What you can do on September 1st to support Indigenous Literacy Day...

1. BUY A BOOK: Head into a participating bookseller nationally and any purchase you make will assist our fundraising efforts. On Sept 1st 10% or more will be donated for every sale / invoice by the bookseller AND the publisher. So please, consider doing your Christmas shopping on Wednesday and kill two birds with one stone / purchase. To find your nearest participating bookstore click here!
If you’re in Alice Springs, head into Dymocks and buy a copy or two of Fishtails in the dust: writing from the centre published by Ptilotus Press. 10% of sales of this fabulous anthology will go towards the ILP as an ongoing donation. You can also order it on-line here!
2. ATTEND AND EVENT: There are Great Books Swaps happening around the country on Wednesday September 1st, and a few weeks following and you can be part of it. To find out where the nearest event is to you, click here. If there’s not one listed then contact the Indigenous Literacy Project mob on: (02) 9555 5605 / email: karen@indigenousliteracyproject.org.au or better still, organise your own!
3. DONATE ON LINE: Take the easy way out. I often do! And just get on-line and make your donation here. All donations over $2 are tax deductible and every cent is appreciated.
4. DONATE A BOOK BUZZ PACK: The Book Buzz project aims to raise literacy levels of young children living in remote communities by recognising the need for early experience and contact with books. You can make a genuine contribution to the life a child in a remote Indigenous community by sending a book pack which contains 12 wonderful books. Each Book Buzz pack costs $140AUD. Donate one here!
5. RAISE AWARENESS: Allow your staff, students and yourself to stop and read for at least 15 minutes on Wednesday as an act of remembering those who aren’t fortunate enough to enjoy all the benefits that being literate can bring.

What I’m grateful for this weekend... August 28/29...

1. SPARKLES CUPCAKERY: I had a cupcake date at Sparkles Cupcakery in Surry Hills. What a fabulous place for any occasion. When I walked in, I thought it wouldn’t be so bad if the fella didn’t show up because then I could just sit and devour any number of the baked treats. Of course he did show up and I had to settle for only one: the white chocolate and strawberry, and I’m grateful for that but I think next time I’ll have the lemon squeeze, or the oriental flower or maybe even both!
2. COOGEE CATCHUP: There is no better place to be any day of the week than down Coogee Beach (of course, it’s much better when there are no backpackers around). I’m grateful for some stunning weather and company enjoyed at Cerviche overlooking the sea.
3. YUM CHA: Ok, I know there’s a lot of food here, especially for someone who doesn’t cook, but as you know, my life – personal and professional - revolves around breaking bread, so to speak. So, today I was grateful for the long-awaited catch up with friends over yum cha at Regal Marigold in China Town. Now, here’s a novel idea. Sit at a table and just order from an endless convoy of trolleys carrying food. Yes, the perfect Sunday lunch!
4. BELLE FLEUR CHOCOLATES: I am a woman with a complete life. I need for nothing materially and my friends know that. And so, the only thing they feel comfortable giving me sometimes are chocolates. I am SO grateful to Caro who gifted me a nice little box of Belle Fleur chocolates in Balmain today. They are staring at me right now... willing me to undo the ribbon. I am trying to be strong...
4. CRUNCHES: Ok, to be honest, I’m more grateful for Crunchy peanut butter than crunches, but I thought I should add something remotely healthy to today’s blog. Amidst all my ‘indulging’ I did get to the gym twice, and did my fair share of crunches.

