Can I help you?

Recently, I felt like I had let some people down. I'm not going into the nitty gritty, It's not solely my story to tell, however I can tell you how I felt. Guilty, sad and slightly paralyzed. As in, the more I worried, the less I could do.

When I finally got around to thanking the people, the people who did all the things I couldn't, and apologizing. This is what they said:

"You are doing a glorious job, you are doing exactly what you are supposed to do. Right now it wasn't your turn. One day, there will be someone or something. At that time you will be able to help, you will be in the position to do all the things you wished you could have done now. It will not only help them but it will help you. When that chance comes, take it".

Just like that, I went from feeling like a failure and thinking that others thought the same, to feeling loved and happy. One massive act of kindness changed my mindset completely to the point, now, where I am looking forward to having the opportunity to help in the future, whomever and whenever that may be, instead of being weighed down by all of the crap in my head.

This is something I can do. Write about kindness and hope that it inspires some in the world today.

Sometimes a kind word or gesture is you need.

The Scariest Thing

Waiting for the subway in Paris. The train arrives and it is packed. Leah gets on and before anyone else can get on, the doors start to shut. The look of horror on her face is burnt into my memory. With some serious hulk strength and help from other people on the train we managed to pull her back through the doors. Leah was shaking. The thought of her trundling off into the distance on her own had us all freaked.

But that is not the scariest thing.

Other things can happen to children.


Is crime, particularly abuse and assault, against children getting worse? It seems like it. Everyone I talk to about this says the same thing "The world is different now...". Is it though? or is it just that we can't escape it anymore?

Shopping centres, schools, day care centres, movie theatres and public toilets...all places kids are targeted.

But what do we do?  Kids need to learn how to navigate people and public spaces independently, for their own confidence and life skills. We as parents have to trust...a bit.

Yes I allow the girls to fetch things from other aisles when we are shopping, go to the bathroom at restaurants and scooter to school. They are together, but not with me. Should I stop it? Am I playing Russian roulette? I want them to do these things, but...

I am writing this because it seems like uncharted territory. You can't do what your parents did. Apparently that is too dangerous now. How do you walk the line of encouraging your children to be confident and to grow up believing that the world is, at its core, a wonderful place and not only protect them but also teach them to protect themselves from potential harm.

I don't live in fear and I won't limit my kids because of a faceless threat. But that is easy for me to say, it's never happened to us.

Drop bears and Meatballs

Recently, I read about the Swedish national phone number. Basically, anyone in the world can ring this one number and talk to a Swedish person and ask them questions about living in Sweden. I don't know how many meatball and  coffee table related questions there are, but I would like to ask them.

Its an interesting concept, one that wouldn't translate to Australia. It just wouldn't. We can't be trusted. "Don't be so harsh" you say? I got two words for you...Drop bear.

Imagine, every poor trusting person from Kentucky to Iceland would hear all about our Kangaroo stables and emu pulled carriages and most importantly about the Drop bears. I have to admit that I gleefully participate in the upholding



of this Australian Myth. We have the Common Drop bear and the more deadly Mammoth Drop bear which can reach 5m in height and even the special reflective and protective helmets that all Australians wear.

Come to think of it, maybe Ikea is the Drop bear of Sweden???

Are they selling us these awkwardly shaped, boxed pieces of flat pack furniture and laughing and laughing, all the while sitting in their solid, hand crafted wooden armchairs and just shaking their heads in disbelief??? What if they don't even eat meatballs???

Heirisson Island: City of Perth, Shame on you

Don't you think that if a protest site of around 60 or so people turns into a make shift homeless shelter with numbers above 150, that there is underlying problem??

Don't you think that the fact that these people waited for this morning and moved straight back into the camp means they haven't got a choice? or at least a humane choice?



Its such a privileged 1st world response to "Move them on". Where exactly? The thousands of beds we provide for the homeless and vulnerable? Oh thats right, they don't exist.

There is a solution to that you know.

Let them stay.

Provide a large amount of skip bins and portable toilets and showers. Have rangers do inspections every day to keep the place safe, whatever you think you need to do to make things "official" for the pen - pushers. But let them stay.

So far today, Ive seen a lady with one leg in a wheelchair asleep in the middle of  Hay street mall, and about 15 other of my regular homeless people, who I see everyday. Its before 10am.

If having a place to camp and clean up, means letting them stay at Heirisson Island, then so be it. This problem of homelessness has been swept under the carpet for too long, the City of Perth hasn't provided the services and places needed to cope with this. Let them have trees and nature and a place in this world that isn't a square of concrete to beg from.

Let them stay, because until now you haven't given a shit where they are as long as they don't make your pretty park "dirty" and you can't see them. They aren't so invisible now are they?

(Photos from sbs.com and perthnow.com)

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Puppy Trainer, rock star and skateboarding fashion designer are my Kids current career choices and I hope the list is still the same when they are 45. I want them to stay open, stay free, because you sure as hell don't know whats right for your life at 17.

I firmly believe the fact that I have no particular direction when it comes to career has led me into the most interesting roles. Yes I am poorer, no I won't be a secure self funded pensioner, but I have life skills up the wazoo.




I am easily distracted when it comes to work/ job ideas and could easily apply for the role of Segway tour guide, dental receptionist and cake decorator all in one day.

I know without a doubt that I would make a kick-arse lady of leisure. You know, the pearl wearing do - lunch lady who volunteers once a month at some charity for rich dyslexic puppies and who's idea of housework is to write a note for the cleaning lady.

or maybe a tortured writer?, small cabin in the country, polo neck jumper, a goat and 4 dozen half written novels and a borderline addiction of some sort?

In all seriousness though, if my fairy god mother was to grant me the opportunity to win any job I wanted in the world, I would choose to be the "Colour trend forecaster" for Pantone (the world famous experts in all things colour). I am not even sure this role exists, but I dream that it goes something like this. I travel the world with a camera and photograph colours and colour combinations both in natural and urban settings. I find inspirational colours.

or win lotto, you know, I am easy.

White with 1 ?

Sitting on the steps of the Trinity Uniting Church on St Georges Tce in the City, every morning, is my mate. 

He's an older fellow, maybe 60's. He likes to sit on the church steps and read, he goes through about 1 book a day.

To be honest, I am pretty sure that he's homeless, I am assuming he is someone in need. I am not entirely sure what that need is, I don't even know his name. 
I also assume that he is lonely.
I do know that he is from the Pilbara and he thinks that our recent summer was too mild "Didn't even get bloody warm Mate!" he told me.

He got my attention one day last week, because he looked very peaceful. He doesn't have his hand out, he's not asking anyone for anything but he looked like he could do with a good meal.

My mate is not too bad off. He probably isn't even the one most in need. After recent months working in the city, I am certain there are hundreds of people in more dire need and the situation seems to be getting worse on a daily basis. But he caught my eye and because I didn't have to do the awkward "I don't have any change to give" shuffle, or the "I am currently in fear for my life, please don't scream at me" run, for some reason I was more open to giving.


I gave him my banana and asked how he liked his coffee. 

"White with one love, cheers".

It's now a nice morning ritual to bring my mate a coffee, but I have just realised it's high time I introduced myself and found out his name.

P.S He reminds of someone. Someone who once was in a situation where they had no-one and nothing and with the help of others, has a great life now. I wasn't able to help this person then, I didn't know them. So I can do this little bit now.