It’s a little nod to Wayne’s World, but instead of ‘party time, excellent’ (if you are aware of the cult nineties classic) I will be diving into one WORD each day. It could be something I lear…

Happy Thursday everyone and welcome to another week of wonderful doors. This week I am showcasing a special door found right in the heart of Sydney’s CBD. I stumbled across these doors yesterday while walking past the Public Library of New South Wales in Sydney. I have passed the building plenty of times before, but had never really stopped to look closely at the entrance.

It’s a little nod to Wayne’s World, but instead of ‘party time, excellent’ (if you are aware of the cult nineties classic) I will be diving into one WORD each day. It could be something I learned, something bizarre that happened, a favourite word that I have rediscovered or just a thought that won’t leave me alone. If you’re joining in on today’s word, feel free to use this tag to connect your post to the series: …

Thank you Di for this week’s questions. 1. Would you like to have your own private jet? Oh yes please. I could travel home to Northern Ireland any time I wish and travel to new destinations without having that dreaded time at the airport. No checking in luggage or even having to travel to the airport. If I have a private jet I hope that it can use renewable energy resources as I don’t want to be putting more pressure on the environment.

It’s a little nod to Wayne’s World, but instead of ‘party time, excellent’ (if you are aware of the cult nineties classic) I will be diving into one WORD each day. It could be something I learned, something bizarre that happened, a favourite word that I have rediscovered or just a thought that won’t leave me alone. If you’re joining in on today’s word, feel free to use this tag to connect your post to the series: …

Wineglass Bay is one of Tasmania’s most photographed places, and for good reason. The white sand forms a perfect curve, the water is incredibly clear, and the views from the lookout are hard to beat. The walk up to the lookout is short but steep, so you definitely feel it in your legs, especially on the way back down. However, once you reach the top, it is totally worth the effort.

It’s a little nod to Wayne’s World, but instead of ‘party time, excellent’ (if you are aware of the cult nineties classic) I will be diving into one WORD each day. It could be something I learned, something bizarre that happened, a favourite word that I have rediscovered or just a thought that won’t leave me alone. If you’re joining in on today’s word, feel free to use this tag to connect your post to the series: …

Happy Friday everyone. Today’s flower of the day is called the Penny Mac Hydrangea, spotted in the conservatory at City Park, Launceston. I have recently learned that it is named after a real person, Penny McHenry, a well-known hydrangea enthusiast from Atlanta, Georgia. She founded the American Hydrangea Society and was influential in popularising hydrangeas in American gardens. How cool is that?!

Happy Thursday everyone and welcome to another week of wonderful doors. This week I am showcasing a few doors from a place called Campbell Town, a beautiful quaint town that we stopped in when travelling from Launceston to Coles Bay in Tasmania. Please let me know if you have a stand out door this week.

There’s something deeply satisfying about finally achieving a goal you’ve quietly carried for years. Somewhere between coastal drives, city stays, dusty inland roads and spontaneous getaways, I can now say that I have visited every state and territory in Australia. It was always something I was keen to do, and while I can now proudly say I’ve ticked them all off, I know I’ve only scratched the surface.

Thank you Di for this week’s questions. 1. How would you describe your laughter? (giggly, deep, infectious? etc). I guess it depends on the situation. Sometimes I chuckle and then if something is really funny I can belly laugh, where my sides are actually splitting. 2. What makes you smile? Dogs, old people in love, seeing my family and partner, seeing old friends.

It’s a little nod to Wayne’s World, but instead of ‘party time, excellent’ (if you are aware of the cult nineties classic) I will be diving into one WORD each day. It could be something I learned, something bizarre that happened, a favourite word that I have rediscovered or just a thought that won’t leave me alone. If you’re joining in on today’s word, feel free to use this tag to connect your post to the series: …

As many of you may know, I was in Launceston last week for my best friend’s wedding. It was a truly magical couple of days and we had an absolute ball, with the opportunity to also see around Launceston and taste our first bite of Tasmania, a place we had always wanted to visit. Launceston is one of those cities that surprises you.

