but the quality and efficiency are worth it. As well, you don’t have to worry about payment at the end of the trip as it’s all charged automatically to your credit card. Those details are sorted when you sign up. And you’re not expected to tip the driver either – just be polite! The website is easy to navigate too, at Uber.com.

Or if you’d like to know more about rates and charges, check those details here:  http://uber.com/cities/melbourne

Now isn’t that better than finding yet another tax driver who doesn’t have the right change? Arghhh – that always drives me crazy.

Now I can sit back and relax, and enjoy an UBER ride every time.

 

(NOTE: The Uber Group kindly donated vouchers to the Goodie Bags of our Sisterhood Charity function on Valentine’s day, raising funds for cardiac research at St Vincent’s Hospital)

My next scientific self-improvement experiment – post muffin-top

You all loved the blogs about my muffin-top experiment so much that I’ve decided I really should get off my butt and try another beauty treatment – just to keep you entertained. I mean, heck, it’s not like I CARE what I look like, or anything??? All in the name of duty, right?

It just seems that’s there’s so MUCH stuff out there about how to improve our faces and bodies – how do we actually sift the good from the shonky and know what actually works?

Jocelyn Wildenstein

Jocelyn Wildenstein

 

Don’t go thinking I’m going to turn into some kind of Jocelyn Wildenstein, though. I do understand the meaning of restraint. And just in case I went all silly, I KNOW Fletch would pull me into line. He even hates lipstick. To the point that he WIPED HIS MOUTH after kissing me at the alter during our wedding. The shame…

Luckily the kind folk at the Liberty Belle Clinic in Toorak, where I underwent the Cool Sculpting process, are happy to help out, so I went along to check out the different procedures available.

 

Pelleve brochure

Pelleve brochure

Looking through all their brochures, I learned there’s a helluva lot of different and NEW treatments available to improve ourselves that I’ve never heard of. I could easily hang around this clinic for years. After focusing so much on my tummy last year, I thought it was time my face got a bit of attention. When I saw this brochure with the line ‘A Fresher Face WiTHOUT Surgery’ – I snatched it up faster than you could say ‘Botox’. Because, yes, I have had Botox and I love it, but something new and different is always appealing. This treatment is called Pelleve.

 

 

I’m at that age where anything promoting WRINKLE REDUCTION warrants immediate attention, especially now those nasty lines around the neck region are becoming more prominent. Unfortunately, if I’m to blog about this, it means more humiliating photos of myself to show you what really happens….

Side profile - NO MAKE-UP!!!

Side profile – NO MAKE-UP!!!

 

So I have to show you a really ICKY close-up photo of my face without makeup, so you can get the gist. Ewww. These pics are taken by the lovely staff at Liberty Belle in the same photo room each time so the lighting is consistent too – very legit!! This snap was taken before my first treatment.

 

 

Before and after photos

Before and after photos

 

But getting back to how Pelleve works… In the brochure, it explains how a metal probe is used over the skin – using gradual radio frequency that becomes quite hot at times – to stimulate the re-growth of collagen. The effect is not immediate and you really need about three treatments over a course of several months. But I’m assured it WILL work.

 

 

 

To give you a much better understanding of the science behind all this, I’m going to interview Dr Chris Moss (you met him last time, chatting about the Cool Sculpting fat freezing treatment) who will explain it properly. He’s a very busy man, but I’m going to nail him down in the next few weeks for the nitty gritty and get back to you. Then I’ll have some Pelleve sessions and, over time, we’ll see how my wrinkles go. (Away, I hope.)

(For further enquiries, contact the Liberty Belle Skin Centre on 9826 9988 Address: 504 – 506 Toorak Road, Toorak)

 

 

 

 

The Upside of Sinning

 

For most writers, the dream begins at an early age. That burning desire to create a book that you’ll one day hold in your hands – physical proof you’ve achieved your goal of becoming a published author. It’s the validation most writers seek that their words really do have some merit.

These days it’s harder than ever to have a book published that’s printed on paper. The increasing popularity of e-books is taking a toll on many a writer’s dream. All the more reason for author Ailsa Piper to be celebrating, with news this week that her first book, Sinning Across Spain, is to be re-released one year on, in the smaller B format, coming out in April.

