Things I love
Without Prejudice
Loves dragging home strays, my Sister Jackie said I have been doing it all my life, be it animal, vegetable or Mineral
And I still am doing it now.
Loves a good tropical storm where tress bend over to the howling wind, bend almost double and spring back.
Rain on a tin roof when you are warm and snug inside with a good thriller or real life Murder Mystery.
My Ipad that Deb bought me for my writing
Laughing at the quote from Yorkshire Peter from the Windsor Castle days,
"To be born British is like winning the lottery of life "
Being proud of my kids as they grow and live good lives and help others as legacy to Lauren, their Sister. R.I.P.
To Bobby for providing the impetus to start the stories as he is a character, swears like a trooper, doesn't give a shit what people think of him and being the sperm donor to my girls. Sorry Bob, that's basically it !
Debbie Hood , my oldest daughter as she is a legend in compassion and beauty, I'm so proud of the woman she has become and Yvette and Alena, we made it girls, through all the hard times and the sad times and kept our dignity and self respect and had pants wetting fun, too.
Yvette for being so difficult as she's a challenge, very day and keeps me on my toes.
Alena for her big heart and compassion, no one care as much as Alena
Sue Grafton books of which I have nearly all. Love the character of the single girl private eye beating the bad guys and girls and is hopelessly flawed and knows it.
Dune perfume as it reminds me of The Sheraton Mirage and the dunes there if tou walk out far enough.
Summer of 42
Jaws
Touche Eclat (Radiant Touch ) by Lancome
Simon Perele bras and underwear and are half price in Noumea
Making thin chocolate fudge that snaps apart, cleanly
Men that cook, can cry, are not afraid to be vunerable, tell the truth and are loyal to their wives,
Being a lady in the Drawing Room and a tart in the bedroom and dressing up in gstrings, high heels and lace and White musk
Resting my head on a mans shoulder in weariness and heartbreak
Cooking, the more exotic the better, after 20 years of cooking meat and 2 veg and NO onion as he was allergic to it
My girls having turned out with good lives and I was Mother and Father for all of the last 22 years and knowing I did a very good job
Being debt free
Having no big worries
Helping out with the woes of a few years ago and refusing to give up even when things were beyond comprehension and seemed insurmountable.
Roseleigh, the Mews House we lived in at Ossett which was so grand, with its two reception rooms and 2 cellars and cold larder and fireplaces. Gorgeous old place and Jackie was married at 19 and when she left I missed her, even though we fought like cat and cat.
My Dad coming up to say goodnight to us every night, and one night sneezed and he had vaccination fever and Jackie and I stuffing pillows in our mouths in mirth as we heard his muffled voice outside our door, exclaim.
"Shit, I think I just shat myself"
Never hearing my Dad say the word Fuck, nor my Mother but she was terribly aetheist after Jamie died and blasphemed like mad. Jesus! Christ! God! And if we dared to ask her what was for dinner she would always say
"Shit with sugar on now get out of my way "
That she always said,
" Kids, I should have had a dozen !"
Her telling off people with no sense of shame or embarressment and her piercing blue eyes that could pin you to a wall in a second. She was snobby and I loved that about her, so much rigid pride and stiff upper lip.
Kisses and hugs and all things before and after.
Mens forearms and biceps and hands.
Fat bellies on kids and men.
kids, all kids, all ages and all mine
Arthur, with Dudley Moore and 10, Dudley, too.
Robert Palmer. R.I.P.
My Unit, as it's mine for life, can be moved to any land in Victoria at no cost and everything in it is a refelection of my taste. Best thing in it ? Laurens Dream House.
Being SINGLE, no one to yell or tell me what to do. No negativity at all, surrounded by kids and good family and plants and grass and a strange Fat Husky and a King of a cat who has no balls but thinks he still has.
Summer days hot and still with kids shreiking as they run under the hose attached to the Hills Hoist.
Hills Hoists as they dry well and spin n the fresh air and the smell of the clothes as you bury upur face in them. The extandaline dries things hard and stiff, not enough air flowing around them.
Swimming at midnight in the pool at the Putri Bali with my girls and new Balinese friends from the village of Nusa Dua.
Lauren being dubbed the Otter there in Bali as she swam and swam, fat bottom disappearing under the water, smooth gliding like an Otter, and breaking into a smile as her head came up out of the water, white teeth smiling, brown face glowing. She was so very happy.
