21:34 WEDNESDAY 30 APRIL 2008

Tori and I enjoyed a fantastically rare - and very funny - telephone conversation this evening (neither of us has any time for calls these days). And from a recent essay:

12:47TUESDAY 29 APRIL 2008

A new essay published in Vogue in, I think, a fortnight, as well as various pieces coming out in Arena and a number of other magazines. The rain has, at last, stopped - the weather is wild and sunny, absolutely glorious - and I will have some fabulous news very soon. Otherwise? The other night, my darling Alexander and I watched Michael Clayton. If you haven't seen it, buy it immediately on DVD. And Beebo? Why, she is our limpid, downy darling.

11:37 TUESDAY 22 APRIL 2008

The good news? Marinda gave birth to a baby girl last week, and Jo gave birth to a boy. Alexander has just completed an interview with a world figure, and is about to launch into a riveting science-based feature; I am transcribing, and also in the process of completing a long and very funny essay. Laura and Cedar are back from London (Beebo is on Cloud Nine - her BF has returned). We attended a performance of The Drum at the Opera House on Saturday, and it was glorious. (Swoon, less so; I am not partial to circus acts of any description, and four adults swaying on sticks is not my idea of entertainment.) I crave season tickets to the theater and the ballet and perhaps even the opera, but as we don't believe in babysitters, I will have to wait until my sweet little Beebo is old enough to join me. Life is rather good, I think.

11:36 THURSDAY 17 APRIL 2008

Last night, Alexander described our life as "emotionally luxurious". A deeply interesting - and beautiful - spin on luxury.

12:53 TUESDAY 15 APRIL 2008

Up to our asses in alligators, as per usual. The view from a tiny wharf near our place:

10:34 THURSDAY 10 APRIL 2008

What Is Mother Love? is now on sale. Otherwise? We're all a little shagged this morning. Dear little Bee has been feverish, and Alexander and I have been thrashing our way through various features. O, to spend all day snoozing in bed ...

21:00 SUNDAY 6 APRIL 2008

New critique uploaded.

14:33 MONDAY 31 MARCH 2008

Just finished a 4000-word essay for an upcoming international anthology, on the heels of writing another 4000-word essay for a US anthology. (I'm musing on turning them into a book.) Otherwise? Alexander is refining a 3000-word interview, Bee yesterday had a haircut that makes her look a little like Mo from the Three Stooges, and Brad is 50.

10:48 FRIDAY 14 MARCH 2008

What Is Mother Love?, a sweet little charity anthology, will be published by Penguin April 7. (All royalties go to the Horizon Committee for the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children.) My contribution was from the heart.

Otherwise? The Darker Side of Chocolate, by Daniel Street: "On the eve of Easter, Sunday highlights child exploitation and trafficking in the harvesting of cocoa for chocolate. It is estimated that in the West African nation of the Ivory Coast alone, more than 600,000 children work on cocoa fields. Children in the cocoa fields are being exposed to dangerous practices such as the unprotected use of chemicals, carrying heavy loads, brush burning and using machetes. About half of these children do not go to school. There is also evidence of children being trafficked. The study estimated up to 12,000 children had been trafficked for cocoa in West Africa. Police in the Ivory Coast have liberated more than 200 children in just 12 months. Tim Costello from World Vision has visited this part of Africa and has witnessed the damage to children first hand."

TO BUY FAIR TRADE (SLAVERY-FREE) CHOCOLATE IN AUSTRALIA

USA

UK

ITALY

12:36 SUNDAY 9 MARCH 2008

Extremely exciting news to be uploaded any day now. Otherwise? Alexander, who is busy working on his very excellent first book, was devastated when Batman - accompanied by all the golden sucking catfish - shuffled off this mortal coil. I found my soft-hearted and broad-shouldered husband moping in the kitchen over Batman's bleached corpse, and comforted him. (Alexander, a man who relishes action films and videogames that feature unconscionable violence, has always been deeply sentimental about animals and still reminisces about the cats who comforted him in childhood.)

