Where the Carol Bird Sings

Getting Older, Feeling Lost

Gabrielle is having a crisis: she’s lost her top notes. How will she resume her career as a famous opera singer if her voice isn’t what it used to be? What will

Smoke

This morning, I inhaled the scent of summer, even though we’re barely into spring and our recent temperatures have been rib-shivering winter-cold. As I left our house, and turned towards the bush

Love Unchanging

At 7:20 am every Sunday, we file through our front door, open and slam car doors, buckle seat belts and ignite cold engines that have been idle overnight. We drive, two cars

Love Blooms

Early on Mother’s Day morning, when I turned on the living room light, a magnificent bouquet of flowers appeared out of the dark. I wondered who had arranged the flowers and left

Fashion Selfie

A few days ago, I tore off the wrappings of a Mother’s Day parcel to reveal a gorgeous green cardigan crocheted by my daughter Imogen. With a grin, I held it up

Mother Joy

We ordered egg and bacon rolls and coffee for six – Andy and I and four of our grown-up kids – then took our food to the empty food court – the

Adorn

A parcel from my favourite clothes shop – Karma East – drops in my letterbox. Tearing it open, I reveal a print fabric bag that conceals a vibrant dress that delights my

The Wise and Sparkly Older Gang

Do you ever get concerned about ageing? Do you slather on the anti-wrinkle creams, hoping to preserve your youthful appearance? Perhaps you choose and edit your photos with care, accepting only those

Reinventing Ourselves

When I was younger, I often came home from social gatherings and replayed conversations in my head. Did I talk too much? Had I sounded silly? I’d wish I could go back

The Biscuit

The man drops his hard-backed novel onto the table next to ours, unzips his jacket and pulls out his arms. Noticing his inside-out shirt, he strides with legs slightly wide to the

Grand

On the fourth last day of autumn, I think: what am I going to do today? Stay inside away from the chilly wind and continue proofreading my third Angels novel? Every time

All Over Again

On the second last day of the year Gemma-Rose invites Andy and me to have breakfast with her. We drive into town to a favourite cafe where, after scanning the QR code

My daughter Imogen pushes the large cardboard box marked Christmas decorations, across the carpet towards the naked tree. Charlotte and Gemma-Rose appear, and the three girls take turns dipping into the box.

The Call

As the sun is rising on this cool spring Saturday morning, I hear the carol bird calling. Whoop! Whoop! The notes cut through the air, insistent, demanding attention. My heart listens, and