Cabo, Mexico, beacuse an American Lady told Lauren the Sea Otters there were in danger and she always wanted to go and if I go there will her spirit be there swimming with the Sea Otters
Everything by the Eagles, especially NEW KID IN TOWN, LYING EYES, DESPERADO
Cowboys riding horses
Not being scared to die. Losing a brother when I was 5 and thinking he was just sleeping and knowing that he wasn't coming home,
Bull nose verandahs on old farmhouses
Old farmhouses
Older, kindly Policeman, my ex husband said never trust a young copper.
Parasailing
Water Skiiing,
Sledding down the hill at Thornes Park on the first snow I had ever seen at 12.
Snuggling up in bed with a warm, naked man who is affectionate and nibbles my neck
Having my neck kissed at the back when I am trying to peel the spuds for Dinner.
Paris perfume as it was my signature essence for years and my ex bought me a basket of it as big as my head.
Joy, by Patou
Youth Dew in its slim fluted bottle and little gold bow on the outside.
My basic, simple life. Health, healthy food, home grown if possible
Spending time with My Auntie Betty and hearing her down to earth advice, she always natters on at me as I am the only one of my Sisters that is single and she worries about me.
Laughing at her tales and the time she covered her much loved husband one day with slices of bread and butter.
Loving her tradition of all Yorkshire Women. loving men first.
Yorkshire Parkin served on bonfire night in UK
Bonfires
Swimming pools
Messing around in an old wood boat with my brothers, George and David
Young Turks as it always reminds me of Roger Williams, who worked for us and he could really dance, which I love in a Man.
Helping Others
Dancing, all the time.
All Music, all music. My Dad taught me to listen to the music and the voices and the rythms.
My Dad playing his 24 string hawaiaan guitar and how he could make it sing.
My Dad beacuse he read me stories and encouraged me, petted me and belived that I was the cutest little thing since sliced bread.
Sliced bread in Sydney that was so soft you left your fingerprints in it.
Devon sandwiches with tomato sauce.
Stolen Naughty Kisses and being swept off your feet in a deep bend and dancing around the kitchen to a special song.
Hay barns and hay stacking and morning teas on the farm, sent down in a basket.
Jatz crackers with butter and corn dip, the one my Sis Jackie made when I was 10 and just before she kicked a Teacher in the knee and left school and went to work at 14.
Jackie dragging me to see Musicals, Oliver, South Pacific, Blue Hawaiia (!4 times) West Side Story
Going to the UK at 12 and staying 4 wonderful years, love the UK, especially Scotland my home that breaks your heart at its beauty. The highlands, the lochs.
Eating bread in Rome and getting our bottoms pinched, Mum, Jackie and I. I was 12, the hot streets, the crooning pigeons, ancient ruins and scooters everywhere.
Breakfast at Tiffany's with Audreys signature look, black strapless dress, a pearl choker and a her hair up. Love
Marilyn Monroe, Gina Lollobrigida, Sophia Loren, Grace Kelly, the style icons I had growing up, Diana Dors, Jayne Mansfield for their cone like huge breasts that were flaunted and not hidden
My Mothers elegance, her fabulous legs, her wit, her dress sense and smell, Chanel number 5 with the glass stoppered bottle, loved her hats and gloves and pumps.
Vintage (Minnie Mouse) Pumps in black velvet and satin.
Old English Roses in gardens where you can reach your head in and smell them
The Moors of Yorkshire
Men with nice warm arms that don't mind wrapping them around you, hold your hand and want to fret and argue and you are willing to concede defeat.
Tall men
Men that do work around the house, clear the table, do the dishes, vacuum, swep the floors, wash them ,cook and bring in the washing, fold it and put it away (Impossible I know )
Dark curly hair, cut short so it bristles as you run your hand over it.
Giving massages
My Sisters Jackie ability to sing and the pretty chiffon dresses she used to wear, especially the lemon one.
Dad having a Muisc Shop at the Lido arcade in Surfers in the innocent days of the 60's and how the Brothers Gibb were at the beer garden and Barry Gibb asking Jackie out.
The cinema at Southport that was on the pier and you could see the water lapping underneath, canvas low slung seat and lollies thrown from the Upper Circle. Seeing Dr No there and Jackie there with the man that had taken us on his catamaran to impress us and we weren't.
The Beagle Boys, Beano, Spiderman comics
Cinema Europa where Nev would take me and make me think
Ireland with its green and humour and legendary drunks who can drink anyone under the table, the women as well. And the fact they then cry and sing and the men ask you for a "ride" and it's not in a car.
Looking myself in the mirror and thinking I am reasonably attractive for my age.
Losing 24 kilos in six months and feeling like a teenager again and fit and healthy.
