A common thread in any discussion with fellow retirees is that life is somehow busier than ever before when one no longer "goes to work". Sure, the pace is a slower, but the days pass quickly and the diary is almost always packed with wonderful things to do. With this in mind, relishing retirement and enjoying life is at the top of my agenda, so please excuse me for not journalling here on the blog any longer. Thank you for your friendship and support over the years. All the best to you and yours. Over and out for now ..read more

One last communiqué, and a confession, before I sign out for 2017. I confess that I haven't been so adventurous in the kitchen lately. With the painting and redecorating underway, I've been relying on fresh, fast and tasty old favourites. The good news is that the courtyard garden is almost complete and, even if I do say so, it's looking rather spiffy! Weather permitting, we'll finish painting the stuccoed walls of the house, which face in to the courtyard, in the cool of the early morning before Christmas. With Christmas festivities in mind, I've bookmarked some interesting recipes that ..read more

Molly the miniature Groodle “Once you have had a wonderful dog, a life without one, is a life diminished.” - Dean Koontz, author. There have been few times in my life when I didn't have a canine companion by my side...   the longest gap being since the passing of my Border Collie, Libby, in 2009. She was a rescue pet and had been with me since my children were little. Such a faithful and gentle gal, she was 15 or so when she had a stroke and died. Peter and I bought a house not long afterwards, and decided that it was too soon to replace her. Besides, unlike the home we had rented ..read more

Looking around the house and garden, I feel a great sense of satisfaction. The strawberry patch is flourishing once again and, having given away as much of the excess fruit as possible, I've been using the rest to make strawberry and vanilla bean jam. Early this morning I planted out tomato seedlings along with corn, cucumber, zucchini, basil and two varieties of lettuce. A local magpie popped in to supervise, just as I turned on the sprinklers. Meanwhile Peter trimmed back the dense Pittosporum hedge overhanging the footpath running along the northern side of the house.  The timber fen ..read more

"Gee you're a hard one to pin down," said a lovely friend, who has been trying to secure a lunch date with me for the last few months. "I know, I'm truly sorry. I'd really like to get together, but it's been crazy busy ever since we got back from Budapest," I replied with a sigh. I can't help but feel a little guilty whenever I turn down an invitation, but I just love being at home, spending time with Peter and our nearest and dearest. I relish this opportunity to catch my breath, as well as catch up on all the things that need doing around the house.  The decluttering continues, w ..read more

It was with a great deal of excitement that I said "YES, please", when the folks at Shoalhaven Tourism extended an invitation to experience the Shoalhaven Foodie Trail.  With the offer of a specially-tailored adventure, I mentioned that I was keen to visit Jervis Bay.  Actually, it was the area's coastline that I had been longing to see. In the 90s, I worked with the PR team at the Australian Nature Conservation Agency, and one of the highlights of my job was editing the organisation's publications before they went to print. I can remember marvelling at the brochure about Jervis Ba ..read more

Popping in briefly to say hello and share with you a fresh and fast recipe that's also low in fat and ever-so delicious. Peter and I have been travelling again and, in between, have been spending time with loved ones; as well as decluttering the house; and keeping fit with a routine of cycling, swimming and bushwalking. In the meantime, I've been investigating Monash University's low FODMAP diet in the hope that it will help ease my IBS; and alleviate symptoms caused by having LPR (silent reflux), GERD and diverticulitis. Long time readers may remember that I shared my journey about tho ..read more

The multi-talented Katrina Sparke of Redleaf Farm After enjoying summer months in the picturesque European countryside, I must confess that, once the jet lag passed, I felt a little jaded about coming home to the depths of winter in Canberra. ​"I want to play tourist again," I told Peter. "Some place not too far from home and, preferably, a destination we haven't previously explored." My wish came to fruition with the arrival of an invitation to visit the New South Wales Southern Highlands following the launch of the Fitzroy Falls food and wine cluster.  The hamlet of Fitzroy Falls ..read more

Hello there dear friends. I'm conscious that it's been a while since you heard from me, hence this short dispatch from Redleaf Farm at Fitzroy Falls. My latest adventures have seen me travelling to a range of glorious Australian destinations, including Huskisson on the Shoalhaven coast, and Fitzroy Falls in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. In the event that you're interested, I've been sharing postcards and morsels from my travels on Instagram. Peter's elderly mam, Joan, is now visiting with us, so my attention is needed elsewhere. I'll be back to regular posting here in the fullnes ..read more

Wine-braised oxtail from One Pan Roasts by Molly Shuster (image appears courtesy Murdoch Books) Oh goodie. According to the weather channel, "a polar blast is gripping southeastern Australia today." We've been warned to expect low level snow, thunderstorms, blizzard-like conditions, damaging winds, hail and freezing temperatures. Wot?! This is what happens when you spend summer in Hungary, and then arrive home gleefully thinking you've dodged much of the winter chill. With comfort food in mind, I'd like to showcase One Pan Roasts, which was published in June by the good folks at Murdoch Book ..read more