But sometimes reality falls short of our dreams, so I’m curious to find out if Ailsa’s experience has lived up to expectations. Having a book published is also the start of a long journey – promotional commitments, signings at bookshops, media interviews, appearances at writers festivals – all very much a part of what needs to happen to generate a buzz about your book. Has it been everything she’d hoped for?

Author Ailsa Piper

Author Ailsa Piper

 

‘It’s still continuing,’ said Ailsa. ‘The thing I didn’t realise, being a first-time author, is that it can be six months or a year and you think the book has done its dash, and then suddenly a letter comes in talking about it transforming someone’s life or you’re invited to another writers festival – so it’s been an amazing journey.’

As well, the subject matter of Ailsa’s book has led to some added complications. It’s a real-life account of her travels, hiking through north-west Spain and following a long-held tradition of carrying other’s sins to buy forgiveness. That’s not because Ailsa is deeply religious – rather she was exploring a spiritual concept to help her write a play, unaware at the time her experiences would end up becoming a successful book.

Sinning Across Spain

Sinning Across Spain

‘Because this book is about confession, people have made a decision on some level that I’m the vault and can keep secrets, so they tell me extraordinary things. In fact, in the last few months, because of the royal commission into sexual abuse and the fact that the book deals with someone’s whose brother committed suicide as a victim of abuse by a cleric – that has led to people telling me about the abuse of their children, their siblings… That’s been quite hard but I’m also very aware I’m privileged to receive their stories.’

 

 

I imagine that could be quite a lot for one person to carry. Is the weight of such stories sometimes too much to bear?  ‘There was a day last year where I felt my heart would break because I had about six people at one book signing come up with those stories and then I came home and heard from someone I know, who had had a similar experience and it came very close to home. I don’t have much to offer except to listen, but I’ve come to understand that listening is not a bad thing. It’s small thing, but it’s something.’

But the subject of abuse is just one of many issues raised in the book. In fact, Ailsa says she’s often surprised by the number of ways readers have interpreted her work. ‘It depends on the reader,’ she said. ‘Some people read it just for the story about the Camino and there are people who read it because they love the poetic nature of the descriptions about landscape and Spain. Others go into the morality side of things. It reminds me that a book is co-written by the reader, in a way that has really surprised me. One person’s experience of the book can be completely different to another’s.’

Ailsa at the Bryon Bay Writers Festival

Ailsa at the Bryon Bay Writers Festival

Part of the book’s success has led to Ailsa being invited to many writers festivals – definitely an upside of sinning. In the past year, she’s been part of festivals at Airey’s Inlet,  Byron Bay, Daylesford, Perth, Denmark and Albany. Next on the agenda is the Sydney Writers Festival in May. The main benefit of these, says Ailsa, is that they open the book up to an audience who may not have known about it.

I’m sure part of the reason for Ailsa’s book finding such a broad audience is that it appeals to those interested in pursuing a spiritual quest that isn’t necessarily religious in the traditional sense. Ailsa herself was brought up as a Catholic, but her parents divorced when she was little, and she was never forced to go to church.

‘I loved all the rituals – the candles, the incense – I still love all that. But I was always angry I couldn’t be an altar girl and that thing about a woman’s place in the church was frustrating, so I had skepticism from early on. I wanted to believe, but kept questioning things. Even on the walk, I wanted to believe and that’s why I kept going to churches. I really do envy people who have their faith.’

For myself, I found the book satisfying in that Ailsa’s long and arduous quest in Spain does lead to a form of spiritual realisation. I don’t want to give away the ending, but I think it’s something many will relate to. And it doesn’t mean you’ll feel any pressure to get to church every Sunday. But you might want to put on your walking shoes and appreciate the here and now, instead of trying to get to heaven.

 

It’s all about my breasts…

A lot of hands have been groping at my breasts lately. And I’m not talking about my husband’s. Sometimes the world sends you plenty of signals that there’s something you need to do, so I did it, and suddenly my breasts are the focus of much attention. Here’s why.

