As Told by the Old Woman — (If the Old Woman is new to you, her name is Anna, and she looks after kids ‘in care’. And sometimes lets me write her thoughts.) The quiet one snuck a toy off to kinder today, which surprised us all and pleased me no end. The toy, a scruffy old…

A picture book, read by yours truly — I made and children's picture book for Easter and thought (Thank you, Pablo, for the encouragement) that I would share it: An Easter gift for the little one who held space for a book to exist. Did you know that some people just make their children's books in Canva? I gave it a go, with Easter images I purchased from a design site and…

For International Women's Day 2022 — When the world is Whole This child won’t have to carry water Not for hours, alone because there’s no water near and not, instead of school or because she is a Daughter When the world is Whole This child won’t have to carry water Gender Inequality and Environmental Issues aren’t First-world Concerns It is a tragedy of humanity…

A creative reading response to three writers — Something broke inside me today Shattered like glass on this beautiful day As the ants worked the concrete, busy with life and apple cake crumbs we brushed off our blanket under the tree where my angel child sang stories to me Two types of small ants, one bigger and one…

Poem & Story for this Aussie day — I wrote your story on a gum nut leaf then wrapped you in it, your silver sheath You were so small, you were easy snug in the pinking silver woodling bud And when the redling gold flowers grew Then out you popped, and away you flew.

A dronnet about missing rapid antigen tests in Australia They’re calling this mess ‘The Great Rat Race’ An extreme sport for the anxious to play If five hundred dollars is not your pace —Continue to ring testing sites each day Contacted testing clinic on Monday: ‘Congrats, dearest first caller through our…

A Drabble for the Twelfth Night — I’m new to this place so strange, I do not know who I am, save for that hour each day when I'm tied into a silver chair. And in that blessed hour, I remember myself, and remember; I chose this. I chose this, whatever it is (yes, pretending I don't…

Because creatives need rose-colored vision — For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we’ll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne. — Chorus from Auld Lang Syne * *(the link is to a you-tube video of Nathan Evans, a Scottish lad, singing the song as it’s probably supposed to sound) …