Metallica and Turn The Page and the original version By Bob Seger
James Hetfield as an older man, he is so sexy
The score from Jesus Christ Superstar as Ian brought it home from Vietnam and loaded it up on our reel to reel tape in the old house in Oakleigh and being blown away by the words and the power of the Music.
The Fish Cheer by Country Joe McDonald and The Fish
Fishing on the wharf at Wellington with a Merchant Seaman and catching a fish with string and a bent safety pin. And fishing with George off the old rickety bridge at Southport Gold Coast. Seeing the magnificent stingrays undulating underneath.
The dunes as they used to be before Sea World came along and the girl guides troop I was in camping there. The hidden trails between the tussocks and kissing a boy there and hos teeth crunched on to my teeth and it hurt and I thought,
"Is that it ? ", where were the bells and whistles, the soundtrack ?
The beach houses of old weatherboard right on the water with sandy steps up and green kitchens with fat cream coloured fridges.
Paris for its lights and elegance and light rain on Summer nights. And for banning my ex and deporting him from the airport the first night of a 3 day sexy break. He deserved not to get in roaring and shouting at the flic and they put guns to his head, I just laughed and laughed.
Jumping off the Southern Cross from the Entertainment Deck, fully clothed with George, and half way down realising I had time to think,
"God, this is high" and not being scared but preparing myself for the entry which I knew was going to hurt.
Being high in the sky of Bali behind a speedboat and thinking,
"Now, this is living", so hushed, so beautiful and down below people looking like ants, the buffeting wind, it was like being close to heaven.
All the english hymns that make me feel brave and noble and that I am here for a purpose.
My babies eyes as they launched themselves on to my shoulder after birth. The darkness of those eyes and the beauty. Possets on my shoulder as I answered the door after going home. leaking of milk and a nappy pin attached to my shirt and not being the slightest bit embarrassed.
A fat English Bull Terrier called Grunt who was fat white blob of docility and stupidness but we adored him as he dragged his belly across the lawn. And how he rescued a new born kitten and saved Kyle as a toddler from tumbling in to our inground pool.
Hammy the best cat ever.
Zabeth, the gentle Palamino we bought Yvette when she turned 16.
My first Car I bought, a Mini, powder blue from Serge next door for $100. And my ex saying I would break down and be helpless and that car never did and I drove it to QLD and Loch all the time. Holes in the floor at the front so that you could see the road as you sped along. Three kids, one a baby in a basket tucked on the back seat.
The Melbourne Football Club Auctions
1927
Jon English
Hollywood Seven
The Good the Bad and the Ugly, Nev taking me for my Birthday to the Astor and seeinf all 3 Clint Esatwood movies on the huge screen and loving Clint Eastwood as a rebellious young man who could shoot.
Lawrence of Arabia
Ryans Daughter as it was so beautifully done and made me want to go to the Cliffs of Moher and lay on my stomach and look over at the 100 foot drop, which I did twenty years later. All alone and as happy as a clam.
Solitude, lots of peace and quiet
Any Home Improvement Show.
Bunnings
The Angels, ZZ Top, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Enrique, Adele's talent but not her cockney accent, same with Posh.
Declan Allen as a man and a friend, top father.
Andrew Hood as my Son In Law as he is so funny and kind.
Dean Edwards, also Son In Law for his work ethic and his decent old fashioned love of Farno (The Family, in Muldy )
All my girlfriends old and new, some very old now ha ha
Sharing times with my Sisters Jackie Benton and helen Quelch and wetting our pants laughing.
Helen Lowndes as she has the most fantastic smile and big heart.
Carol My Sis In Law, Helen Lowndes Sister married to my brother Ian as she has the best laconic drawl,
"Giiday Janette"
All my brothers and sisters as they are all seriously nuts like me.
The Gold Coast, off season.
The Carribean, Tahiti, Fiji, New Zealand, Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, Italy, France, Greece, Sri Lanka, North Africa, Papua New Guinea, Vanauatu, Bali, Japan, Singapore.
Mud Crabs from Morgans in Redcliffe QLD with a beer and a napkin and a bucket and my Brother Dave and Kerry Cue in the old days.
Camping.
The Farm at Soldiers Road Loch, where my parents in law lived. The hills, the creek, the dairy, the frsh cream, eggs, milk and vegies.
Christmas at the Farm
Retro "Stuff" from the 50's and 60's.
Garage sales
Op shops, can spend hours in there
Having a Great Dad, loving, funny, gentleman, all my life he never even as much as scolded me and I grew up grateful.
All the English shows on TV, Escape To The Country, Prime Suspect, they do the best drama and comedy.
Wit.
Intelligence.