Why you should support the Indigenous Literacy Project

The Indigenous Literacy Project is currently funded solely by donations, volunteers and 'in kind' support from the Australian Book Industry – publishers, booksellers, authors, brilliant illustrators. The groundswell of support for ensuring that Indigenous kids have the same opportunities as other Australian kids inspires me, not only an ILP Ambassador and an Australian author, but as a Wiradjuri woman, because in my community I am considered ‘privileged’ simply because I have had all the benefits that being literate can bring.
I work with a range of Indigenous kids; some are speaking English as a second or third language in remote communities, others are in the gifted and talented programs in urban NSW. The differences between both groups are obvious and extreme. The ‘G&T’ kids know how to dream, they have plans for their futures, they have read about Australia, the world and other universes in books, they engage with their friends in chat rooms and on Facebook because they can ie they know how to write. And the self-esteem in the classrooms of the literate kids is heartwarming. You can imagine what the other end of the spectrum is like. It is often heartbreaking.
We all know that low literacy levels are a major issue affecting Indigenous communities, particularly those in remote areas. Being illiterate is a major barrier to education, employment, health and wellbeing.
I just want to flag the most disturbing of the statistics related to the issue:
• Statistics show that by the age of 12, approximately 85 per cent of Indigenous children in remote and isolated areas are unable to read at the minimum level. By the age of 15, more than a third of Australia’s Indigenous students do not have literacy skills good enough to allow them to meet real life challenges.
• There is an enormous gap in literacy rates for Indigenous people living in remote communities and it emerges at an early age. Non-Indigenous students far outperform Indigenous students in benchmark tests for reading, writing and numeracy in Years 3 and 5. By Year 7, the gap has widened (DEET NT 2006).
• In the NT only one in five children living in very remote Indigenous communities can read at the accepted minimum standard. By Year 7, just 15% achieved this benchmark, 47 percentage points behind their urban Indigenous peers and 74 percent less than non-Indigenous students (DEET NT 2006).
What these statistics tell me is that these kids - in all likelihood - will go onto become adults solely reliant on non-Indigenous people to make decisions for them in key areas of their lives. This is the opposite of self-determination for Indigenous people.
This is why it’s important for us – as members of the general public and also in the publishing industry – to continue to support this project and raise awareness however we can.
You can support the Indigenous Literacy project by going on-line here and making a donation or by purchasing a Book Buzz pack to go into one of our many communities. Or you can simply head into a participating bookstore on September 1st and buy some books, because 10% or more of takings by booksellers and publishers on that day will go directly to the ILP cause. To see where the nearest participating bookstore is, click here. Every little bit helps, and the literacy and self-determination of our kids both need your support.

Finally, a HUGE thanks to all those who supported the I HEART ART fundraiser at the Arthouse hotel in Sydney.

On the evening of Wednesday 25 August I Heart brought together a room full of people and the number of red dots on the artworks indicated the attendees love of books and also eagerness to support The Indigenous Literacy Project. Then award-winning writer and illustrator, Shaun Tan, set to and drew a phenomenal piece in front of the two hundred pairs of eyes in the room. The auction of this work immediately raised $3,000, and then Shaun Tan generously donated two more art pieces, which raised a further $5,000.

Many thanks to Elspeth Menzies, Anna McFarlane and Sarah Tran for putting this very special evening together.

‘You are what you imagine, you imagine what you read, and good books open worlds. All of us who support the Indigenous Literacy Project know this intuitively, but we also know that such inspiration can’t exist without an opportunity, and that’s something we can all help to provide.’ Shaun Tan.

What I’m grateful for August 27...

1. ST CATHERINE’S: When I woke up this morning I thought to myself: I've I could be anywhere in the world I today, I would be at St Catherine’s College, Waverley. And lo-and-behold that’s exactly where I found myself a few hours later. I spent the day yarning with students about my life as a writer. You can imagine how difficult it was for me to stand and talk about myself for hours on end. Really, it was a chore! But the students were all delightful, laughing in all the right places and then buying books. In all seriousness, I was grateful for the opportunity to be invited into a community that was so welcoming and quite peaceful.
2. PAPER HATS: I love them, seriously. I rarely leave home without one. So you can understand my sheer delight to find one on the table at the literary lunch I spoke at today. It was made out of two sheets of paper with photos of the Brooklyn Bridge on them. A fine fashion accessory for anyone. I’m still wearing it.
3. WEDGES: I was also grateful to find them at the literary lunch with the students. They are not part of my diet usually, but it’s nice to have the odd fat chip when I can.
4. SNAKES: Not the real live wriggly ones, but the lolly ones. Honestly, I felt like I was a kid’s party today, and I liked it. I was only disappointed that there wasn’t any fairy bread!
5. PINK GERALDTON WAX: No, not for the surfboard, and not in a scented candle, but the pink Geraldton wax flower. I received a gorgeous bunch today with hot and pale pink sweet peas. I always feel special when the doorbell rings and there’s a bouquet waiting when I open the door. I’m grateful for the generosity of those who love me.

