With 3a water restrictions in place throughout Melbourne and with the on going drought worsening, I decided to try my sister-in-law’s method of car washing. I found it worked like a dream!

All you need is half a teaspoon of  Martha Gardner’s Wool Mix in half a bucket of water and a cloth. I use a chamois.

Simply wipe a section at a time, then rinse out your cloth then wipe another section. Do this all over your car. As there are no suds with Wool Mix it doesn’t leave any soapy residue.

Please pass this method on. It would save us heaps of water and it’s so easy.

People often ask me about the dog I’m holding in the photo on my website. Let me tell you a little about her. Saffy is a golden cocker spaniel. She is 12 years old which is 84 in human years. I got Saffy as an 8 week old puppy from Ararat. She was very easy to train and can do lots of tricks like rolling over, sitting up like a bear, bowing and shaking hands. She even steps into a bucket of water if her feet are muddy before she comes into the house. When I’m working, she always sits under my desk. Saffy is a bit deaf now but apart from that, she’s very healthy. She loves eating, swimming, chasing balls and sleeping. When she sleeps she snores very loudly. Saffy is a wonderful companion.

Saffy in her bed in the kitchen

Saffy asleep

Saffy (left) with her cousin Billie

Thank you to my nephew Jin, who revamped my website. I think it looks fantastic.

My latest book,A Ghost in My Suitcase came out last Monday. Be one of the first people to write a review. The best ones will be published on this website.
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Someone wrote to me saying how she appreciated my handling of the topic of death and grief in my new novel A Ghost in My Suitcase. She asked what inspired me to write about these sensitive issues?

Death IS a very sensitive issue, but perhaps more so in Australia than in China.

The Chinese view of death is more practical. They believe that it is a natural cycle – that one generation must give way to the next. When my son Ren, was four years old, he told me, ‘If you didn’t die, then the babies that come alive, when you drive a car everyone would crash into each other. There would be too many people driving.’ I laughed at his explanation, but even at such a young age, he was aware of the principle of Yin and Yang.

The Chinese also say that you can go as far away from home as you like, but in the end you need to return. Again – a circle. This is why Celeste is bringing her mother’s ashes home to the Isle of Clouds.

The idea of Yin and Yang – the cycle of day to night, of summer through to winter,
of life to death, is explained in this symbol.

Here you have a circle divided into white on the left – Yang, and black on the right – Yin. But in each half you see a smaller circle in the opposing colour. This means that each half contains a seed of the other.

Now if we use this diagram to explain the course of a day for example, the white half of the circle – Yang – begins at the bottom in a very small quantity. This represents the breaking dawn. But then, as Yang energy grows stronger, the white area grows bigger until you have a large amount of white at the top. This represents the middle of the day when the sun is at its peak. But just as you reach this peak, then it changes, and now you see Yin energy creeping in. At the bottom of the circle where there is a large quantity of black, you have midnight. But just as it reaches twelve o’clock, the cycle repeats itself and you see Yin growing weaker and Yang growing stronger all over again.

This concept can even apply to powerful countries and their demise.

1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009

Those born in the Year of the Ox are hardworking, well balanced, patient, honest, and persevering. They are very responsible and thrifty and are natural born leaders. Oxen love a sense of order and will apply themselves wholeheartedly until the job is done. They love nature and tranquility and enjoy gardening and the arts.

Yesterday, the big Millennium Dragon paraded through the streets of Melbourne. He stands over 3 meters tall and requires six people just to carry his head. The Millennium Dragon is the largest in the world. He lives in the Chinese Museum of Victoria if you want to see him.

Dragons symbolise good fortune and to the Chinese, are the most respected of all creatures.