Helping People.
Teaching
Writing of course, that goes without saying.
Sexy lips on men, who like to kiss.
Sex
Scottish tablet which is a dry fudge, full of sugar botter and milk and is delightfully wicked.
Boots The Chemist and Marks and Sparks in London or Wakefield.
Thornes House Granmmar School
The highlands of Scotland which always vibrate within me.
My dotty Aunt Heather who took us on the ride of our lives in Aberdeen.
Billy Eliott
Inspiration
Hope
Pomp and ceremony, love The Queen.
Traditions
Her garden which is in its infancy as the kids, dog seem intent on destroying it, so have fenced it off.
Being able to fix things around the two houses, feel very Mannish, when I do it or a Tomboy.
Growing up with brothers as they never ever failed to try and beat me at anything and everything. Swimming, running, games. trivia, they don't stand a chance and they know it and they have no problem in cheating to do it.
Family games at Christmas with the Brucks. Every one else thinks we are showoffs and fight to the death to win. They are right.
Cruises.
Flowers. Especially red and yellow roses a la Guns N Roses.
Bikers, especailly the outlaws that Steve knows as they are scary and couldn't give a shit.
Wayne, my best male friend, who lives in Sydney. I've never met him face to face but he lst his wife, young and I lost a daughter and sometimes we just know how the other is feeling, and he is the crudest man ever.
Frank Jacobson and Joey boy from Supagas. Robert R too as he put up with a lot just to go out with me after my marriage died.
Gwen and Tiny, my parents in Law who were so hard working and so down to earth and funny.
Kerry Cue and Kerrie Hancock and Karin Berry, my 3 sis in laws and our friendships that survived after divorces and crap.
Sylvia as she is me hero for gob smacking "wogness" and her cooking which is to die for.
Loretta, as she is gentle and sweet and practical and pulls me up when I am down with butter chicken made by her hubby and it's to die for.
My Mum for being a genius and passing it on to us all. Dad too.
Being born in Edinburgh, around the corner from where Robert Louis Stevenson once lived.
Wind In The Willows.
What Katy did, Little Women.
A gripping book that I can't put down and have to finish, housework ignored.
Being anal and organised, it saves time.
One Man
Soft voices
Swimming and swimming, the smell of chlorine, the hypnotic lines on the pool floor. rythm and flow and just breathing, and the water.
Cliffs of Dover, so magnificent, so historic, so glad to see them as I heaved into the wind that blew back into my face as I bent over the rail from The British Channel Ferry.
Greek liners, especailly the Ellenis which was the epitome of style and glamour.
Stolen kisses.
Romance
Make up. clothes, shoes, dresses, jewellery, all things irly, pretty and fun.
Being slim again.
Being healthy.
Hot days with no end.
Dusk
The twilights in the Uk that are long and last till 10 at night
Builders Cafes in Uk with their fat explosion of food. Greasy chips, baked beans, sausage, black pud and fried bread.
Yorkshire puds made the proper Yorkshire way, 4 inches round, risen high, crisp and golden. Served with a thin gravy, called Ash, and hot relish.
Having wealthy sibs who treat me to great things and I always refuse and they always ignore me.
Hugs and kisses from the grandkids, even if they are covered in ginger biscuit or weet bix and it goes all over me.
Being a young Mum and loving the babies. Playing with them rather than getting any work done.
Sunny days.
Wet rainy cold days where I don't have to feel guilty if I am reading a book.
Surrounding myself with the things I love. Warm colours and memories and retro stuff.
Kerrie Hancock's house at Korumburra, she should charge for people to go in, it's a work of art and I want it. Bull nose verandah, drooping trees, animals and kids everywhere and great cooking. And Kerrie is like a brown haired Yvette, so I can look at her and not freak too much about how skinny Yvette is.
George's cuddles and his sense of the ridiculous. Ian's intelligence and knowing that I could never match it on tech stuff but I can beat him on Entertainment and Music.
Transforming a house for someone.
Helping people in need, and seeing the results, housing, self esteem, mainly women and kids but men too.
Having a friend called Mongrel, who is an alcoholic and a shambles but there is still a beautiful man inside.
The wit of the Irish and their intelligence and getting maudlin drunk with them and singing "The Fields Of Athenrie", and watching them cry.
Trivia Competitions where the table of teachers always win and if I play with my brothers, they stand up and yell at me
"Are You Sure?" And if I get it wrong, sulk at me, bastards.
Camp Eden, where the food was to die for and I learned how to exercise again.
Rumours and gossip. The rumours at Camp eden were gob smacking and I felt like a country mouse amongst the City Mice.
