The hard to understand early stages of domestic abuse — I’ve read every book I can find about coercive control. As I have navigated my own recovery from being imprisoned with a controller for more than two decades, finding my own story within pages written by others has been validating and reassuring. Turns out I’m not crazy after all. For…

My life is so much better, and I don’t care what the fat-acceptance warriors think. — There, I’ve already got the cardinal sin of weight loss stories out of the way. The photo on the right was taken a couple of days ago with 80% of my excess weight gone. There is a 12 month period and 42 kg difference between these photos. …

Reflections from an outsider looking in. — My husband runs a Facebook group for owners of a particular model of Harley Davidson motorcycle. He is a kiwi, who has lived in Australia since we met a little under seven years ago. …

Reflections on my first month following weight loss surgery — A little over five weeks ago I donned a surgical gown and navigating a mix of fear and excitement, allowed a surgeon, who I trusted as much as you can, to remove 85% of my stomach. Looking back I’m still amazed I had the courage. My stomach was not diseased…

Goodbye to the publication that gave me back my voice. — But how do you thank someone, who has taken you from crayons to perfume? It isn’t easy but I’ll try. To Sir With Love, Lulu (1967) I am currently working on two main writing projects. One, which will take as long as it takes, is a memoir of my experience…

I’m convinced life is better without excess weight. — There, I said it. I’ll brace myself now for the backlash. We in the western world live in a precarious state where one has to consider very carefully the ramifications of being honest. …

Extra time to prepare myself for a whole new way of eating. — Until the Omicron ‘variant of concern’ arrived on Australia’s shores in November it would be reasonable to say that most Aussies still didn’t know anyone who had been infected with Covid-19. That all changed ten or so weeks ago when the Omicron variant hit the shores of ‘fortress Australia’. Conservative…

The journey to the decision. — Two months ago, my husband and I took a much needed mini-break to the country. It was just prior to the Omicron variant invading Australia’s shores, and restrictions on travelling to the regions of my home state of New South Wales had just lifted. …

It’s time for this lawyer to do her part. — I remember watching the movie Die Hard with my first husband, five or so years into our marriage and him making the comment that if he was held hostage he would see no problem murdering his captor if it meant securing his own freedom. Few would disagree. But what happens…