Me and Sam Johnson

Me and Sam Johnson

 

Recently I’ve been surrounded by health issues. First there were stories of loss from heart disease at the St Vincent’s Hospital fundraiser. Then there was the farewell for Sam Johnson as he set off on his epic uni-cycle ride around Australia in support of his sister, Connie, who is  suffering breast cancer. (Please donate at www,loveyoursister.org) Read Sam’s diaries there too – his words are truly inspiring, not to mention funny! And finally, a story about a young woman who died from cancer two weeks ago. She’d been engaged to get married but didn’t live long enough to make it to the altar so was dressed in her bridal gown at her funeral. That made me weep and I didn’t even know her.

 

 

Enough already. I realised it was time. I wasn’t completely sure when I’d last had a full health check, but it must have been more than ten years ago.  And I’d never had a mammogram. (Thanks Sam for reminding us all to be ‘breast aware’) So I made an appointment with my local GP and the process began.

Dr Steve did the usual stuff – blood pressure, a long list of health questions and a urine test on the spot. Then there were referrals for a lung test (spirometry test) and blood test, to check liver, kidneys and cholesterol. Then he asked if I’d checked my breasts lately. I felt foolish saying ‘no’, but to be honest, it just isn’t something that occurs to me, despite knowing how important it is and hearing the constant reminders through advertising and health awareness programs.

Up on the table, he said and an examination got underway. I babbled away incessantly to distract myself from the embarrassment, but never for a moment thinking anything was likely to be wrong. So it was a little bit of a shock when he said that I should have a mammogram to investigate an ‘IRREGULARITY’ in my left breast.

AN IRREGULARITY???? REALLY??? What the frickin’ hell does that mean in real language? He reassured me it was ‘unlikely’ to be anything serious, but it was worth checking out.

Years of working under stressful situations as a newsreader or on the road as a journalist in terrifying situations have at least stood me in good stead in one regard. I’m well-trained  at not panicking. Staying cool, calm and collected.  On the outside.

On the inside, it’s a different matter. Nodding to Dr Steve and smiling, I said I was sure it would be fine, thanked him for being so thorough and left. Inside my head, thought patterns were going crazy at a million miles an hour.

There’s lots of questions you have to deal with internally. Should you tell anyone? It’s only an irregularity anyway and you don’t want family or friends to be alarmed for no reason. So I didn’t even tell Fletch for two days. I preferred trying to ignore the whole business. The timing was difficult too. I’d seen Dr Steve on a Friday and wasn’t able to have a mammogram till the following Wednesday. That meant FIVE full days of torturous ‘WHAT IF’ lines running through my brain like a broken record.

Mammogram machine

Mammogram machine

 

Having the actual mammogram was better than I’d expected. The sweet young girl putting me through my paces at the Cabrini Hospital in Brighton was warm and sympathetic and explained the process well. It still didn’t stop me feeling affronted when she did what she had to do – squeezing my boobs into place in the steel machine. Very unsexy. She then forewarned me not to be upset if she needed to ask for a second opinion, as that was quite common after the pictures had been taken.

 

Despite her explanation, of course I feared the worst when she frowned slightly and said in an over-bright voice, ‘Just going to check with the doctor. I’ll be back in a jiffy!’ It was a very long jiffy. One that I felt sure would seal my fate as a cancer victim.

After the mammogram, there was an ultrasound with another doctor. This would be the third person to manhandle my breasts. You really do start to feel like it’s open slather on your boobs. I thought about walking down the hospital corridor with an open shirt, calling on anyone who wanted to cop a feel, to go ahead.

For the ultrasound, a male doctor rubbed gel over my breasts before using a cold steel probe to circulate and look for what those ‘irregularities’ really meant. He ummed and ahhed, but said it seemed the patch under concern seemed to be showing a couple of tiny cysts that were nothing to worry about. I started to feel relieved but also wished he could try sounding a little more positive.

When all was done, I was sent on my way after being told I was ‘probably’ in the clear. For me, ‘probably’ was good, but not good enough. I was keen to hear the final verdict from Dr Steve. That meant waiting another day until he received the results from the hospital.

The upshot is this. Dr Steve thinks that I’m probably okay. God, I hate that word. But he does want me to see another breast specialist. Really, I said? I mean, if the mammogram is clear, then I’m okay, right? Why do I need yet ANOTHER doctor to be groping my frickin’ breasts? Well, it will make ME feel okay, he said. Great. So I’m off to ANOTHER boob man in two weeks. That’s how long it takes to get in to see a specialist.