Loves dragging home strays, my Sister Jackie said I have been doing it all my life, be it animal, vegetable or Mineral
And I still am doing it now.
Loves a good tropical storm where tress bend over to the howling wind, bend almost double and spring back.
Rain on a tin roof when you are warm and snug inside with a good thriller or real life Murder Mystery.
My Ipad that Deb bought me for my writing
Laughing at the quote from Yorkshire Peter from the Windsor Castle days,
"To be born British is like winning the lottery of life "
Being proud of my kids as they grow and live good lives and help others as legacy to Lauren, their Sister. R.I.P.
To Bobby for providing the impetus to start the stories as he is a character, swears like a trooper, doesn't give a shit what people think of him and being the sperm donor to my girls. Sorry Bob, that's basically it !
Debbie Hood , my oldest daughter as she is a legend in compassion and beauty, I'm so proud of the woman she has become and Yvette and Alena, we made it girls, through all the hard times and the sad times and kept our dignity and self respect and had pants wetting fun, too.
Yvette for being so difficult as she's a challenge, very day and keeps me on my toes.
Alena for her big heart and compassion, no one care as much as Alena
Sue Grafton books of which I have nearly all. Love the character of the single girl private eye beating the bad guys and girls and is hopelessly flawed and knows it.
Dune perfume as it reminds me of The Sheraton Mirage and the dunes there if tou walk out far enough.
Summer of 42
Jaws
Touche Eclat (Radiant Touch ) by Lancome
Simon Perele bras and underwear and are half price in Noumea
Making thin chocolate fudge that snaps apart, cleanly
Men that cook, can cry, are not afraid to be vunerable, tell the truth and are loyal to their wives,
Being a lady in the Drawing Room and a tart in the bedroom and dressing up in gstrings, high heels and lace and White musk
Resting my head on a mans shoulder in weariness and heartbreak
Cooking, the more exotic the better, after 20 years of cooking meat and 2 veg and NO onion as he was allergic to it
My girls having turned out with good lives and I was Mother and Father for all of the last 22 years and knowing I did a very good job
Being debt free
Having no big worries
Helping out with the woes of a few years ago and refusing to give up even when things were beyond comprehension and seemed insurmountable.
Roseleigh, the Mews House we lived in at Ossett which was so grand, with its two reception rooms and 2 cellars and cold larder and fireplaces. Gorgeous old place and Jackie was married at 19 and when she left I missed her, even though we fought like cat and cat.
My Dad coming up to say goodnight to us every night, and one night sneezed and he had vaccination fever and Jackie and I stuffing pillows in our mouths in mirth as we heard his muffled voice outside our door, exclaim.
"Shit, I think I just shat myself"
Never hearing my Dad say the word Fuck, nor my Mother but she was terribly aetheist after Jamie died and blasphemed like mad. Jesus! Christ! God! And if we dared to ask her what was for dinner she would always say
"Shit with sugar on now get out of my way "
That she always said,
" Kids, I should have had a dozen !"
Her telling off people with no sense of shame or embarressment and her piercing blue eyes that could pin you to a wall in a second. She was snobby and I loved that about her, so much rigid pride and stiff upper lip.
Kisses and hugs and all things before and after.
Mens forearms and biceps and hands.
Fat bellies on kids and men.
kids, all kids, all ages and all mine
Arthur, with Dudley Moore and 10, Dudley, too.
Robert Palmer. R.I.P.
My Unit, as it's mine for life, can be moved to any land in Victoria at no cost and everything in it is a refelection of my taste. Best thing in it ? Laurens Dream House.
Being SINGLE, no one to yell or tell me what to do. No negativity at all, surrounded by kids and good family and plants and grass and a strange Fat Husky and a King of a cat who has no balls but thinks he still has.
Summer days hot and still with kids shreiking as they run under the hose attached to the Hills Hoist.
Hills Hoists as they dry well and spin n the fresh air and the smell of the clothes as you bury upur face in them. The extandaline dries things hard and stiff, not enough air flowing around them.
Swimming at midnight in the pool at the Putri Bali with my girls and new Balinese friends from the village of Nusa Dua.
Lauren being dubbed the Otter there in Bali as she swam and swam, fat bottom disappearing under the water, smooth gliding like an Otter, and breaking into a smile as her head came up out of the water, white teeth smiling, brown face glowing. She was so very happy.
