MANNERS AND OTHER MATTERS

Ruby guarding the Christmas tree My phone has been ringing with people wanting to know how to handle the difficulties that arise during occasions such as Christmas with “blended” families. The old adage that you can choose your friends but not your family is often relevant at Christmas, and particularly with families which have divorced and perhaps remarried partners. Unfortunately there are very few happy melded families like “The Brady Bunch”...at least initially. If having good manners is about behaving well around other people and treating each other with respect, then at times of probable stress and possibly strife, the need to be even more cautious with words and actions is really important. My children’s father and I have been divorced for many years. But over the years we have developed strategies to make our shared Christmases with our children and our new partners as pleasant as possible. We have always attended Christmas church services together, and afterwards ha...

I don't know who did the underlining...not me! I have  just returned from being the “Master of Ceremonies” should that be “Mistress”? at an International Women’s Day luncheon for the Centenary of International Women's Day.  I am the Patron of the Belmont Business Enterprise Centre which was a co-sponsor for the event. I don’t actually do much as the Patron other than assist at official functions. But I meet amazing people. And today was no exception. (Photo Julie Williams) After a Welcome to Country by a local indigenous elder, a practice which is now common in Australia, we heard some inspirational speeches. From women who came to the country as migrants with little or no English and have achieved wonderful things…for themselves and their families; to young women who are choosing paths of international modelling opportunities; or “expressing themselves” in wonderfully artistic ways. My dear friend, Carol Hanlon, the CEO of the Belmont BEC was last night inducted i...

My Christmas Table My phone has been ringing with people wanting to know how to handle the difficulties that arise during occasions such as Christmas with “blended” families. The old adage that you can choose your friends but not your family is often relevant at Christmas, and particularly with families which have divorced and perhaps remarried partners. Unfortunately there are very few happy melded families like “The Brady Bunch”...at least initially. If having good manners is about behaving well around other people and treating each other with respect, then at times of probable stress and possibly strife, the need to be even more cautious with words and actions is really important. My children’s father and I have been divorced for many years. But over the years we have developed strategies to make our shared Christmases with our children and our new partners as pleasant as possible. We have always attended Christmas church services together, and afterwards had a glass of champa...