It’s 4.45am here in London and it’s dawn. The birds are practicing the Hallelujah chorus and there’s a distant hum of London traffic. I arrived yesterday and even in my jet-lagged state managed to walk 18 kilometres – not sure what that is in miles….10, 000 steps a day? Hah!…

On Tuesday I board a flight from Melbourne to London. Twenty two hours later I’ll land at Heathrow as I have done many times before. This time is different. It’s a month long holiday which for the last 20 years has been unheard of. Running a business and with the…

We’ve been following Chris O’Connor and his family as they extend an 1860’s cottage and build another house for his parents on the same block. In the previous two articles Chris describes his decision to have a ” gap year” in later life and move to Victoria to pursue his…

When Notre Dame burned there was disbelief and a collective grief expressed from many corners of the world.  We know the images of iconic buildings as if we have been there. And if we have travelled there the experience of identity with that building is profound. Notre Dame was/is iconic…

I love Easter!  In Melbourne it’s an autumn festival teetering on the edge on winter and with just the right amount of sunshine to encourage us outdoors. In the UK where I grew up, its spring and buds burst into life and a new energy is born. With 2.2billion Christians…

Last week we enjoyed the story of Chris O’Connor’s “Gap Year” and the life change that followed. Moving from New South Wales to Chatsworth Lodge, a Victorian heritage listed cottage with grand plans to restore the beautiful old home, sympathetically add to it and build a new cottage on the…

A recurring theme in the stories of our generation is the search for a new way of life. Recently, we read about  Inge Hatton’s inspirational journey from Montreal in Canada, finding a Buddhist path in Colorado which led her to establish a new way of life in Nova Scotia. The…

Our Tuscan food and wine tour draws to a close with these last 2 diary entries from our inspiring writer and friend, Maureen Moffatt. What an adventure its been! I’m reminded of a quote by Robin Leach, ” In Italy, they add work and life on to food and wine.”…

 Only two more days to go of our tasting experience of Tuscany. We all know that feeling when our travels are coming to an end. Each moment seems more precious and each taste, sound and view more intense and special. Continue travelling with our dear friend, Maureen Moffatt who so…