What I’m grateful for August 19/ 20...

1. DEADLY STUDENTS: I was fortunate enough to have some very creative, well behaved, totally engaged and interesting students come through my workshops as part of the CLIC festival these past days. A big shout out to the students from Sadadeen, Living Waters, Bradshaw, and OLSH.
2. TEACHERS WHO DO THEIR JOBS: For someone who is not teacher trained and doesn’t have children of their own, I’m not remotely interested or trained in disciplining children in the classroom. So I am grateful to those teachers who don’t see visiting writers as an hour off for them just to read the paper, send text messages or sit and chat with each other. So, thank you to those teachers who involved themselves in the creative writing classes I ran.
3. THREE MINUTES OF FAME: As part of the CLIC festival dinner all authors were asked to speak about their ‘real job’. I was fascinated to learn that Narelle Oliver was a taxidermist, Pamela Lofts was a brain surgeon who performed her own lobotomy, Brian Faulkner was a Kiwi rapper (otherwise known as a Krapper), Archie Fusillo was a political speech writer and I was apparently a ‘lady of the night’. I’ll let you know how that career move is going in due course. I was grateful for the fabulous fun, the friendly locals who welcomed us and all our antics, and to the venue and staff at Madigan’s @ Desert Park. Pic of Pamela and Narelle above.
4. ARALUEN ARTS CENTRE: I spent a wonderful afternoon soaking up some world famous art including originals by Albert Namatjira but also new works in the Namatjira: The next generation collection. It highlighted for me my absolute inability to do anything of the visual arts nature, which made me appreciate the work even more. You can read about the Big hART Namatjira project here.
5. CHOCOLATE DATES: No, I don’t mean dark coloured fellas who take me out to dinner. I mean the fruit! I’ve gained weight this week and I’m convinced it’s because I haven’t been having my regular (to keep me regular) on my oats of a morning. So you can imagine my extreme gratitude to see plate of dates – albeit covered in chocolate – in the writers ‘Green Corner’ (a pseudo green room) at today’s festival. I had to eat them for ‘health reasons’. And they were delicious. I feel better already.

What I'm grateful for in Arrernte country today...

1. CLIC: I’m grateful for the invitation to be a guest writer at the Children’s Literature in the Centre festival, hosted by the NT Children’s Book Council. My days are full of creative kids (Yrs 4,5,6) all creating characters and settings. It’s hard core and it reminds me of the intensely difficult job teachers have!
2. BATCHELORS: I don’t mean single capable men – of course that is spelled differently – although I’d be grateful for a few of those in Alice Springs also. But I’m actually talking about the students I met with from Batchelor College. Frederick Buckskin, Susan Baxter and David Warria had a yarn, a cuppa and some cheesecake with me as I explained my writing and publishing history and suggested ways for them to move forward with their own writing careers/ hobbies. David reckons he saw Avoiding Mr Right being talked about on telly earlier in the year, so he got a gold star for that contribution to the discussion. I was also impressed that he is currently reading Not Meeting Mr Right! See pic above.
3. ARCHIE FUSILLO: The best thing about doing festivals is catching up with friends who live in other cities. I was excited to see the fabulous Archie Fusillo again after meeting for the first time at the Ourimbah Festival on the Central Coast of NSW in 2006 and then again at the Ipswich Festival in QLD in 2007. You can book this dynamic Melbourne-based author for your school or festival. He is very funny...
4. NAKED PEOPLE KNOCKING ON MY DOOR: Well, you can imagine my surprise this morning when there was a knock on the door and there stood a naked writer, wrapped in a tan towel asking for shampoo. I guess it’s an original variation on borrowing the cup of sugar. I think the point here is that they were grateful I actually travel with two bottles of shampoo. Don’t ask me why, I have no idea.
5. FIVE STAR HOTELS: No, I’m not staying in one, and in all honesty I am grateful simply for a warm be and a roof over my head. But there are some days when I am reminded of how grateful I am when I get to stay in a fancy hotel; especially when I am heading to reception at 7am searching out an iron and hairdryer when it’s still dark in the morning.

