An Examined Life

Sometimes love remains, but affection and intimacy quietly slip into the background. A warm, gently humorous reflection on rediscovering closeness, remembering who we are beyond our everyday roles, and nurturing the relationships that matter.

A grandchild's tears have a remarkable ability to turn an otherwise sensible adult into a completely irrational grandparent. Not the I dropped my biscuit cry. Or the outraged howl because someone dared suggest shoes might be required before leaving the house. I mean those enormous little-person emotions that seem far too big for the body trying to contain them. Parents, quite rightly, have a job to do. There are boundaries to hold, behaviour to correct and lessons that cannot

One of my favourite films is The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, I've written about it before, believe it or not. Anyway, apart from the wonderful characters, beautiful setting and rather delightful reminder that life doesn't come with an expiry date, there's a piece of wisdom about facing life's difficulties that has stayed with me. It compares life's challenges to a wave. Resist it, and you risk being dragged under. Swim through it, and you'll eventually come out the other side

I’ve been looking at yoga lately. I’m certainly no yoga expert. I’m at the stage where I’m still deciding whether some of those positions are physically possible, for me at least, or whether the internet is having a joke at my expense. What interested me was the combination of movement, flexibility, strength and the possibility that yoga for weight loss might actually have some merit. Then I nearly bought a subscription. And suddenly, my investigation into yoga became an inve

Artificial intelligence sounds much more intimidating than it needs to. Even the name doesn't help. Artificial intelligence. It sounds technical, futuristic and slightly ominous, as though understanding it requires a computer science degree and a working knowledge of things involving lots of letters and numbers. I have neither. I'm in my sixties. I grew up long before smartphones, Google and social media became ordinary parts of life. I've watched technology arrive in waves,

What happens when we stop taking our homes for granted and really look at them? An exploration of feng shui, flow, light and seeing familiar spaces with fresh eyes.

Getting older changes more than our bodies. Relationships shift, love takes different forms, and solitude can become less lonely and considerably more interesting.

Scammers rely on urgency, fear, hope and trust. During Scams Awareness Week, three simple actions are worth remembering before clicking, paying or believing: stop, think and check.

Sometimes we aren't wishing for a different life so much as the life we once imagined. Perhaps it's time to stop measuring ourselves against who we thought we'd become and appreciate who we actually are.

One of the great benefits of working from home is comfort... It is surprisingly easy to sit down at the computer first thing in the morning, become absorbed in work, and then realise several hours have passed with very little movement.

Many granny flats are designed with rental returns or temporary accommodation in mind. As I browsed floor plans, I found myself noticing small details. Things that perhaps would not matter to everyone, but which would make all the difference to me.

There are things we carry from childhood that don’t always have a clear beginning. Nothing stands out at first. No single moment you can easily point to. And yet, over time, a way of being begins to take shape.

There are some objects we are drawn to not because we understand them, but because they seem to understand us. Fluorite is one of those objects.

The Quiet Illusion of the Perfect Moment. We often tell ourselves that we are simply waiting for the right time, as though there exists a moment where everything will align - where we will feel confident, prepared, and certain enough to begin without hesitation.

This morning began quietly. Coffee in hand, sunlight filtering through the window, and the familiar scroll through Instagram... a ritual many of us know too well. But instead of noise, the algorithm offered something gentler: reflections on growth, kindness, and possibility. Morning Coffee Rituals One clip in particular stayed with me... a reminder from Sandra Bullock that if we want life to change, we must be willing to change how we move through it. Simple words. Yet quietl

There is a quiet wisdom in simplicity. We see it in nature, in rhythms, and in the way the body often asks for less, not more. Nutrition Simplicity by Organik Health Nutrition is no different. When stripped back, it becomes less about control and more about understanding. This philosophy sits at the heart of Nutrition Simplicity , the latest book from Organik Health . Removing the Complication of Eating Well Many of us genuinely want to eat well... not perfectly, just well en

Have you ever found yourself craving a moment of calm in the middle of a busy day? I know I have. Sometimes, all it takes is a gentle voice, a soothing sound, or a thoughtful reflection to bring us back to the present moment. Headphones ready for a mindful listening session That's precisely what I found when I began exploring the realm of mindful audio content and chose to provide the distinctive sounds via Deb Eternal. It’s like stepping into a warm, inviting space where eve

Privacy doesn’t need to come from hard fences alone. A winding garden path, beautifully framed by meticulously trimmed hedges and lush greenery, creates a serene and inviting landscape. In Australian gardens, living screens can cool spaces while softening harsh boundaries. Plants like lilly pilly , westringia , and murraya cope well with summer heat when established properly. Plants like Lilly Pilly (picture from Bunnings), Westringia , and Murraya are popular choices for A

There’s a quiet burden many of us carry without even realising it. Some of us grow up believing it’s our job to keep the peace, smooth the edges, and make sure everyone around us is feeling okay.

There’s something deeply comforting about walking into a home that smells fresh, calm, and a little bit like you. Not the artificial “clean linen” from a supermarket spray, but the soft whisper of lavender drifting from a corner, or a bright burst of lemon greeting you at the door.