Where the Carol Bird Sings

Unfair

After dinner, I settle on the sofa, and Quinn clambers up beside me, putting her big heavy paws on my lap. My girls take their seats. So does my husband Andy. Then

Time

This morning, as I was driving into town, I noticed that the trees that border the main road are shrugging off their autumn leaves, exposing their winter bones. Time is marching on.

Saturday Snapshot

As I stand in our back garden, hanging the clothes on the washing line, I listen to the laughter drifting out of our family room window. My girls are rearranging furniture, spreading

Recognise

Imogen hunts through the top drawer of the tall chest that stands in the hall by our front door, looking for our hymn books. She finds the old red Living Parish books, held together

Quick

Quinn bounces at my heels, her leash trailing behind her. She’s grinning. She can’t wait for me to find my shoes. We’re going for a walk through the bush. “Shall I come

Pause, Picnic, Pray

I’m driving alone, on my way home from town, early in the day. As I pass through the rock cutting tunnel on the narrow road that winds into our village, I plan

Out of Bounds

When I emerge from the cafe holding two coffee cups, I discover my husband Andy standing on his regulation isolation spot, chatting to a socially distant mother and her three young children.

Not Always What They Seem

Nora pulls me along the side of our house, under the melaleuca trees, straight towards our garden gate. I stand on tiptoe and lift the latch, and the dog pushes ahead, barely

Mother

I let my book drop from my hand to my lap: I’m too tired to read. Instead, I let my thoughts wander lazily around my mind. My eyes roam around the room.

Look

Andy grabs the car keys off the hook in the kitchen and says, “I’m taking Gemma-Rose to work.” “Can I come with you?” I ask. “I need to get out of the

Knock

I get up early and, without bothering to get dressed, I start writing. At 10 am, I am still sitting on the sofa, snuggled under my blanket, tapping away at my keyboard. My

Joy

Yesterday, my husband Andy said, “What shall we do for Good Friday?” and I shrugged my shoulders and said, “I don’t know. Say some prayers? Read the readings?” “Do you want to

Imagine

It’s the second Monday in June. The queen says (in her very posh voice), “Chef, please bake me a cake! It’s my birthday in Australia today.” Some weeks later, the queen says

Hope

The world is outside. I’m inside. I’m under the trees, running along familiar tracks. There are no restrictions and rules. The birds don’t yell, “Back away! Remember: 1.5 metres apart!” There’s no