• The house I grew up in was the only house I have ever seen that had at least two doors in every room – yep, even the loo. My brother and sister and I could play chasey without ever running into a dead-end. (But I don’t think my parents appreciated the brilliance of the design!)
  • In Grade one I was so good at headstands I got a part in the school play because I was the only one in the whole school who could balance for the entire scene. It was riveting, so I was asked to do it again the next year. I can still do a headstand, but there's not a lot of theatrical demand for that particular skill any more. So I've moved on to handstands.
  • I moved to Cairns, North Queensland, by accident.  I said, 'I'm going to drive around Australia,' My car said, 'Cough, splutter... clunk, I'm only going as far as Cairns.' By the time it was fixed I had fallen in love with the place and couldn’t leave. (Thank you, old Corona x)
  • Any temperature below 21 deg Celsius gets my teeth chattering  – another reason I love living in the tropics.
  • My family sometimes call me Darla (from Finding Nemo) because I am not good at keeping fish alive. But I have successfully looked after three boys, two beagles, one cat, one budgie and three thousand worms – all at the same time, and they are all doing fine. The fish just need to toughen up. ** Update** The worms are now dead – it seems if you can’t make a noise in this household, your chances aren’t good! **Another Update** the beagles have now passed on as well (old age though - not my fault), the budgie's gone to another household, but I just can't get rid of that darn cat!
  • In my opinion, feeding broccoli or brussell sprouts to children is a form of child abuse.
  • I would rather run ten kilometres than wash one window.
  • ….but if I extrapolate that to my whole house, that would mean I’d rather run 170 kilometres than wash all the windows in the house – and I don’t think that’s quite true! (Would quite happily cycle 170km though!)
  • When I was 11, a girl at school told me that I would never get a boyfriend because I had no calf muscles. Luckily for me I grew up during the only era in history when leg warmers were fashionable, so I was able to hide my grotesque calf-less legs and fool a few guys for a while.
  • I love Chuppa Chups, pistachio nuts and summer fruits.
  • I started writing when I had three little boys at home and lots of spare time – huh? Well, what spare time there was had to be filled with either housework – or something else. Of course, something else won. I dabbled with writing and got hooked. It’s the BEST JOB IN THE WORLD!
  • Other things I like to do instead of housework: reading, cycling ridiculously long long distances, and chillin' out, all wise and distinguished-like, in my rocking chair. (see below)
  • Silliest thing I ever said – ‘Oh yes, the contractions really are quite strong – it’s just that I have a high pain threshold.’    Turns out I don't. It's not even a middle-of-the-range threshold. I think the midwives are still laughing.
  • I am blessed with the most amazing family and friends.
Picture
Yes, that's a cow shower cap on my head. Because that's how we wise and distinguished people rock.