Street art in the lane alongside Cairo Takeaway, Newtown, Sydney

I'm celebrating Australian plays (and Playwrights) on #worldtheatreday

How many Australian playwrights can you name?

The only pudding you don't, I imagine!

Please wish the lovely @thebooksdesk.bsky.social a very happy birthday! I like to say he's now only 12 years off turning 70! Happy birthday darling!

And raise a pint of dark beer for me!

Power, patriarchy, victimhood, denial: three experts on why men hurt women Violence against women has many social factors, but it’s not just a ‘bad man’ problem: it’s a whole-of-society problem

Power, patriarchy, victimhood, denial: three experts on why men hurt women www.theguardian.com/society/arti...

Ok... So this is a proud girlfriend moment - the magnificent @thebooksdesk.bsky.social waving the flag for Australian authors at the London Book Fair!

(Super excited for #westernsydney debut author Linda Atkins!)

(And proud to be Mr Shaw's Unofficial photographer!)

When the Ockhams prove your fella has excellent taste, you trust his appraisal of even "the good icecream" a little more.

Wild Horses-Gino Vannelli (Videoclip) YouTube video by Christian Astengo

Happy Lunar New Year dear ones...

Don't forget to have fun on the way to your inevitable success! youtu.be/lGWv_WkdawU?...

Ireland’s basic income for the arts scheme becomes permanent When piloted, initiative that provided €325 a week to eligible artists recouped more than its net cost, study shows

Ireland’s basic income for the arts scheme becomes permanent www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...

Thank you so much for your support!

Australian Publishing and Promotion Fund 2026–27 The Australian Publishing and Promotion Fund aims to support a viable publishing ecosystem that contributes quality literature to the richness and diversity of Australian culture.

Announced today: the "The Oz Publishing and Promotion Fund" to "support publishers who take creative risks in discovering, developing & promoting Oz writers" + "payments to authors of niche titles with limited commercial potential despite high cultural or lit value" creative.gov.au/investments-...

A reminder...

I've just let the writers know who is on the Parramatta Play Project... And I'll be announcing soon...

But it's so exciting when the writers text or message to say "what a team!" Or "I can't believe I'm on this project with these writers"...

It's exciting!

It was such an honour to be nominated for City of Parramatta's Citizen of the Year AND Parramatta's Lit! Festival was nominated for Community Group/Project of the Year!
Such a delight to serve the writers, readers, publishers & storytellers of Parramatta. Thank you to my nominators for your support!

Couldn't agree more. Linda Atkins is the one to watch - heart the size of Western Sydney, and her writing like a pearl formed from years of grit and hard work. I adore her writing.

Amazing how few arts people lunch anymore...
I'm lucky I do... But only with the nicest, coolest people.

There are some things that can only be discussed over a 5 hour lunch.

Looking forward to this!

Vale Marie Bashir, who once gave me love life advice at the Sydney Opera House at the interval of Eugene Onegin. We were eating finger sandwiches. It had a profound effect on me.

Vale Marie Bashir, who once gave me love life advice at the Sydney Opera House at the interval of Eugene Onegin. We were eating finger sandwiches. It had a proud effect on me.

Thank you! I am delighted!

Vale Dr Nick Herd: my beloved former-boss, film buff and friend.
He was a lighthouse of a leader. Quiet, steadfast, sweeping his light over all. So wonderfully smart. And kind. It's been a week since Nick died, a week of reflection for me, on what a good life looks like.

Last year when I offered copies of my ex-boyfriend's books to people, one reader said "thank you but if you give that to me I'll just throw it in the bin."

It stung.

For some reason I had never considered that a book could be thrown into a bin.

Honoured to be nominated for City of Parramatta's Citizen of the Year, 2026 for my volunteer work across arts and culture in the city.
Thank you to my nominator, and all the artists and organisations I've worked with or for in the City - it's been my pleasure!

If you want to know what your new year's resolution should be?
Aim to be more like this man:

Kind.
Gentle.
Patient.
Sweet.
Adventurous.
With great taste
and full integrity.

He's well read and easy to cook for.

@Thebooksdesk.bsky.social

#happynewyear

The squirrel guardians of Leipzig keep me safe...

Here she is! Christmas cake for dear @thebooksdesk.bsky.social , made with ingredients sourced from 4 trips to markets seeking ingredients that don't exist in Germany. Containing 1.1Kg of fruit, utterly drowned in Brandy. It has taken a day of "soaking" & 3 hours to bake/rest.
#christmascake

PLAYWRIGHT EOI OPPORTUNITY:

The Parramatta Play Project is calling for EOI from writers to join a collaborative team of 8 writers to write a new full-length play inspired by Parramatta’s histories, culture + identity.

EOI closes 5pm, 11 Jan 2025.

Apply here:
www.surveymonkey.com/r/MHM3Y5R

Also congratulations.

(I regret drinking that bottle of Reisling)

(You first lost to me in the library at Lake Macquarie in June.)