It’s a little nod to Wayne’s World, but instead of ‘party time, excellent’ (if you are aware of the cult nineties classic) I will be diving into one WORD each day. It could be something I learned, something bizarre that happened, a favourite word that I have rediscovered or just a thought that won’t leave me alone. If you’re joining in on today’s word, feel free to use this tag to connect your post to the series: …

Today’s flower of the day is the Madonna Lily.

Happy Thursday everyone and welcome to my 150th doors post!!! This week I am delighted to feature some doors from my recent trip to Tasmania, with the focus on Launceston and I look forward to creating a blog post of our trip in the coming days. I was absolutely gobsmacked with the beautiful buildings in Launceston and the stunning doors to match.

Thank you Di for this week’s questions, leading us nicely into the new year. Ps. I hope you are all having a great start to the new year so far and may you be healthy and happy throughout the year. 1. How long did it take you to get back into the normal swing of things after the holidays?

It’s a little nod to Wayne’s World, but instead of ‘party time, excellent’ (if you are aware of the cult nineties classic) I will be diving into one WORD each day. It could be something I learned, something bizarre that happened, a favourite word that I have rediscovered or just a thought that won’t leave me alone. If you’re joining in on today’s word, feel free to use this tag to connect your post to the series: …

It’s a little nod to Wayne’s World, but instead of ‘party time, excellent’ (if you are aware of the cult nineties classic) I will be diving into one WORD each day. It could be something I learned, something bizarre that happened, a favourite word that I have rediscovered or just a thought that won’t leave me alone. If you’re joining in on today’s word, feel free to use this tag to connect your post to the series: …

What makes you feel nostalgic? Nostalgia rarely comes from big moments. For me, it’s usually triggered by something small, especially smells. A couple of days ago, I was at a hens party and we were asked to make something out of Play-Doh. As soon as I opened the tub, the smell instantly transported me back to my childhood. Sitting at home or in school, hands covered in bright colours, completely absorbed in play.

Thank you Di for this week’s questions as we say goodbye to 2025. 1. Do you stay up to toast in the New Year? Yes we normally do. We may not always go out to celebrate but we will sit up and watch the countdown. In the UK they have a great tv show called Jools Holland’s Hootenanny. It is the BBC’s long-running New Year’s Eve music show, hosted by Jools Holland and it has some fantastic acts to bring in the new year.

It’s a little nod to Wayne’s World, but instead of ‘party time, excellent’ (if you are aware of the cult nineties classic) I will be diving into one WORD each day. It could be something I learned, something bizarre that happened, a favourite word that I have rediscovered or just a thought that won’t leave me alone. If you’re joining in on today’s word, feel free to use this tag to connect your post to the series: …

How have your political views changed over time? Growing up in Northern Ireland, my sense of identity felt fairly straightforward. I felt British, reinforced by the fact that I held a British passport. That small booklet carried a lot of weight. It told me who I was supposed to be and where I supposedly belonged. As I got older, education began to loosen that certainty.

You get to build your perfect space for reading and writing. What’s it like? My perfect reading and writing space would be a quiet and cool retreat, a place that naturally slows you down the moment you step inside. The air would be crisp and refreshing, a welcome contrast to the outside world, especially on warmer days. It would be cosy without feeling stuffy, filled with subtle, manly aromas, cedar-wood, leather, maybe a touch of pine, or cut grass, possibly scents that belong in a cabin and instantly make the space feel grounded and calm.

Grateful to have been part of a Christmas lunch that brought people together today. Merry Christmas to one and all, near and far. I hope you have a lovely day with your family and friends. Sending lots of love and Christmas cheer to wherever you are in the world ♥️

Thank you Di for this week’s Christmas questions. 1 - Which do you prefer, Christmas pudding, mince pies, or trifle? Oh I love all three. However, I have literally just finished a mince pie so I will go with that, with a cup of tea of course. 2 - Which gives you the most satisfaction: Cooking a special meal for your family / Dining with family and friends / Not having to do the washing up afterwards.

Are you a good judge of character? In a word, yes. I believe I am a good judge of character, not because I think I have some special insight into people, but because I’ve learned to listen more than I speak. Even if someone is nice to me, I pay close attention to how they treat others. Over time, you start to notice patterns, how people behave when there’s nothing to gain, how they speak about those who aren’t in the room, and whether their actions match their words.

