A fairytale wedding for a thoroughly modern Kate
Wasn’t the Royal Wedding wonderful? Although I am a Republican, it would be a hard-hearted woman who did not enjoy such a rich scene and relish in the pomp and ceremony when Catherine Middleton married...
View ArticlePeta’s off to Cannes
Good news for Adelaide film producer Peta Astbury who has bought the film rights of my book From France With Love. She is taking her first, successful film, The Marrige of Figaro to Cannes. The movie...
View ArticleDarwin, a colourful chameleon city.
I was whisked away from the Darwin railway station in a shiny, red Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter. And I felt very star-like as the helicopter swooped over Darwin’s exciting new Wharf precinct, and...
View ArticleHouse of sticks
Time has passed and our future home – once a house of sticks – has become a half-finished building, clad in Hebel and capped with an iron roof. Brickwork is complete, aluminium windows and sliding...
View ArticleCepes and Citron dishes from My French kitchen
Rarely does French husband venture into my kitchen when I am at work, but this morning we are standing side by side by the hotplates making French dishes. At the big element he is sauté-ing cepe...
View ArticleOlivier’s sailing success –
Sunday, May 15: Olivier’s week has been wonderful. He has packed the three months since his diagnosis of advanced prostate cancer with a round of new projects which would exhaust a much younger man. He...
View ArticleVisit to the oncologist
Tuesday, May 17: From elation to trepidation, Olivier and I attend Tennyson Centre to visit his oncologist, Dr Francis Parnis to find out if the hormone treatment is stopping the spread of cancer in...
View ArticleA Date with a Dying Man
Thursday, May 19: We are visiting a gravely ill male friend who is in the latter stages of advanced prostate cancer. It is the hardest task for us because husband Olivier was diagnosed with the same...
View ArticleCelebs and Culture – May 2011
Congratulations to gifted Adelaide naive artist, Marie Jonsson-Harrison, whose work will be shown at the prestigious 4th World Festival of Art Naif Katowice (Naive Art Exhibition) in Poland. Marie and...
View Articletwo for the girls
Grey-power is Good: Here’s a thought which is taking hold on the runways of the world. Since when have teenagers been known to buy haute couture? Well, why should teenagers with nubile bodies be used...
View ArticleCreative Cry from Country
It is ironic that poet and actor Michelle Murray stands in an historic witness box at the South Coast Regional ArtsCentre – once the Goolwa court house, to spin her mythical story of The Black Wedding...
View ArticleOlivier’s sejourn in hospital
Husband is helpless in hospital following a harrowing dash by road from our island home to the regional Victor Harbor hospital at 6am this morning. Waves of fear washed over me as I gripped the wheel...
View ArticleJenny’s life exudes grace, courage, elegance:
Best friend Jenny turns 70 today and threw her own elegant afternoon tea for 70 guests at her home yesterday. Jenny has always loved beautiful things and her home was so pretty and colourful with...
View ArticleFrench fare for time-poor cooks
Pumpkin soup has never tasted so good with a touch of t urnip, thanks to the great French chef, Auguste Escoffier. The recipe book 2000 Favourite French Recipes was his final gift to French housewives...
View ArticleCentenarian Margot Bates a winner in pool and living well
Real men do eat steak if the gender imbalance in Buenos Aires Brasserie this week is any indicator. There were 20 men to just 6 women diners tucking into an array of steak and whole baby goat legs, the...
View ArticleFront Door heralds lock-up stage
The magnificent front door of our house was installed this week heralding lock-up stage. It ‘s an ornate Western Red Cedar door with leadlight panels and a side panel, which may beg the question why...
View ArticleVive la France en Australie du Sud
Guests dressed in 18th century French Revolution fashion will feast of an array of classic dishes prepared by InterContinental Hotel’s sous chef, French-born Frederick Boussard at the Bastille Day Gala...
View ArticleAcademic spells out Discourse Analysis for Judges
South Australian communications academic and author, Dr Pamela Schulz, has told a top conference of Australasian judges that the media and politics have “conspired’’ to marginalise them. The opening...
View ArticleA Fitting Birthday Feast for a French-born Fellow
What a surprising birthday gesture it was and so fitting for a French-Australian fellow. Son Tyson and his wife Vanessa came to our island home laden with produce to prepare a fabulous home-cooked...
View Article“The Kids” vote the “old fella” into fame
He calls his wife, Turtle, recycles jokes told in shearing sheds 30 years ago and loves to berate himself as “the old fella’’. However, at 68 years of age, retired Yorke Peninsula farmer, Rod...
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