What I'm grateful for August 16...

1. MOET MONDAY: Mostly I have manic Monday’s but today I had a Moet Monday courtesy of Caro. Nothing like a bottle of French champagne to make the end of the week look a little closer! I’m grateful to be sharing an office with such an incredibly generous colleague and friend.
2. ENGAGED STUDENTS: I’m grateful for engaged students - not students who are engaged to be married, but students who are engaged when I am talking! I had three school groups today as part of the Abbotsleigh Festival and the girls were so well behaved. I imagine the teachers there love going to work every day. Today's pic from the festival.
3. SPANISH ONIONS: they made my microwaved eggs for dinner seem just a tad more exotic tonight. And this is why I eat out so much!
4. POSTCARDS: Not many people send cards anymore, but my tidda Kerry always does and today I was grateful to receive a card from Alice Springs. Like any form of gift, it’s the thought that counts and so I am grateful that Kerry took the time to buy, write on and post my the little piece of cardboard to say she was thinking of me.
5. THERMAL UNDERWEAR: Yes, you can even get attractive thermals... well at least they are black. And they keep me warm on a cold night in lieu of other warming-options!

Being a grateful Leo Princess...

I had planned on flying under the radar for this birthday, after all, my 42 years have brought laugh lines and grey hairs that really don’t require celebrating! But someone let the cat out of the little blue Tiffany’s bag, and so I have some wonderful things to be grateful for, aside from the fact that I am good with makeup and have a fabulous hairdresser.
1. FAMILY: I’m grateful for my family not simply because I have no choice, but because my family really are ‘the best’ i.e. my sister organised a cake and dinner, my brother cooked a Sunday bbq, my cousin took me for brunch at Maroubra Beach and Mum had us all over to her place to celebrate. The highlight though, was my gorgeous niece singing ‘Happy birthday’ to me in her best Irish accent.
2. FRIENDS: Unlike family, we do get to choose our friends and clearly I chose well the past two decades. I woke on Saturday morning to receive gorgeous flowers (my favourite gerberas), chocolates (my favourite food group) and 24 pink and lilac iced cupcakes (my fave bite-sized cake) delivered to the house. Then a long list of phone-calls and emails from around the world. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world.
3. UN OF DINING – In three days I managed to consume some amazing food (yes, yes, yes, I still went to the gym and a 5km walk also, OK), but after dining on Spanish, Indian, Italian, Mexican and a BBQ over three days, I’m going to get my jaws wired for the next few weeks.
4. CAKE: I’m grateful for anything that you can put candles in. In my case it was a vanilla torte, cupcakes and even chocolate mousse!
5. GOOD LUCK CHARMS: I’m grateful for the good luck charms I received for my birthday in little blue boxes with white ribbon. Two Tiffany’s keys and a love heart are now with me every day.

What I’m grateful for August 10...