When are you most happy? When I am travelling the world with my other half. I love being on holidays and exploring together, may it be across the world or somewhere local, it’s about building memories and experiences together. That’s when I am most happy. Below are a handful of places we have visited together. Thailand 2007 South Pacific 2019 Philippines 2025 Portugal 2010 Fiji 2018 Isle of Capri 2014

What was the last thing you did for play or fun? Last night we stepped into a little pocket of festive magic at Le Jolly Market in Sydney, and it couldn’t have felt more Christmassy if it tried. We loved it so much last year that we made a point of returning this Christmas, in its new home at the Rocks, beside Circular Quay.

Thank you Hugh for your festive questions. I loved your questions and answers and thought I would see how mine would fare. 1. When did you first meet Father Christmas? I am not sure how old I was here, maybe somewhere between 2 and 4 years. I’m also not sure that I look too impressed with this Santa as he looks a bit menacing.

It’s a little nod to Wayne’s World, but instead of ‘party time, excellent’ (if you are aware of the cult nineties classic) I will be diving into one WORD each day. It could be something I learned, something bizarre that happened, a favourite word that I have rediscovered or just a thought that won’t leave me alone. If you’re joining in on today’s word, feel free to use this tag to connect your post to the series: …

List your top 5 grocery store items. There are a few item that we do purchase daily and I would imagine they could be similar for many others. 1 - Milk 2 - Bananas 3 - Bread 4 - Protein - normally chicken or mince 5 - Spinach (we’ve been eating this a lot recently, in sandwiches and in our pasta bakes) …

Happy Thursday everyone and welcome to another week of festive doors. I have three doors to show and these are the last of my Christmas collection. I’m off now for a few days so will begin my Christmas shopping today and we plan to call over to Bondi to pay our respects. Have a lovely day everyone and I hope you enjoy the lead up to the celebrations.

Is your life today what you pictured a year ago? Yes. No plot twists! Life didn’t suddenly veer left or right, it carried on straight ahead and maybe that’s underrated. I’m just happy nothing fell apart and nothing too bad happened. It means consistency, resilience, and learning to be okay with taking things at a slow pace. I take each day as it comes and make the best of my time. As we have seen at Bondi Beach, tomorrow is not guaranteed for anyone.

Thank you Di for this week’s questions. 1. Did anyone read you a bedtime story when you were a child? Yes I was lucky that both my parents would read to us in bed, they would take turns. I remember my mum would struggle with the complicated words in my Thundercat novels and I’m sure it wasn’t easy, especially with English being her second language.

It’s a little nod to Wayne’s World, but instead of ‘party time, excellent’ (if you are aware of the cult nineties classic) I will be diving into one WORD each day. It could be something I learned, something bizarre that happened, a favourite word that I have rediscovered or just a thought that won’t leave me alone. If you’re joining in on today’s word, feel free to use this tag to connect your post to the series: …

Yesterday I spent the day at the Pokémon GO Safari event in Sydney. If you know me, that might surprise you. I have a lot going on in my life, work, gym, travel, writing, family, friends - so Pokémon GO isn’t always something people associate with me, but it’s there, quietly ticking along in the background. I started playing in 2016 when it first came out and never really stopped, when I start something, I find it difficult to stop.

Tell us one thing you hope people say about you. I have been thinking about this for a few minutes, and honestly, I don’t really know. I have to admit, I am a people pleaser. I like harmony and I want people to feel comfortable around me. I want them to enjoy my company, not because I’m the loudest in the room or the most interesting, but because being together feels easy and comfortable.

Tell us about your first day at something — school, work, as a parent, etc. It’s a little nod to Wayne’s World, but instead of ‘party time, excellent’ (if you are aware of the cult nineties classic) I will be diving into one WORD each day. It could be something I learned, something bizarre that happened, a favourite word that I have rediscovered or just a thought that won’t leave me alone.

Happy Friday everyone! Today’s flower of the day is the paperflower, also known as Bougainvillea, spotted here in Caringbah, Sutherland Shire. Interestingly, paperflower has shown potential in fighting urban air pollution due to its ability to absorb pollutants.