Buying new shoes challenged me. At best the activity bored and, at worst, depressed me. Once or twice, a pair of shoes captivated my imagination. An orange pair, the year I turned 39. They matched, perfectly, an oversized pumpkin-coloured jumper I wore that winter. Forty years later, a blue pair made my feet twitch with […]
Category Archives: Social issues
Melting Moments delicious Australian delicacies
Melting Moments, the debut novel of Anna Goldsworthy, deserves to be widely read. It provides both an intimate picture of domestic life and an entertaining social history of women’s lives in Australia during the 20th century. Anna Goldsworthy has written several acclaimed non-fiction books, and has published widely in journals. She is also a concert […]
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The night guest by Fiona McFarlane – a thriller
The night guest, by Fiona McFarlane, tells a chilling story of ageing, dementia – and elder abuse. The author’s debut novel, published in 2013 leads the reader on thrilling roller-coaster ride. I discovered The night guest in a second-hand bookshop recently. I’m glad I did because it mesmerised me from beginning to end.
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Change of name – change of identity
A change of name in my mid-forties changed my identity. The decision came easily and made good sense. The process took less than two hours and cost very little but the result amazed me and continues to delight me after all these years.
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Black Lives Matter – ethical questions
Black lives matter. So do all other lives. Black Lives Matter protests around the world have galvanised countries and communities. But an inherent conflict exists in Australia. There is a desire to protest on behalf of black people, as well as the requirement to obey laws that exist to prevent further outbreaks of the deadly […]
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Jargon and slang – COVID-19 changed our language
Jargon and slang related to COVID-19 changed the language of Australia. It happened almost as fast as the novel coronovirus which causes the disease that devastated populations spread across the world. Everyone learnt and began to use the formal and informal languages quickly.
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Pandemic – a meditation for challenging times
The pandemic caused by COVID-19 threw our lives as we knew them into sudden chaos. Like most people, I’m confused. I don’t know what will come next, or what my responses should or will be. You can find another blog about COVID-19 here.
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Abbotsford Convent, Melbourne
Historic Abbotsford Convent sits on a hill by a bend in the Yarra River. On a recent trip to Melbourne, we caught one of the frequent buses which pass this historic site. We could just as easily have caught a train from Flinders Station.
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My ‘silver fox’ protest fell on deaf ears
‘Silver fox’ study in aged-care homes. This banner headline on page three of the local newspaper, The West Australian, demanded my attention. Articles about aged care always interest me. This one intrigued and then distressed me.
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Sex in aged-care facilities study
Sex in aged-care facilities made headlines in the West Australian Newspaper this week. Well, not exactly, but the headline grabbed my attention.