Cabo, Mexico, beacuse an American Lady told Lauren the Sea Otters there were in danger and she always wanted to go and if I go there will her spirit be there swimming with the Sea Otters
Everything by the Eagles, especially NEW KID IN TOWN, LYING EYES, DESPERADO
Cowboys riding horses
Not being scared to die. Losing a brother when I was 5 and thinking he was just sleeping and knowing that he wasn't coming home,
Bull nose verandahs on old farmhouses
Old farmhouses
Older, kindly Policeman, my ex husband said never trust a young copper.
Parasailing
Water Skiiing,
Sledding down the hill at Thornes Park on the first snow I had ever seen at 12.
Snuggling up in bed with a warm, naked man who is affectionate and nibbles my neck
Having my neck kissed at the back when I am trying to peel the spuds for Dinner.
Paris perfume as it was my signature essence for years and my ex bought me a basket of it as big as my head.
Joy, by Patou
Youth Dew in its slim fluted bottle and little gold bow on the outside.
My basic, simple life. Health, healthy food, home grown if possible
Spending time with My Auntie Betty and hearing her down to earth advice, she always natters on at me as I am the only one of my Sisters that is single and she worries about me.
Laughing at her tales and the time she covered her much loved husband one day with slices of bread and butter.
Loving her tradition of all Yorkshire Women. loving men first.
Yorkshire Parkin served on bonfire night in UK
Bonfires
Swimming pools
Messing around in an old wood boat with my brothers, George and David
Young Turks as it always reminds me of Roger Williams, who worked for us and he could really dance, which I love in a Man.
Helping Others
Dancing, all the time.
All Music, all music. My Dad taught me to listen to the music and the voices and the rythms.
My Dad playing his 24 string hawaiaan guitar and how he could make it sing.
My Dad beacuse he read me stories and encouraged me, petted me and belived that I was the cutest little thing since sliced bread.
Sliced bread in Sydney that was so soft you left your fingerprints in it.
Devon sandwiches with tomato sauce.
Stolen Naughty Kisses and being swept off your feet in a deep bend and dancing around the kitchen to a special song.
Hay barns and hay stacking and morning teas on the farm, sent down in a basket.
Jatz crackers with butter and corn dip, the one my Sis Jackie made when I was 10 and just before she kicked a Teacher in the knee and left school and went to work at 14.
Jackie dragging me to see Musicals, Oliver, South Pacific, Blue Hawaiia (!4 times) West Side Story
Going to the UK at 12 and staying 4 wonderful years, love the UK, especially Scotland my home that breaks your heart at its beauty. The highlands, the lochs.
Eating bread in Rome and getting our bottoms pinched, Mum, Jackie and I. I was 12, the hot streets, the crooning pigeons, ancient ruins and scooters everywhere.
Breakfast at Tiffany's with Audreys signature look, black strapless dress, a pearl choker and a her hair up. Love
Marilyn Monroe, Gina Lollobrigida, Sophia Loren, Grace Kelly, the style icons I had growing up, Diana Dors, Jayne Mansfield for their cone like huge breasts that were flaunted and not hidden
My Mothers elegance, her fabulous legs, her wit, her dress sense and smell, Chanel number 5 with the glass stoppered bottle, loved her hats and gloves and pumps.
Vintage (Minnie Mouse) Pumps in black velvet and satin.
Old English Roses in gardens where you can reach your head in and smell them
The Moors of Yorkshire
Men with nice warm arms that don't mind wrapping them around you, hold your hand and want to fret and argue and you are willing to concede defeat.
Tall men
Men that do work around the house, clear the table, do the dishes, vacuum, swep the floors, wash them ,cook and bring in the washing, fold it and put it away (Impossible I know )
Dark curly hair, cut short so it bristles as you run your hand over it.
Giving massages
My Sisters Jackie ability to sing and the pretty chiffon dresses she used to wear, especially the lemon one.
Dad having a Muisc Shop at the Lido arcade in Surfers in the innocent days of the 60's and how the Brothers Gibb were at the beer garden and Barry Gibb asking Jackie out.
The cinema at Southport that was on the pier and you could see the water lapping underneath, canvas low slung seat and lollies thrown from the Upper Circle. Seeing Dr No there and Jackie there with the man that had taken us on his catamaran to impress us and we weren't.
The Beagle Boys, Beano, Spiderman comics
Cinema Europa where Nev would take me and make me think
Ireland with its green and humour and legendary drunks who can drink anyone under the table, the women as well. And the fact they then cry and sing and the men ask you for a "ride" and it's not in a car.
Looking myself in the mirror and thinking I am reasonably attractive for my age.
Losing 24 kilos in six months and feeling like a teenager again and fit and healthy.