1. ILP: I’m grateful for the book industry – publishers, booksellers and authors – who come together nationally on Sept 1 to raise awareness and funds for the Indigenous Literacy Project I’m proud to be an Indigenous Literacy Day Ambassador and will be doing events in Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra (to see where and when, please see my website). There’s going to be events all around the country near YOU. On August 22 there’s the Songs for Stories concert in Melbourne with lead acts including Dan Sultan and his band and Ursula Yovich. In Sydney on August 25 there’s the I HEART ART auction to raise funds. Come along and I’ll see you there. Another way you can participate is to organise your own Great Book Swap at your workplace or school. Even easier is to simply buy a book from a participating bookstore on September 1st because on that day booksellers and publishers donate 5% or more of their sales to the project. To find out which bookstores in your area support the Indigenous Literacy Project, click here.
2. RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS: Today I was actually grateful for the opportunity to enact two acts myself today. I feel like I’m on a hattrick!
3. AMANDA HAYMEN: Amanda is a visual artist who also curates window displays at kuril dhagun - Indigenous Knowledge Centre at the State Library of Queensland. When I was at the SLQLD in March for the Manhattan Art Party, Amanda presented me with a wonderful piece of work – see above. I love how she has captured the politics, art and glamour of my latest book Manhattan Dreaming, set in Canberra. The picture finally made it’s way to my office today and I’m grateful not only for the gift of such a stunning piece, but also that it gives me inspiration to write. Thanks Amanda.
4. TIFFANY CAKES: I can’t believe I haven’t stumbled upon these before, but apparently you can get Tiffany cakes. It’s usually a wedding cake, but I’ll take the birthday version thank you very much. The pic above is just one version but simply Google image yourself and you will be visually delighted, as I was. I’m grateful to Emma Joel for enlightening me to the possibilities and to my sister for promising to get me one.
5. THE STEPPER: I’m grateful for the opportunity to climb stairs for twenty minutes and get absolutely nowhere.

What I’m grateful for August 9:

1. DOWNWARD DOG: I attended my first yoga class at the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence and to my own surprise I managed the movements much easier than I imagined. It had been some years since I’d done the downward dog / tree pose / child's pose. I’d forgotten how much I like to stick my butt in the air in public! I can’t wait to go back. I’m grateful that I wasn’t kicked out for talking or laughing – this has happened in the past.
2. MALTESERS: Life can’t be all stretching and yoga mats, one must be able to have some small pleasures. I am grateful to a little box of Maltesers that was today’s pleasure.
3. LIQUORICE TEA: I know, who would’ve thought of it? Well someone did. And I love it. I’m grateful to the tea fairy who stocks the kitchen with delicious teas for my enjoyment.
4. ODD SOCKS: No, I’m not grateful I have them, but I am grateful that I managed to find partners for the 18 odd socks that had somehow made a home in my drawer over the past few months.
5. HUMOUR: Yes, I’m grateful I have a sense of humour, but more importantly I am grateful for those in my life who do also. I need laughter in my days, and as long as I’m not the brunt of the joke, I’ll always smile at the punch line!

What I‘m grateful for this weekend... 7/8 August:

1. FEEDING THE DUCKS: There’s nothing quite like an afternoon at Centennial Park throwing stale bread into the pond and watching the little ducks cower under the threat of the big nasty swans. Seriously, I’ve been feeding the ducks for over 30 years now and they’re getting fat! It’s a tradition that started when I was child and we would take our bikes in the back of Dad’s Kombie to the park on Sunday mornings. I spent many days during my uni years at the park – which is an oasis in Sydney – feeding ducks, lying under trees reading... basically skipping class! I was grateful to be able to share the joy of the ducks this weekend with my nephews Max and Joey who are now skilled in ways of breaking bread and throwing underarm.
2. UNSW BULLDOGS: I was grateful for the opportunity to watch good-looking young men with fabulous arms run around the Village Green on Saturday afternoon. Ok, so one of the fellas was my brother but clearly I wasn’t watching him. But you can... there’s a pic above of Mark with Joey and Max.
3. SUNDAY’S AT LAPA: La Perouse on Sunday in summer is perfect; crystal waters at two beaches and delish seafood for picnics or dining. But winter isn’t that bad down there either. I was grateful to start the day at the Boat Shed with inspiring company, good coffee and delish Manhattan cheesecake (because I’m missing NYC).
4. BLUE BOXES: Another great way to start any day in any season, is to receive something special in a little blue box of the Tiffany’s kind. I am grateful to my friend (who prefers not to be named) who gifted me a little Tiffany’s heart today. It’s from the San Fran store so it adds another city to my list in stores worldwide I am collecting from. I think I may have to change my favourite colour from pink to egg-shell blue. Blue really does go better with my eyes after all.
5. RANDOM CATCH-UPS: I find it heart-warming to bump into friends randomly when I’m out and about, especially when they’ve been on my mind. Today I bumped into Sonia and her gorgeous daughters at Westfield’s. It was timely because she’d been on my mind this past week... I was grateful for the quick goss and giggle.

