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I didn’t ask to be born and I don’t owe my parents for parenting…….
I was born in 1951. I was born into a Catholic family. I was educated well and in catholic schools. My Dad had a good job, well respected. My Mum was an “ at home Mum”. She took on responsibility, with Dad, for providing a home for her Mother. Grandma was a “present” for me…
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Serendipity!
Lottery win! I HAVE won the lottery today! Not the kind you might be imagining. One greater than I could have imagined! My son has just left to go to his workplace of the last three years and it’s the last shift he will work there. A new job starts tomorrow. If I could I…
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Her Royal Highness Lexxi-Lou
Number 1 Resident. How can you resist such cuteness and talent? If only I could! Regular dog walkers who live in our street plan their journey past our fence, sometimes in twos, as HRH Lexxi the dachshund barks like a Rottweiler, scaring little children, waking babies in their prams and completely infuriating the neighbourhood. She’s…
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What is my Mission?
“Live as long as I want to and want to as long as I live!” As a teenager I thought the above “quote”was about sex. However, recently, preparing for our oldest male grandchild 21st birthday, I researched the source of the quote. Of course it’s Irish in origin but I had the quote wrong! “May…
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Agony!
A long time ago I visited the Synagogue in Newcastle. I describe myself as a free range prolapsed catholic. At the time of my journey to the Synagogue I was Catholic to my bone marrow! Recently I heard someone say “I don’t believe in the Creator, I believe in Creation”. That’s where I too, have…
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First day at school

“Rapid acceleration It was 1955. I was four and a half. Catholic Parish school. Big intake of little “tykes” … too many for the classroom. My big brothers and my sister were ahead of me in “steps and stairs” age difference. My friend Roberta and I could write the alphabet and numbers from 1 to…
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At theBaths
9/12/2025 It’s 4.6 kilometres from the West End of Newcastle to the Ocean baths. A 13 minute drive. Once upon a time it probably was and I knew every centimetre of it! I knew the shops, I knew the pubs, I knew the theatres, I knew the bus stops, the traffic lights, the train stations,…
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Ocean Baths
Newcastle Baths – Heritage and Heart I learnt to swim here. One of my dad’s earliest slides ( not print) was of me in a bubble fabric cotton “bather” ( we called them swimmers or togs). I had mastered the art of floating on my back on the ramp that was the entrance to the…
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Well, the thing is…..
Are you kidding? Thing is, I need sleep! There is something about surrender and trust that invites me to sleep. My days are not frantically filled with things like routine. My life is boring, calming, challenging, sad, humbling, affirming and life giving. I invite sleep at the end of the day, or the gift of…
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Why?

“Here I am. “ I have lived long enough to know who I am. Not interested in wondering how I should present myself. I am grateful to have lived long enough to know that.
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Fish Creek
Called me home! It was January 2001. I drove my new car 1,079.9 k from my home. I travelled alone. The middle of summer. The little town I stayed in was Foster and the gorgeous little cabin was called Wattle Cottage. I’d been told to check out Fish Creek because the hotel was huge with…