Another annoying listicle of depressing, judgemental drivel that should probably be ignored. — There are a few signs that maybe you're not living the most normal and productive life possible. Ask yourself these 10 questions then ignore everything you just read. #1 Do you catch yourself talking to other Medium writers? Out loud? Three times this week I sympathised, expressed outrage, told a…

It took 30 years as a teacher to learn the most important lesson — The ‘right’ decision? By 1999, after ten years of teaching in very challenging schools, I was already feeling burnt out. Then I was appointed to an even tougher school in another very multicultural area of Sydney. My first morning at this new school, the principal welcomed me into his office, and immediately asked: “Would…

It may be a coincidence but it is worth a try. — I don’t earn $1000 a month on Medium. Not even $100. And I have no idea how to ever achieve that. Really, it’d be very nice, but no. And from what I’ve experienced from being distributed, it doesn’t make a damn bit of difference to how much your stories earn. …

If you don’t like randomness, don’t read this. Sorry, I’m genetically British. That is definitely a non sequitur, as I think British people are very non random. Orderly. Look how they spontaneously queue, without instruction. When I was thirteen, I read all of Hemingway’s books twice and wrote a fifty-page thesis on why he…

There are more things in Heaven and Earth, dear reader… — I swear that a shape-shifting entity inhabits my house. In the wee small hours it hides and reappears at will. I am awake as my husband lays comatose in sleep beside me, a loud and broken foghorn, interspersed with sleep-apnea gurgling. But then I hear an echo of his gasps…

My husband can’t describe tastes and textures. Is this a thing or is he just a weirdo? — Don’t get confused about this. My husband can taste food. He will say if he likes something or not. He just can’t find the words to say what the texture and taste is like. For example: Me: Did you enjoy the sauce? Mr. M.: Yes, it was delicious. Me: What did it…

We’ve been through fire, storms, and bad drivers together, and we’re still all good neighbours. — No-one in my street is overly friendly, but we’ve proven many times that if we’re needed we’ll help. No matter what the situation is. This was one of those times. My driveway is a horror show. It rises steeply from the road, curving sharply to the left halfway up. From…