Bee is now officially obsessed with flowers - bougainvillea, in particular, but also lavender and nasturtiums and frangipani and pale pink camellias. On our daily flower-collecting walks, we are given blooms by gracious local gardeners, who feel that her burgeoning passion indicates a glittering future in horticulture. She really is the most beautiful of children, so eccentric and tender and kind. That said, when we visited Leandra and her gorgeous newborn the other day, Bee went bananas: she did not want to leave the dear little baby and shrieked like a polecat as I attempted to peel her from the hospital fittings.

As for moi: I am over the moon, having just sold a deeply personal 4,000-word essay to a sharp US magazine and completing another essay for a major anthology. And Alexander and I can't wait for this:

11:14 SATURDAY 1 MARCH 2008

Major fish drama. Batman, our Black Moor goldfish, somehow ended up on the floor over a metre from the tank, basted in dust, and piteously gasping. That X-Files moment: no water anywhere, or evidence of a stratospheric leap. I found him just in time. After spending two days almost immobile in the same corner of the tank, he again began to shimmy, but with what looked like mould on his eyes (which no longer seem to be eyes at all, but sightless black ... blobs). The entire episode has been surprisingly traumatic for all of us, especially Bee, who, with great intensity, tells strangers on the bus that, "Batty hit his head and hurt himself!" Otherwise? Ploughing through various pieces, and preparing for more.

20:55 FRIDAY 22 FEBRUARY 2008

Bought a Slytherin number plate frame. I now have no option but to learn to drive and buy a car.

00:00 WEDNESDAY 20 FEBRUARY 2008

The newest outlet here. Otherwise? Critiques, essays, interviews: business as usual. That and the marvellous Bee, who today announced: "Mama was frustrated because she was sick." (She has just turned two.)

11:09 SUNDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2008

Grigori's second birthday party - complete with gripping Masha and the Bear puppetshow - was a great success. Some sleepy mommy-and-daddy visuals (the ones of Alexander pushing Bee on the swings - not included here - are the most beautiful father and daughter photographs I have ever seen):

12:16 SATURDAY 16 FEBRUARY 2008

Saint Valentine's Day was just beautiful. Alexander brought me a tall scarlet box of long-stemmed white roses in bed, and then presented me with the latest installment of the graphic novel he began some years ago and which details private jokes and various characters in our lives. (I presented him with an egregiously complicated Star Wars pop-up book, which he loved.) Sometime the previous evening, we independently realized that this is our fourth year together - we have known each other since 2001 - and were stunned: it not only seems like a matter of weeks, but grows stronger and sweeter and warmer with time. He is the most wonderful, attractive and emotionally intelligent man. Bee and I then delivered chocolate hearts to widowed old friends. Otherwise? We visited Ruve and crew, who are relocating to the country. (We have scheduled a break, but will also miss them all and are even considering joining the exodus.) The lovely Laura's pregnancy proceeds apace. And Barbara is learning to find a new peace within herself. A time of transition.

21:30 WEDNESDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2008

Saint Valentine's tomorrow and Bee and I are feeling much better. A smorgasbord of professional commitments awaits me, and two barrels of monkeys and a plastic doctor's bag await her. And My Mysterious Beloved is furtively rustling paper in corners in preparation for tomorrow. Otherwise? From one of my recent pieces:

12:40 SUNDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2008

Just spoke to my old mate Jessica Adams, the bestselling author and brilliant astrologer who is now offering live readings (to be booked immediately by all those with an open mind). Otherwise? Ill in bed. Bee has been sickly all week - fevers, snuffles, tiredness, and I have exhibited all the vim and vigor of an old turnip. (Alexander is, of course, hale and hearty.) So many assignments and so few functioning brain cells. I stare at the chaos that is currently my office without knowing where to begin, and crave only sleep. The skies, too, have been waterlogged. My solution? A toy-buying orgy. Barrels of monkeys, Mister Potato Head, Vintage Monopoly, Vintage Cluedo, and egregiously lovely Disney waterballs. And watching The X-Files. Alexander and I have been snuggling up late at night to watch his Christmas DVDs. (He observed that it was pretty shoddy of Mulder to get it on with a vampire while Scully was having her bum probed by extraterrestrials in outer space.)

