I’m writing this blog on a train travelling between Venice and Munich.  We’re just arriving into Innsbruck.  The weather in Venice this morning was gorgeous.  Beautiful sunshine and about 20 degrees.  As we have been travelling north the sky has darkened and mysterious clouds of snow are hanging over the valleys like white fairy floss.  Snow has fallen and flurries are still whirling in the air.   Seventeen years ago I holidayed at Lake Como and then headed up to the Austrian countryside.  It...

There’s an ugly conversation taking place in Australia at the moment and it’s polarising the community.  It’s been bubbling away since the war in Gaza commenced but it’s been boiling over since the most horrific terrorist attack happened in Sydney on the first day of Hanukkah. This blog isn’t a political post.  I try, wherever possible, to not engage in divisive political arguments.  It will no doubt however raise some uncomfortable emotions.  That’s ok, the moment we become uncomfortable is...

I had the loveliest experience in our local shopping centre last week.  It was one of those visits where you rush in and out.  I’d rushed in, done what I needed to do, grabbed a coffee and was on my way back to my car when I noticed a young mum crouched down next to her child’s stroller (or pushchair if you’re in the UK).  She was talking softly to her toddler who was clearly distressed about something.  I stopped, and not wanting anyone to think I was a stalker, I moved behind one of those...