Is the bread machine the greatest invention since sliced bread? You don't really need a bread maker for good bread. We've been making bread for at least 22,000 years and I reckon, in the vast majority of those years, having a bread maker would have made things a … [Read more...] about Make some Rum Raisin Bread
How to Clean your Carpet without Chemicals
Cyrus the Great loved carpets. He took his hundreds of thick rugs from Babylon to the grave. But what happened if he spilled yogurt on a carpet? Who cleaned up the stains of eggplant stew? Was there a special servant to clean the stains from orange juice, lamb with … [Read more...] about How to Clean your Carpet without Chemicals
Counting Kisses – A Book for Nannas
How many kisses does a tired baby get? How many kisses does it take to say goodnight? In this lovely little Kiss and Read book, you have the perfect goodnight story for your little one. Perfect for Nannas! A fussy baby receives "ten little kisses on teeny tiny … [Read more...] about Counting Kisses – A Book for Nannas
Be Prepared to Meet your Past
It was one of those mornings when I hadn't tried very hard with myself. I only wanted to pop up to the local shop to pick up some fresh bread, so I didn't obsess over my wardrobe. There's nothing wrong with old track suit pants and running shoes although the antiques … [Read more...] about Be Prepared to Meet your Past
Give me Google Glasses
Will we all look like this next year? Google is now showing off the augmented reality glasses project, "Project Glass" The glasses have some sort of connection by wireless, you can stay online, wired in all day, if you want to chat to people as you go about your … [Read more...] about Give me Google Glasses
National Photographic Portrait Prize
If a picture can speak a thousand words, some faces tell a thousand stories - like the face of Jack Charles. Jack Charles is a member of the stolen generation, taken from his mother in 1943 when he was four months old and raised in the Box Hill Boys School, growing … [Read more...] about National Photographic Portrait Prize
Vale Margaret Whitlam
She was a Great Australian Every other wife of a Prime Minister was a housewife, a woman who looked after the house and the kiddies and made it comfy for when Hubbie came home from work. Just like every other housewife in Australia. Just like you and me really. Mind … [Read more...] about Vale Margaret Whitlam
Another Corpse at the Queen’s back door
It's way past time that the Queen's gardeners did a thorough clean up of the undergrowth around her backyard. In this case, the foliage around her weekend retreat at Sandringham. Sadly, the body of a teenage girl was found in an area popular for Royal pheasant and … [Read more...] about Another Corpse at the Queen’s back door
Samoa loses 30 December
How can you lose a whole day? Easy when your government decides to change the dates. I lose track of time occasionally, but the Samoans beat me hands down, they will lose an entire day and celebrate the new year early. Samoa will set its date forward on 30 … [Read more...] about Samoa loses 30 December
There’s Nothing Better than Real Homemade Jam
By pure luck I found this incredible stall in Queens Parade, Clifton Hill. It was late in the evening and the last bus home was due, so I couldn't hang around long. Apparently, the Jam Lady from Healesville, sells her produce from a little homewares shop in the … [Read more...] about There’s Nothing Better than Real Homemade Jam
Where are the ants of yesteryear?
My mother had a great display of hibiscus along a wall of her house. She took great care in the feeding and watering of her plants, as much care as she took in the feeding and watering of me. I never liked for her hibiscus. They were always full of ants. Which … [Read more...] about Where are the ants of yesteryear?
Vale Anne McCaffrey
I hope I make it to 85 but even if I score any years past that, I'll never be anything like Anne McCaffrey. The world will miss her talents as a story-teller She had a great gift of pulling readers into her fantasy world, and brought so many of us to live among the … [Read more...] about Vale Anne McCaffrey
The End of the World is Nigh Again
Once again the End of the World is Nigh. It's Near. It's almost practically HERE. Batten down your hatches one more time and prepare for (yet another) Doomsday. It's due on 21 October! So says Harold Camping and he should know. He's pretty good at predicting … [Read more...] about The End of the World is Nigh Again
The Corpse in the Queen’s Copse
The Queen was shocked today by the discovery of a body outside her back door. Perfectly understandable, I'd be shocked too. What's more shocking is the fact that the corpse has been there for about three years and nobody noticed as they swept the cobblestones or … [Read more...] about The Corpse in the Queen’s Copse
No Chinese Talent, Housework Only
"China has so much untapped grassroots talent "says the Shanghai Daily. Regardless of how much talent there may be lurking in the back provinces, no one is going to see it on television any time soon. China's media watchdog has pulled the plug on China's Got Talent … [Read more...] about No Chinese Talent, Housework Only
The Diaper Dilemna
Have you noticed all the advertisements for cloth nappies lately? Maybe you haven't. Usually any ad for nappies, infant formula or sexy low-cut red brassieres doesn't draw a ping from my conscious mind, but the message about cloth nappies finally struck a small grey … [Read more...] about The Diaper Dilemna
Geeky Granny
This is my friend, Joan, who hit a star role in her local newspaper. And so she should! Not enough attention is given to the fact that we Seniors are as web-savvy as our grandkids, if not more so. More and more of us are getting around the social media too. Laurel … [Read more...] about Geeky Granny
Dignity and Death
All of us should be looking at this .. I reckon Terry's death is his business. Just like mine is. … [Read more...] about Dignity and Death
My Secret Scone Recipe
Not so secret really, apart from the lemonade as an ingredient (I got that from my own grandmother) but, with these days of packaged afternoon tea, hardly anyone bakes a scone anymore. They're cheap, they make your house smell good and visitors are overwhelmed by … [Read more...] about My Secret Scone Recipe
The Ugly Sisters
It's not like me to poke fun at a well-fed member of the younger generation, much less at two of them, but I must say I wasn't at all surprised by these graceless lumps of girls in their tawdry finery. I bet their frumpy frocks cost a fortune I bet each dreadful … [Read more...] about The Ugly Sisters