Metallica and Turn The Page and the original version By Bob Seger
James Hetfield as an older man, he is so sexy
The score from Jesus Christ Superstar as Ian brought it home from Vietnam and loaded it up on our reel to reel tape in the old house in Oakleigh and being blown away by the words and the power of the Music.
The Fish Cheer by Country Joe McDonald and The Fish
Fishing on the wharf at Wellington with a Merchant Seaman and catching a fish with string and a bent safety pin. And fishing with George off the old rickety bridge at Southport Gold Coast. Seeing the magnificent stingrays undulating underneath.
The dunes as they used to be before Sea World came along and the girl guides troop I was in camping there. The hidden trails between the tussocks and kissing a boy there and hos teeth crunched on to my teeth and it hurt and I thought,
"Is that it ? ", where were the bells and whistles, the soundtrack ?
The beach houses of old weatherboard right on the water with sandy steps up and green kitchens with fat cream coloured fridges.
Paris for its lights and elegance and light rain on Summer nights. And for banning my ex and deporting him from the airport the first night of a 3 day sexy break. He deserved not to get in roaring and shouting at the flic and they put guns to his head, I just laughed and laughed.
Jumping off the Southern Cross from the Entertainment Deck, fully clothed with George, and half way down realising I had time to think,
"God, this is high" and not being scared but preparing myself for the entry which I knew was going to hurt.
Being high in the sky of Bali behind a speedboat and thinking,
"Now, this is living", so hushed, so beautiful and down below people looking like ants, the buffeting wind, it was like being close to heaven.
All the english hymns that make me feel brave and noble and that I am here for a purpose.
My babies eyes as they launched themselves on to my shoulder after birth. The darkness of those eyes and the beauty. Possets on my shoulder as I answered the door after going home. leaking of milk and a nappy pin attached to my shirt and not being the slightest bit embarrassed.
A fat English Bull Terrier called Grunt who was fat white blob of docility and stupidness but we adored him as he dragged his belly across the lawn. And how he rescued a new born kitten and saved Kyle as a toddler from tumbling in to our inground pool.
Hammy the best cat ever.
Zabeth, the gentle Palamino we bought Yvette when she turned 16.
My first Car I bought, a Mini, powder blue from Serge next door for $100. And my ex saying I would break down and be helpless and that car never did and I drove it to QLD and Loch all the time. Holes in the floor at the front so that you could see the road as you sped along. Three kids, one a baby in a basket tucked on the back seat.
The Melbourne Football Club Auctions
1927
Jon English
Hollywood Seven
The Good the Bad and the Ugly, Nev taking me for my Birthday to the Astor and seeinf all 3 Clint Esatwood movies on the huge screen and loving Clint Eastwood as a rebellious young man who could shoot.
Lawrence of Arabia
Ryans Daughter as it was so beautifully done and made me want to go to the Cliffs of Moher and lay on my stomach and look over at the 100 foot drop, which I did twenty years later. All alone and as happy as a clam.
Solitude, lots of peace and quiet
Any Home Improvement Show.
Bunnings
The Angels, ZZ Top, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Enrique, Adele's talent but not her cockney accent, same with Posh.
Declan Allen as a man and a friend, top father.
Andrew Hood as my Son In Law as he is so funny and kind.
Dean Edwards, also Son In Law for his work ethic and his decent old fashioned love of Farno (The Family, in Muldy )
All my girlfriends old and new, some very old now ha ha
Sharing times with my Sisters Jackie Benton and helen Quelch and wetting our pants laughing.
Helen Lowndes as she has the most fantastic smile and big heart.
Carol My Sis In Law, Helen Lowndes Sister married to my brother Ian as she has the best laconic drawl,
"Giiday Janette"
All my brothers and sisters as they are all seriously nuts like me.
The Gold Coast, off season.
The Carribean, Tahiti, Fiji, New Zealand, Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, Italy, France, Greece, Sri Lanka, North Africa, Papua New Guinea, Vanauatu, Bali, Japan, Singapore.
Mud Crabs from Morgans in Redcliffe QLD with a beer and a napkin and a bucket and my Brother Dave and Kerry Cue in the old days.
Camping.
The Farm at Soldiers Road Loch, where my parents in law lived. The hills, the creek, the dairy, the frsh cream, eggs, milk and vegies.
Christmas at the Farm
Retro "Stuff" from the 50's and 60's.
Garage sales
Op shops, can spend hours in there
Having a Great Dad, loving, funny, gentleman, all my life he never even as much as scolded me and I grew up grateful.
All the English shows on TV, Escape To The Country, Prime Suspect, they do the best drama and comedy.
Wit.
Intelligence.
Helping People.