14:50 SATURDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2008

11:39 WEDNESDAY 23 JANUARY 2008

Another man down. When will we learn to recognize the signs? Poor Michelle Williams, poor Matilda, and his poor family. Otherwise? I'm plowing through a transcription, my beloved Alexander is wading through a river of commissions, and our dear little Bee made a friend in the park yesterday - Sasha, whom she led by the hand and then kissed.

21:00 THURSDAY 17 JANUARY 2008

Exasperated by our nightmare of an old mattress, I bought a new latex king and it arrived today. We all fell exclaiming upon its fragrant enormousness, and then dressed it in crisp white 600-thread count sheets, an exquisitely embroidered new earth-green duvet cover, and fat fresh pillows. Its new bed arrives tomorrow, as does Alexander's sexy new black office chair, French Provincial bedroom drapes, and my new rattan reading chair and matching ottoman for the balcony. In short: ecstasy. Otherwise? Have just filed a new critique and an interview with an international figure, am about to start on two new interviews, Alexander is wrestling with a number of alligators, and Bee is sweeter and taller than ever.

11:23 WEDNESDAY 9 JANUARY 2008

All of us are madly busy - Alexander was up until 4:30am finishing a piece, and I was in bed at 1am. Otherwise? Bill Gates' last day at work:

12:36 TUESDAY 8 JANUARY 2008

Reader, I implore you to purchase this - a paltry sum, tax deductible for you, and so very useful to another. Celebrate the new year with ... bees! (We did.) And if you have a few minutes, watch this.

12:04 SUNDAY 6 JANUARY 2008

On deadline again and working through. We saw James and the Giant Peach with Bee at the New Theater in Newtown yesterday. All those with children should see it immediately - a vivid, enthusiastic and hilarious production. Great, great stuff. Darling Alexander is hiring a personal trainer - he wants to strengthen his upper body as he spends too much time in front of the PC - while I have been slowly resuming inversions (one of my favorite things in all the world). Otherwise? Two very fabulous critiques coming up, and also completing three interviews. "How old are you?" I asked Bee this morning. "TWO!" she crowed. "And how old am I? I asked. "FLEE!" she laughed. "Mama is flee!"

11:30 FRIDAY 4 JANUARY 2008

This is from the RAF, and very, very funny:

14:00 NEW YEAR'S DAY 2008

Last night was peaceful - an evening spent sprawling on a heap of cushions with Alexander and watching The Usual Suspects on DVD after Bee was put to bed. At midnight, we had our own little countdown and quaffed sparkly purple grape juice in Villeroy & Boch champagne glasses to celebrate the new year. (I bought myself two achingly beautiful DKNY duvet covers as a New Year's gift. Any excuse.) Christmas was wonderful. Now two years old (happy birthday, my sweet love), Bee understands gift-giving and, to an extent, the Christmas ritual. She wanted to wear her rose-strewn headband, cashmere cardigan and pink smocked Ralph Lauren dress for the occasion, and fell in love with all her fairies and princesses and princes and the castle and the Fisher-Price manger and her new set of pots and pans. Alexander scored DVDs and a library of books on AI and alternative rock (Sid Vicious, Iggy Pop, etc.), and I received perfume and DVDs and the new Tori Amos CD. Otherwise? Lots of plans for this year, all of them deeply exciting.

14:02 CHRISTMAS EVE 2007

"I wasn't doing so well myself recently when Humboldt acted from the grave, so to speak, and made a basic change in my life. In spite of our big fight and fifteen years of estrangement he left me something in his will. I came into a legacy." (Oh, to have more time to read! I have towers of unread books in my study.) Otherwise? Transcribing like a lunatic - filing a major story on Friday - and also preparing for Bee's first fully conscious Christmas (her first chronological Christmas was a little befuddled): all immensely exciting. And Alexander is wrapping wrapping wrapping and completing a number of brilliant interviews. My New Year's resolution is this: more sleep ... sometimes. Reader: have a beautiful Christmas. 

10:07 WEDNESDAY 19 DECEMBER 2007

Last night, Bee announced (a propos of nothing): "I'm going to live in the forest with the fairies." Whereupon Alexander glanced at me. "Well," he sighed, "I guess it's just us again. Fancy a movie?"