What I’m grateful for August 6...

1. GREASE: I’m grateful it’s on telly again tonight. I’ve missed Kenickie! The film takes me back to my childhood and when I first saw it at the age of 10. Of course, much of the storyline went over my head at the time, but I raced out and bought some black ‘Grease tights’ - as we all did. I think I might go get myself a new pair, slip into my stilettos and see if can’t find Rizzo and the Pink Ladies to hang with. Pic from FanPop.
2. ICEBERG LETTUCE: I’m grateful for iceberg lettuce; the one you grew up eating on sangers and in salads back in the old days, before there was cos, butter, mignuette, fancy,
mesculin and oak. And while I’m on it, do you remember when there was just white bread and brown bread back in the 70s, before it became a chore to buy the staple?
3. PARTY PIES: I rarely eat them now, but when we were kids we had them every Saturday at 12pm sharp. We’d sit at the kitchen table, and whoever was home would have party pies and sausage rolls for lunch. I remember doing this until my teens. It was a weekly ritual / treat and you could tell the time at Mum's place on Saturday but the pies cooking in the oven. Today I visited a school for NAIDOC week and they put a spread on of sweets etc and there was plate of party pies and they took me back to my youth. I was grateful for that momentary escape to a happy time.
4. PINK: the colour, not the singer. It’s my favourite colour, and after a rather challenging day seeing the colour pink this evening made me feel better about my day. In fact, I’m grateful for bright colours generally... and apropos of that, I am grateful for my eyesight.
5. FRIDAYS: Although I often work on weekends, I think most of us are glad for the sense of relief that Friday somehow manages to bring us. I know I was grateful when the sun went down today.

What I’m grateful for August 5...

1. POSITIVE PEOPLE: I only want to surround myself with positive people. People with vision. People who can see the silver lining. People who can laugh in the face of adversity. People who wake up in the morning and make a conscious decision to see their day as one filled with possibility. In short, I want to be around people like me, and today I am grateful that my world is full of positive people... mostly...
2. NEGATIVE PEOPLE: I don’t want to be around negative, narrow-minded, miserable people. Having said that, I am grateful they exist because they remind me of my capacity to be positive and how happy I am with life.
3. SHANE CHARLES: My deadly brother based down in Melbourne gifted me some stunning jewellery so I can look real flash at book launches, TV appearances and even when I’m just wearing jeans and a tee to the shops. Thank you for being so generous... and clever. I am grateful you’ve chosen me as a model for your stunning wearable art! Today’s pic has me wearing my favourite piece.
4. CHILLI CON KANGA: Yes, it’s a rare occasion I know, but I was in the kitchen tonight and whipped up, or should I say, wokked up a chilli con kanga... a healthy, hearty meal to warm me up on this cold winters night. I’m grateful that I don’t have any problem eating the national symbol known as Skippy.
5. IRONING: No, I’m not grateful to be able to iron, I’m simply grateful that it’s done!

Why I’m grateful to be home...

