Can it really be so long since I last posted? Excuses: illness (not serious), forgetfulness (likewise, but probably permanent) and, of course, holiday stuff. I spent three precious weeks with my sister Anne, who lives in Mount Gambier. (The distance from Perth is roughly the same as London to Moscow: Australia is Too Big, I reckon.) Anne and I had a great time together and I also got to catch up with my nieces and nephews, as well as my daughter, Billy Jo, who lives in Adelaide.

The forgetfulness is apparently due to 'frontoparietal atrophy', which means that part of my brain is shrinking. I've been taking Aloe Vera, Gingko Biloba and lots of B-vites, all of which are said to be helpful to this condition. They have made a bit of difference to short-term recall, but sadly, the worst symptom is constant dizziness, and so far I have found no help with that one. We are living far longer than previous generations, and many of us are keeping physically fit, but apparently there's no treatment for brain shrinkage.

However, I'm determined to enjoy life for as long as possible. I've been having a virtual school reunion, thanks to a Facebook page devoted to people who attended Sydney's Conservatorium High School, which is celebrating its centenary year. Sydney, of course, is on the other side of Australia, yet there are several 'ex-Cons' living here in Perth, and last weekend four of us got together. One of the quartet attended the Con at the same time as I did, so we had lots of yarns to exchange. Another lady was there in the 1940s and the other one was there in the seventies. We hope to get together again before too long, and I am hoping to go back to Sydney for the school's Big Bash in October.

Shrinking brain notwithstanding, I hope to get the final book in The Talismans Trilogy off the ground this year. It only consists of  few ideas in my head at present, so I really must knuckle down to it, in between Shakespeare Club, teaching dance, fitness classes and other commitments. Wish me luck!