MANNERS AND OTHER MATTERS

The  "cruise" vessel...my home for two weeks It has been a very busy two weeks. I was asked by numerous media outlets to comment during the leadup to the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton about the protocol and etiquette which was likely to be in place for the event; and then to comment after the beautiful wedding about the etiquette, protocol, and dress standards which were evident during the ceremony and following proceedings. In short, I loved it all, the splendour of the occasion and the pomp and ceremony, albeit with a modern touch. And sharing the joy of an obviously loving couple. Then it was Mother’s Day. And I received the annual requests for information from the media about how to combine a happy Mother’s Day with the dysfunctional family arrangements of separated families. My answer on all occasions is…with dignity and consideration for everyone involved. Sometimes it works…and sometimes it doesn’t…but there is always another year. And ...

Bob Percy's funeral December 2006 Cocos (keeling) Islands Today is Anzac Day. ANZAC refers to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, a Commonwealth unit which most famously fought at the Battle of Gallipoli in Turkey during the First World War.   The attitude of the young Australians, and New Zealanders who were, arguably, sent into battle by their British commanders knowing that they were likely to be slaughtered is legendary…the same heroism of young, teenage men, from a young country at that time, far from home was displayed gallantly at Villers-Bretonneux in Northern France in the same war. These young men, and those that preceded them in the Boer War and followed them in the Second World War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and latterly the Iraq and Afghan conflicts are honoured on the 25 April every year. I have my friend from Europe with me in Australia at the moment. Today he asked me what does Anzac Day mean to me?    He has been in many fields of conflict a...

Filming on 25 February 2011  The Can We Help? segment on Courtship...Then and Now...went to air last night on ABC1. We had filmed the segment on 25 February over 7 hours...which resulted in about 7 minutes of footage!  The subject was Courtship rituals between the1950's and the 2000's. It is always confronting to see one's self on TV but for those of you who would like to view it, please click here  .

 An Esperance Beach from Twilight Beach Road 7 April 2011 (Photo Louise Percy) Our exploration of Esperance is complete. From the rugged, secluded beaches of the Cape Arid National Park to the expansive beaches reached by Twilight Beach Road we have swum, walked, romanced and dined along the Southern Ocean coastline. Jo at Tentacles  (Photo: Louise Percy) And the food we have had! Esperance is renowned as a place for wonderful fish and we met Jo at Tentacles of Esperance seafood on our second day of discovery. She is very knowledgeable about the local fish and advised me almost daily about what was fresh and gave suggestions on how I should try to cook it. I love cooking and came to Esperance with the intention of trying many new, particularly Asian recipes. I bought my wok and bamboo steamer…and the tasting sensation of Kylie Kwong’s recipe for line caught bar cod steamed with ginger and shallots was sublime, even if I do say so myself! The bar cod had arrived fresh from ...

                                                                 Paperbark Cottage April 2011 In my earliest memories I recall my mother speaking about the holidays her family, who lived in Kalgoorlie, would take in Esperance. A branch of the Heenan family had settled there at the end of the 19th century and rebuilt the Pier Hotel in 1900. The building was constructed from stone brought from Coolgardie apparently. My mother delighted with stores of elegant and fun filled days in the 1930s when they  took the train, The Flyer, from Kalgoorlie to Esperance, a trip of 13 hours - and only 398 kilometres! Three years ago I had my first opportunity to visit Esperance. I was ...

                                                                                         Photo:  abc.net.au Prince William in Australia with his parents, March 1983  Prince William has spent the past few days representing The Queen in the earthquake ravaged city of Christchurch in New Zealand and the cyclone and flood affected regions of Australia. I have just completed an interview with Radio 6PR about the manners of children when travelling with their parents. The producer advised that they were running the story in response to the 28th annive...

(Photo US Navy 13 March 2011) PACIFIC OCEAN (March 13, 2011) A Japanese home is seen adrift in the Pacific Ocean. Ships and aircraft from the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group are searching for survivors in the coastal waters near Sendai, Japan. The world has been watching with awe and horror the unfolding tragedy in Japan. I think the vision and commentary surrounding this natural disaster will remain with many of us for years and we will recall exactly where we were, and what we were doing, at the time that it occurred. I was travelling to the airport to meet a friend. He is very interested in geography, weather and its repercussions and so it was with a sense of almost trepidation that I relayed to him the news that I had heard on the ABC radio station I had been listening to in the car. But even then, although most of the regular radio programmes were interrupted for the live commentary of the earthquake the broadcaster was only just hearing, and relaying news of the tsunami. ...