How’s my Australian English shaping up? I can’t shorten words and phrases the way Aussies do. I still say sunglasses, breakfast, and chicken instead of sunnies, brekkie, and chook. Speaking in abbreviations feels forced and unnatural for me, like text speak. I can’t do that either. I text mostly in complete, properly punctuated sentences. It’s not because I’m a … Read more
Last week I popped into the Melbourne General Cemetery. It was a nice day and my partner was meeting with a client in nearby Carlton so I thought I’d take the opportunity to visit it. Cemeteries have a sombre beauty to them and are always interesting to explore. The Melbourne General Cemetery was established in 1852 and … Read more
I made it to Oz Comic-Con again this year. It was at the beautiful Royal Exhibition Building. It was as good or even better than last year, but it was also more expensive and crowded. General admission for one day was $30 if you purchased tickets online or $35 at the door; it was $22 … Read more
Recently I learned that IÂ had an iron deficiency so severe that my doctor said she was astounded I was conscious. It was serendipitous that I met a woman who is studying iron levels in women as part of her PhD studies. She asked me if I would take part. It was easy. I would need … Read more
Tl:dr review of Maleficent: I loved it! Warning: The following may contain spoilers. Once upon a time, humans led an egalitarian, feminist, peaceful, earth-based way of life. Warrior men came down from a mountain and brought violence and patriarchy. This myth is at the heart of many stories. We’ve seen it in the 2001 TV … Read more
Last April, I wrote that I would soon be applying for a de facto partner visa subclass 820. That went through without a hitch and Immigration issued me a bridging visa. A bridging visa is a temporary visa. It bridges the gap between the expiration of my previous visa and the time it takes to … Read more
We acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We aim to provide an inclusive service.