1. MUM: Everyone loves Elsie, she’s hard not to love and she’s the best Mum in the world. Nothing is an effort, ever. The fact that she’s got an endless supply of washing powder and always invites me to dinner is completely irrelevant. I was grateful to walk into Elsie’s house – our family home – again.
2. LITTLE SISTER WITH A BIG CAR: I’m always grateful to my little sister with the big car who comes to pick me up at the airport with a big heart and an empty boot. Always a treat to have her two boys Ben and Matt in the back with invasive questions for their Aunty...
3. LITTLE PEOPLE: I was so happy to see the little people in my life; Ben and Matt and my other nieces and nephews Liesl, Joey, Max and Audrey. They give good hugs when the Aunty needs them. And they looked cute in the clothes I brought back for them. I especially liked the strawberry princess outfit I picked up for Audrey in Singapore with a strawberry wand and head band. I wish they had one in my size, I think I could sell more books if I wore the red chiffon skirt and tapped the strawberry wand in the air.
4. MY BED: I was grateful to fall into my bed with six feather pillows and 1200 thread count Sheridan sheets. After six hotels, one guest house and one friend’s home (all in six weeks) you can understand my joy to return my little sleeping heaven.
5. ROUTINE: OK, so I know I’m not going to get any sympathy here. But after weeks of meals at all hours, flights at all hours, sleeping in strange places, working sitting upright in bed (writing on my notebook that is), and struggling with time, currency and climate changes... I was truly grateful to get back to routine. Wake up, go to gym, eat porridge, go to office, work all day, go to post office, go see mum, come home, sit on couch and write blog! Ok, so today I had Thai for lunch and then got my nails done and tomorrow I’m going out for dinner also, but there’s routine in planning those little outings as well. And of course the work is exciting so it’s not mundane, but there is some level of routine that makes me feel in control of my life. I need that. So I’m really grateful for the familiar in my life, even though I have a slight case of post-travel depression.

What I was grateful for in Singapore...

Okay, okay, as already stated, I like to eat. Life is for eating, right? I mean living, and living requires fuel to keep us going and that fuel is food, and, boy, was there fuel to be had in Singapore!
1. CHILLI CRAB: I won’t lie to you. This is the reason I stopped over in Singapore on the way home. Chilli crab and pepper crab. Extraordinary! I went with Shamini (more below) to we went to the famous Jumbo restaurant to get crabs... so to speak. I really wanted to go so I could wear a bib, because I am always seeking opportunities to wear a bib in public (see pic), NOT!
2. SHAMINI FLINT: The other real reason I stopped over was to hang with local writer Shamini Flint – I like her name because it rhymes with Lindt! And she’s very, very funny. And I am always grateful for the laughs. More importantly, Shamini is a deadly writer and publisher of kids’ books and novels. I’m currently reading the first of her Inspector Singh crime novels, 'Inspector Singh Investigates: A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder' I was grateful that in the middle of her busy writing, publishing, touring and mothering schedule, the lawyerly author found time to crack some crab legs and throw some peanut shells on the grown in the Long Bar of the famous Raffles Hotel.
3. DAVID AND KERYN: As a bonus to the chilli crab and Shamini the lovely David (whom I’ve known since he was in shorts and long socks in primary school) and his gorgeous girl Keryn hung out with me in Boat Quay before a quick pic with a fire-engine for my character Libby Cutmore, then a view from the 70th floor of the Equinox restaurant. I was grateful that the generous young people took some time out with ‘Aunty Anita’. Although, the low point of the night was when the waiter asked if I as Keryn’s mother! No tip for you Mister!
3. ORCHARD ROAD: Ok, so this is why a lot of people head to Singapore, and I like to shop, but in all honesty I was shopped out after NYC. Having said that I did find two Tiffany’s stores along the way, and if nothing else I was grateful to head into the air-conditioning of the endless stream of shopping malls on a day that was 84% humidity.
4. NATIONAL ORCHID GARDEN: I was grateful for the serenity that a short visit to the National Orchid Garden presented me. I’m not a gardener, I mean I am capable of killing cactus, but I do like flowers. And wow – who would've known there were so many varieties of orchids. I lost count, but there’s a pic of one of my favourite above.
5. EVERYTHING’S CLEAN: I think Singapore is the cleanest city I have ever been in. I never saw a piece of litter of any description at all on the street. The malls were clean. The cabs were clean. The amenities were clean. It was a real pleasure to walk around in Singapore, and a lot safer after being in Barcelona where you have clutch your handbag as if it’s a bodily organ you can’t afford to lose.
6. EVERYONE’S FRIENDLY: I can’t remember being anywhere on the planet where everyone was as helpful, friendly and as kind as they were in Singapore. I was overwhelmed by the extraordinary level of hospitality in my hotel, as well as every single cab driver giving me touristy tips and just chatting and laughing (ok sometimes neither of us knew what the other was saying but both driver and passenger were happy).
7. MASSAGES: Reflexology, shiatsu, Asian oil... I had it all and loved it and needed it after pouring over my mss for 10 days typing in BCN.
8. ANDY’S HANDS: I was particularly grateful to Andy at the Reflexology Centre in Raffles City Mail. He had the best hands on any man I’ve ever met.

