About me

Let me introduce myself. I grew up in the nearly-beachside-suburb of Balgowlah, just north of the Spit Bridge in Sydney. As a child I was fascinated by adventure/mystery stories, loved climbing trees, was crazy about horses and learning other languages. I studied Science at the University of Sydney and taught Science in NSW state high schools for twenty years before changing to become a Languages teacher, specialising in German and Japanese.

I now live in Maraylya with my Japanese husband (whom I met at a German language school in Bavaria), usually one or two of my adult children who drift in and out, a horse, two dogs and five chickens. Our family culture is strongly Japanese, set in an Australian environment, which is sometimes confusing, but never predictable or boring. Intercultural communication and mis-communication are part of our daily life.

Since retiring from full-time teaching last year I have embarked on the tasks of writing children's fiction set in bi-cultural, bi-lingual situations, picture stories for beginner students of Japanese and a memoir of my experiences with Japanese culture.