So that’s why I haven’t been blogging so much lately. I’ve busy hanging out with my boobs. I’m sure we’ll be okay, but I will let you know, hopefully FOR SURE, in a couple of weeks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Laundry Explosion

 

It was the Diet Coke getting his revenge… He knew what I was going to write about him. One minute I was grabbing three cans out of the laundry fridge for a Blog photo – the next, ‘Take this, lady!’ – he jumped out of my fingers and crashed to the floor.

KERBOOM!!!!

A laundry explosion

A laundry explosion

I had no idea one can of Diet Coke held that much nasty fluid. Sticky stuff flew everywhere, and right up high on the opposite cupboards too, even though it’s hard to see from the photo. Great. That took at least half an hour to clean. And just when I was getting keen on the idea of blogging again too.

Aeroplane Jelly

Aeroplane Jelly

 

What really sparked this story was the hot summer weather. As many of you may know, I’ve been writing about going sugar-free this year – (apart from wine, of course) – and am always looking for fresh options to satisfy cravings for treats. So today I thought I’d take the quick and easy route, whip up some jelly and whack it in the fridge.

 

 

Jelly ingredients

Jelly ingredients

 

Even though the packet says ‘low calorie’, I checked the back nutrition panel for an ingredients check and was delighted to see ZERO sugar content. BUT all the chemicals listed did give me cause for concern.

 

 

Especially because a doctor friend was recently voicing an opinion that he believes aspartame and other chemical sweeteners are contributing to an increasing number of patients with neurological and immunological diseases – not to mention cancer and multiple sclerosis. Normally I just brush aside those concerns, but today I thought I might take a closer look.

The Chemical Maze

The Chemical Maze

So I reached for a small manual that hides away in a kitchen cupboard – the sort of thing you buy, intending to study up on and never do. It’s called ‘The Chemical Maze‘ by Bill Statham and is a really handy guide to all the potential risks posed by various additives and chemicals.

Well, smack me down with a wet fish if this didn’t accord with my doctor’s theories! Here’s what The Chemical Maze has to say about just two of the chemicals in Aeroplane Jelly:

 

952 CYCLAMATES, Cyclamic Acid: (artificial sweetener) – “Should be avoided by those with heart, circulation or liver problems: causes bladder cancer in rats, various skin conditions and migraines.”  Nice.

955 SUCRALOSE (Splenda): (artificial sweetener) – “May lead to chronic neurological and immunological disorders; caused enlarged kidneys and liver in animals.”

Evil Diet Coke

Evil Diet Coke

Yikes. That sweet looking jelly doesn’t seem quite so appealing now… So what about Diet Coke? I ran to the laundry to grab a few cans and that’s when one of them chucked a tantrum and exploded, knowing full well I was going to diss him. Yep, sure enough, chock full of Aspartame. Described like this in my handy guide:

951 ASPARTAME (Nutrasweet, Equal): Potential health effects – Cancer, asthma, MS-like symptoms, headaches, hyperactivity, fatigue, anxiety, dizziness, migraine, memory loss, depression, insomnia, irritability, impotence, epilepsy, blindness, diabetes, seizures plus at least 80 others.

That does it. From now on, I am going to HAVE to ditch sugar substitutes AS WELL as sugar!!!!

Summer drink of choice - fresh lime and soda

Summer drink of choice – fresh lime and soda

 

 

From now on, my preferred cool drink on a sweltering day (apart from a damn fine chardonnay) will be a refreshing soda with fresh lime juice.

 

 

 

 

 

Sugar free butter candy drops

Sugar free butter candy drops

Sadly I went to my treats drawer in my office to ditch my supplies. I picked up my favourite Double D Sugar Free Butter Candy Drops and looked at the back of the packet, expecting to see another nasty list of ingredients. But no. The only suspect was ISOMALT.

Again I check The Chemical Maze.

953 ISOMALT: (Humectant artificial sweetener) – MAY CAUSE INTESTINAL GAS!!!

Oh joy! Now that’s one kind of explosion I CAN live with.