Apples of Gold

Cancer Diagnosis

I’m the kind of person who remembers anniversaries—not just the happy ones, but the ones that mark life’s challenges and turning points. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been this way. These dates help me reflect, appreciate, and stay grounded. They remind me not to take life for granted, to hold close the…

This World Needs Christmas

Imagine being far from home, cold, scared, and surrounded by the horrors of war. That was life for millions of soldiers in the trenches during World War I. But on Christmas Eve in 1914, something happened that still gives me chills every time I think about it. The soldiers on the Western Front had been…

Christmas Wish

Sometimes, life has a way of stopping us in our tracks, urging us to reflect. It’s so easy to get swept up in the holiday buzz, with its endless plans, lists, and preparations. This year, my Christmas tree is surrounded by a growing pile of gifts—a testament to my large and loving family. My kitchen…

Everyday Joys

What makes me smile? It’s the little things, those fleeting moments often lost in the flurry of daily life. They’re simple, sometimes almost hidden, yet rich with warmth. That first sip of chai in the morning is one of them—the way its warm, spiced aroma rises up like a cosy blanket, gently waking my sleepy…

Grandfather Clock

There is a particular kind of solace that lives in my family’s old grandfather clock. It hangs on my wall downstairs, keeping the rhythm of time with its steady, gentle “tick-tock.” On days when life feels brittle, when I am frazzled or unsettled, I listen to that sound, and it’s like a lullaby, a tender…

Hurricane Milton

As I sit here on a park bench in my local park in Melbourne, Australia, the sun is shining, and everything feels calm. I can hear the laughter of my granddaughter as she plays in the park, the birds singing above us. The sky is an endless, clear blue. It’s peaceful—idyllic, even. But my mind…

Food Nostalgia

Food nostalgia creates a rich fabric of memories that carry us back to cherished moments of warmth and love. For me, that journey begins in a sunlit kitchen, where the aroma of fresh bread intertwines with the comforting scent of simmering soup. It’s a place where each clink of utensils and hum of the oven…

Fleeting Moments

In the dance of seasons, autumn arises as poet’s dream, a painter’s muse. Each leaf, similar to a delicate brushstroke upon nature’s canvas, contributes to the symphony of fleeting moments. Beneath canopies of gold, we stroll, feeling the crispness of the air, mindful that these moments, like grains of sand through our fingers, will soon…

Morning Cuppa

There’s something special about those quiet mornings, when it’s just me and my cuppa. As I wrap my hands around the warmth, the steam rising like whispers of comfort, I find solace in the stillness. It’s a time when the world seems to slow down, allowing me to savour the simple pleasures that often go…

The Joy of Writing

In the quiet spaces between breaths, in the stillness of the soul, there exists a flame that flickers and dances—a passion ignited by the mere stroke of a pen upon paper, or the gentle tap of keys beneath fingertips. It is the love of writing, an undying flame that burns brightly in the hearts of…