When I was a kid I liked experimenting with food, primarily checking what things taste like frozen. Now I have my own kids I’m figuratively regurgitating some of my favorite childhood snacks for them as well as watching them discover their own recipes. Kids are a lot more capable than we give them credit for,… Read Post »
My first non-fiction book, ‘Creswell Eastman: The Man who Saved a Million Brains‘ was published recently by Wild Dingo Press. It’s about the life of endocrinologist Creswell Eastman. As part of the Aussie STEM Star series the book focuses on his years growing up, as well as his scientific career. In theory I was well-qualified… Read Post »
I read the Anne of Green Gables books when I was fairly young and I loved them. I related to the intensity of Anne’s feelings but I have to admit we were not very similar. Here’s how. Anne could be a bit hazy on details but she prided herself on never making the same mistake… Read Post »
I first learned the word ‘sophisticated’ reading a Baby-Sitters Club book. Stacey, the club treasurer, is from New York and is often described as sophisticated with her fashionable clothes and ability to talk to boys. I’d never heard the word sophisticated out loud, and in my head I pronounced it ‘sop-hiss-ticated’. It was a good… Read Post »
Forks Most people use forks to eat. But did you know forks were actually designed to become wind-chimes? To activate this latent feature, attach 6 – 11 forks to a wire coat-hangar with string. Hang the windchimes on the veranda or near an open window where the “forks” will catch the breeze and tinkle. Or,… Read Post »
Melbourne is back in lockdown and a lot of people are pretty over it. Enthusiasm for yeast baking, zoom drinks and paint-by-numbers is at an all time low. I’ve come up with a few original suggestions on how to maintain the intellectual stimulation and connection that many humans crave, even while in lockdown. I got… Read Post »
If you haven’t achieved certain milestones by a certain age you are certainly a failure. To make sure these rules are clear to everyone, I have written this blog post that max 35 people will read. By age 20 You should own a pair of toads. Maybe when you were a teenager you borrowed your… Read Post »
I was doing some filing this evening and found a negative manuscript assessment for my first book Loving Richard Feynman. It’s probably ten years since I read the report. It’s even more critical than I remembered, and still hard to read. Most of the feedback focusses on the main character, Catherine. The assessor described her… Read Post »
At the end of the year it is traditional to gift and be gifted upon. However choosing the choicest of gifts isn’t easy. I’ve complied a list of ideas to inspire you with inspiration for this difficult task. Pasta There are lots of ways to give pasta. You don’t have to spray paint it gold,… Read Post »
Once a year I spend an entire day perched on a dinner plate. This is my report from 2020. 7am Wake up. Go to toilet then get straight on the plate (white china). 8am Eat breakfast (toast with jam). 9am Listen to a podcast and pretend the hosts are my friends. 10am Exercise – arm… Read Post »