I don’t believe in the existence or ability of spirits, psychics, or astrology, but should I try and understand better those who do? It’s a delicious and divisive question raised by a new book that has got me thinking about superstitions… and maybe you too. It’s especially relevant as the uncertainty and lack of control highlighted by COVID may have driven more of us to rely on divination... read more>

Even the best of news, such as the end of lockdowns and easing of restrictions, can provoke mixed emotions such as ‘Was it all worth it?’ So how do you feel now about these small wins that governments are announcing? Do they appear to be the beginning of the end or, as Churchill put it, the end of the beginning? Or perhaps - if you live outside NSW and VIC - you think it’s a step too far ... read more>

We hear endlessly about the ‘new normal’, usually in terms of the broader economy and population-wide changes to how we will do business ahead. But what about us as individuals, the so-called microeconomic level? All of us have either been locked down or restricted in our movements. Slowly but surely, that regime is ending. So how do you think your everyday habits may change due to the pa... read more>

I don't know if it's just me, but dogs seem to be taking over the world - not just in the puppy boom of the pandemic but also in signs of an even more canine future. Hounds are now turning up in places they've never been allowed before, such as plane seats, courts, strata blocks and even beaches. As a dog owner and lover of most breeds, I wonder about those who don't share these feelings,... read more>

Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised the family-sized takeaway fish and chips cost $120 as it wasn’t your average battered flake. But it got me thinking about the fancy prices some of us pay for top-end versions of everyday delights such as $10 loaves of bread or $5 coffees. Is there a cost limit you just wouldn’t go over, however rich you felt - be it a meal, a mobile phone or a pair of shoes?... read more>