10:40 TUESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2007

The busiest month for years - racing to complete a major deadline (a fabulous story), with an armful of other pieces to follow. ("I love you dove you muve you!" my baby croons as she holds my face between her perfect hands.) Otherwise? Shopping for Christmas, struggling to work out how we can honor any social commitments, pretending not to know that my beloved husband is buying me Jo Malone Nutmeg & Ginger perfume for Christmas, and thrilling to various plans for 2008.

11:59 SATURDAY 8 DECEMBER 2007

New critique in today's Weekend Australian? Otherwise: rain all week, a peaky little Bee, and up to my ears in transcriptions.

20:56 THURSDAY 6 DECEMBER 2007

"Your bottom very pretty," my baby girl whispered beside me in the dark tonight. "Your face is very pretty. Your nostrils are very pretty. You make me happiness. Dadda make me happiness, too."

23:43 TUESDAY 4 DECEMBER 2007

Intriguing new PM in office. Otherwise? The whirlwind continues. Filed a major interview today and begin work on another tomorrow. Alexander is knee-deep in assignments and plotting his book. Bee's dress-up birthday party was a tremendous success, despite the near-disaster of the cordate banana-and-poppyseed cake breaking in half the night before (I glued the pieces back together with thick vanilla buttercream icing): she was very moved. My Beloved Husband and I are exhausted.

10:48 TUESDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2007

Transcriptions, notes, meetings and long-term planning in addition to passport forms, visas, taxation, suicidology, Christmas and birthday celebrations? Cerebral gridlock. Matthew Condon's wonderful new novel, The Trout Opera, was launched at Gleebooks last week and Carlin has returned to NYC. Otherwise? Watched the Australian Ballet in action last week with Horst, our dear old German friend, and finalized plans for Bee's birthday - everyone is coming (in costume), my fairy outfit is complete, the gift bags are packed, balloons ready, garlands primped, and menu decided. (We're just praying to all available gods that it doesn't rain.) On Sunday, we took Bee to the theater for the very first time: a wonderfully terrible audience-participation production of Puss in Boots and Other Tales. Bee gaped, riveted, as she watched the actors ham it to the stars - here was a new, spotlit world of ogres, articulate cats and ambulatory turnips to consider. An hour into the performance, she summoned the courage to cry out: "Nightingale GONE!" Her little voice rang out all over the theater. Unbelievably sweet.

13:16 SUNDAY 18 NOVEMBER 2007

A little dizzy from all manner of commitments. On Friday, I spent the afternoon with the most magnificent woman - a Professor of Law in from NYC, just the most exuberantly intelligent, funny and loving person - and we trolled around the waterfront, discussing everything from the erosion of character to cocktaoo hand puppets. Bee's birthday party is finalized - she is radiant with excitement - and we spent yesterday afternoon buying garlands of golden stars for the trees and pink paper plates. Tomorrow is my wedding anniversary; in between episodes of hyperventilation and general work-related stress, I have been serenading my sweet and handsome husband. Otherwise? Avoiding a transcription (ugh), slowly working my way through the Christmas gift list, and planning my baby's birthday menu (strawberry gel cups, banana cake with buttercream icing, etc.). In short: cactus.

11:46 MONDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2007

Overspending in the usual Christmas frenzy, still making my way out of the interview-avalanche, and longing (longing) for serious goof-off time. (Although I madly enjoyed my Saturday celebrity, a very extraordinary woman.) Alexander, too, is frantic. Bee, on the other hand, was presented with her first dolls' house the other day and is addicted. She systematically removes all the furniture and then replaces it with dadaesque elan. And Laura is pregnant! Which means that we will be with child in tandem. Which will be great, great fun. Otherwise? The Breast Cancer site is having trouble getting enough people to click on their site daily to meet their quota of donating at least one free mammogram a day to an underprivileged woman. It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on "donating a mammogram" for free (pink window in the middle). This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate mammogram in exchange for advertising. Pass it along to people you know:

www.thebreastcancersite.com

DIARY CONTINUED ...