Teaching
Writing of course, that goes without saying.
Sexy lips on men, who like to kiss.
Sex
Scottish tablet which is a dry fudge, full of sugar botter and milk and is delightfully wicked.
Boots The Chemist and Marks and Sparks in London or Wakefield.
Thornes House Granmmar School
The highlands of Scotland which always vibrate within me.
My dotty Aunt Heather who took us on the ride of our lives in Aberdeen.
Billy Eliott
Inspiration
Hope
Pomp and ceremony, love The Queen.
Traditions
Her garden which is in its infancy as the kids, dog seem intent on destroying it, so have fenced it off.
Being able to fix things around the two houses, feel very Mannish, when I do it or a Tomboy.
Growing up with brothers as they never ever failed to try and beat me at anything and everything. Swimming, running, games. trivia, they don't stand a chance and they know it and they have no problem in cheating to do it.
Family games at Christmas with the Brucks. Every one else thinks we are showoffs and fight to the death to win. They are right.
Cruises.
Flowers. Especially red and yellow roses a la Guns N Roses.
Bikers, especailly the outlaws that Steve knows as they are scary and couldn't give a shit.
Wayne, my best male friend, who lives in Sydney. I've never met him face to face but he lst his wife, young and I lost a daughter and sometimes we just know how the other is feeling, and he is the crudest man ever.
Frank Jacobson and Joey boy from Supagas. Robert R too as he put up with a lot just to go out with me after my marriage died.
Gwen and Tiny, my parents in Law who were so hard working and so down to earth and funny.
Kerry Cue and Kerrie Hancock and Karin Berry, my 3 sis in laws and our friendships that survived after divorces and crap.
Sylvia as she is me hero for gob smacking "wogness" and her cooking which is to die for.
Loretta, as she is gentle and sweet and practical and pulls me up when I am down with butter chicken made by her hubby and it's to die for.
My Mum for being a genius and passing it on to us all. Dad too.
Being born in Edinburgh, around the corner from where Robert Louis Stevenson once lived.
Wind In The Willows.
What Katy did, Little Women.
A gripping book that I can't put down and have to finish, housework ignored.
Being anal and organised, it saves time.
One Man
Soft voices
Swimming and swimming, the smell of chlorine, the hypnotic lines on the pool floor. rythm and flow and just breathing, and the water.
Cliffs of Dover, so magnificent, so historic, so glad to see them as I heaved into the wind that blew back into my face as I bent over the rail from The British Channel Ferry.
Greek liners, especailly the Ellenis which was the epitome of style and glamour.
Stolen kisses.
Romance
Make up. clothes, shoes, dresses, jewellery, all things irly, pretty and fun.
Being slim again.
Being healthy.
Hot days with no end.
Dusk
The twilights in the Uk that are long and last till 10 at night
Builders Cafes in Uk with their fat explosion of food. Greasy chips, baked beans, sausage, black pud and fried bread.
Yorkshire puds made the proper Yorkshire way, 4 inches round, risen high, crisp and golden. Served with a thin gravy, called Ash, and hot relish.
Having wealthy sibs who treat me to great things and I always refuse and they always ignore me.
Hugs and kisses from the grandkids, even if they are covered in ginger biscuit or weet bix and it goes all over me.
Being a young Mum and loving the babies. Playing with them rather than getting any work done.
Sunny days.
Wet rainy cold days where I don't have to feel guilty if I am reading a book.
Surrounding myself with the things I love. Warm colours and memories and retro stuff.
Kerrie Hancock's house at Korumburra, she should charge for people to go in, it's a work of art and I want it. Bull nose verandah, drooping trees, animals and kids everywhere and great cooking. And Kerrie is like a brown haired Yvette, so I can look at her and not freak too much about how skinny Yvette is.
George's cuddles and his sense of the ridiculous. Ian's intelligence and knowing that I could never match it on tech stuff but I can beat him on Entertainment and Music.
Transforming a house for someone.
Helping people in need, and seeing the results, housing, self esteem, mainly women and kids but men too.
Having a friend called Mongrel, who is an alcoholic and a shambles but there is still a beautiful man inside.
The wit of the Irish and their intelligence and getting maudlin drunk with them and singing "The Fields Of Athenrie", and watching them cry.
Trivia Competitions where the table of teachers always win and if I play with my brothers, they stand up and yell at me
"Are You Sure?" And if I get it wrong, sulk at me, bastards.
Camp Eden, where the food was to die for and I learned how to exercise again.
Rumours and gossip. The rumours at Camp eden were gob smacking and I felt like a country mouse amongst the City Mice.
