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>

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>

It’s not unfair that older Australians enjoyed the benefits of free tertiary education, rising house prices and many other perks of age we were, well, just lucky. And being the beneficiaries of dumb good fortune does not make us all guilty of rampant self-interest, nor are we responsible,  if following generations are not equally well-off. It might sound like tough love but that’s the... read more>

Every year, tens of thousands of runners around the world tackle marathons, otherwise known somewhat scornfully as “the suburban person’s Everest”. But what drives them to put their bodies to the limit to complete the 42.2km endurance test? The question is compounded by the surprising number of people who accept the challenge in older age.   For me, it had never been my ambition to... read more>

They rather predictably state every journey begins with the first step but in truth any kind of slightly planned trip starts well before you lace up your boots.  For me it’s always conceived with a map, a trustworthy cartographic companion which contains more useful information than a thousand travel writers’ blogs. In fact, a map I might chance upon, or idly pick up, can often decide whe... read more>