What I was grateful for in Barcelona, Catalunya

Hello! Sangria jugs full of apologies for being off-line for so long. I’ve been on the road as you know, back in Syds now and catching up on all that I have been grateful for the past few weeks. So, for my ten days in Barcelona with my tidda Julie... here goes:
1. JULIE’S COOKING: It’s no secret that I like food. There’s rarely an entry on this blog that does not involve one or all of the five food groups. So you won’t be surprised to learn that I travel to the other side of the world to eat delicious food and talk about life with Jules. As an added bonus to many pearls of wisdom Jules shares with me, she just happens to be the best cook in the world. Only she can make a midday sandwich into a gourmet meal without effort. Jules can also turn boiled chicken and some walnuts in the world’s best salad. And she can add basil to a dish in a way that makes me want to put the herb into every dish I prepare at home from now on. Ok, I know you know I have only three dishes in my repertoire, but thanks to my time with Julie I have a few more dishes under up my sleeve... and all over my apron it seems!
2. EL BORN: Julie’s apartment is in El Born. So, my little piece of paradise while living in Barcelona is in the heart of all good things. I can walk to the Picasso Museum, there's great fashion shopping nearby (but we boycott the Hugo Boss because he once dressed the Nazi Party), and the Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar and the Picasso Musée are both only minutes walking distance away.
3. PARC DE LA CIUTADELLA: One of the physical things I am most grateful for in Barcelona is the park right across the road from Julie’s home. It’s an oasis with a lake and fountain and palm trees. I walked there in the mornings and I was as interested in the museums and zoo bordering the park, and the Catalan Parliament building in the Centre, as I was in the interesting people walking, jogging, stretching, sleeping. One man played a guitar and sang softly – affectionately calling me ‘Australia’ when we tried to converse. Years ago I use to be able to jog up and down the stairs of the Cascada, but after Julie’s daily menu of all things delicious, I was grateful to be able to get up and down the stairs at all!
4. SANGRIA AS ART: Sitting in Crepes El Born I was mesmerized by the concentration of the barmaid who ‘built’ my sangria, starting with too many spoonfuls for sugar. My focus on the installation art was only broken by my friend Mr Wright being hit on by another man. Go figure; two gorgeous women sitting at the bar and the bloke to my right is the only one to get any attention...
5. CAVA – it’s Spanish for champagne. I don’t know about you, but every day I recognise how lucky I am, there is something to celebrate! So, I’m grateful for the fact I have something always to celebrate!
6. BUBO: I’m not kidding, the BEST desserts in the world are in Barcelona... and my favourite spot is Bubo. Check out the photos of their desserts here. OK, I can’t be expected to learn new main courses and desserts at the same time, so until I’ve master the basil and boiled chicken things, I’ll be buying my desserts for dinner parties. I wish we had Bubo in Oz!
7. WORK: In between the basil and the park and Bubo - I was working about 10 hours a day on the edit of PARIS DREAMING, pulling together two travel articles and writing the synopses for two new books. Of course, I am grateful for my ability to have a complete day including work and play.