Two Drifters

We started the month by meeting our newest granddog, Kevin. Adorable! (and a bit scared of our two Golden Retrievers who are giant by comparison). Kevin is a groodle and his nickname is “Big Kev” so he’ll catch up fast! Go doggie zoo at family get-togethers! I headed into town one day for the Australian Society of Travel Writers’ Victorian Christmas lunch. It was held at the brand new Hotel Indigo on Bourke Street (adjacent to the brand new Holiday Inn) and neighbours with the brand new flagship MECCA and Rodd & Gunn stores. With the equally brand new Metro Tunnel, I am hoping that Melbourne is on the way back after the awful Covid lockdowns that snuffed Melbourne’s light. The ASTW lunch was actually only the second Victorian event I have been able to go to, the first being in early June last year. I didn’t know a soul last year and found it very hard but I now know a few people and met a few more that day and really enjoyed it. Writing is a solitary profession and I am beginning t...

    WHAT. A. MONTH!!!!   Our baby granddaughter was born a couple of days early on 3 November. Little baby V has our hearts forever. She, Mummy and Daddy (and their dog, little H!) are doing very well.   We just came back from Perth so we didn’t see V for a week but, otherwise, we have barely gone two days without gazing at this little bundle of delight. She is perfect and we adore her but I think mostly what we adore is the lifetime she has ahead of her and all we want to do with her, teach her and experience with her. For now, she is a precious little creature with super soft skin and a newborn smell but, soon, she will smile and goo and play and we can’t wait!   The ASTW Convention in Bendigo was a good couple of days – I made a few more buddies and a few more contacts and I learnt a thing or two. Spending so much time with Andrew these days, it is good for me sometimes to do something solo.   Baby V was born just after the Convention and we basked in he...