S.H.M.I.L.Y.

Is it just me or does everyone believe in true love?

This story is from Chicken Soup for the Soul….it was written by a woman called Jean Allen…and I hope it inspires us all to try harder with love.

She writes....

My grandparents were married for more than 50 years. For all those years they played an amazing game….the goal was to write the word “shmily” in a surprise place for the other to find.

They took turns leaving “shmily” around the house, and as soon as one of them discovered it, it was their turn to hide it once more.

They dragged “shmily” with their fingers through the sugar and flour containers to await whoever was preparing the next meal. They smeared it in the dew on the windows… overlooking the patio where my grandma always fed us warm, homemade pudding with blue food colouring. “Shmily” was written in the steam left on the mirror after a hot shower, where it would reappear bath after bath. At one point, my grandmother even unrolled an entire roll of toilet paper to leave shmily on the very last sheet.

There was no end to the places “shmily” would pop up. Little notes with “shmily” scribbled hurriedly were found on dashboards and car seats, or taped to steering wheels. The notes were stuffed inside shoes and left under pillows. “Shmily” was written in the dust upon the mantel and traced in the ashes of the fireplace. This mysterious word was as much a part of my grandparents’ house as the furniture.


Grandma and Grandpa held hands every chance they could. They stole kisses as they bumped into each other in their tiny kitchen. They finished each other’s sentences and shared the daily crossword puzzle. My grandma whispered to me about how cute my grandpa was, how handsome an old man he had grown to be.

But it couldn’t last forever….cancer came and after 50 years together, Grandma was gone.

“Shmily.” It was scrawled in yellow on the pink ribbons of my grandmother’s funeral bouquet. And as the crowd thinned at the graveside, my grandfather stood silently and shook with grief.

I will never forget that moment. I knew although I couldn’t begin to fathom the depth of their love, I had been privileged to witness its beauty.

S-h-m-i-l-y: See How Much I Love You.

Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa, for letting me see.

Missing photo!!!

Hi - there has been some disgruntled visitors to this site...complaining that I am missing a photo from the (unmentionable) Paul Kelly concert!!!

Here it is...

thanks for the feedback!

A terrible day in Mildura

Is it just me or does everyone think no parent should ever have to bury a child let alone two.

Yesterday was a hard day in Mildura…single Dad Rex Dowling buried his only son Cory.

Today is going to be tougher.Mildura will farewell three of its dead today.

Mourners will say goodbye to Cassandra Manners this morning… and many of the same mourners will return for the funeral of brother and sister Abby and Shane Hirst at 2.00pm.

The hurst family bought white coffins for their children….Messages to the teenagers have been written on the white paint by family and friends.

Thousands are expected to attend the funerals of teens killed in Saturday's horror crash in Cardross south of Mildura. Schools are open today, but not many are expected to attend.

Earlier this week letters were sent to parents outlining funeral times and advising students what to expect…..most of them have never been to a funeral…this week, they'll go to six…

I know there are lots of stories about the kind of man the driver of the vehicle was…but I can’t feel anything but incredible sorrow for him and his family.

He might have had a terrible driving record, and he might have been going to fast, but police reports say he hit a tree about one hundred metres from the party…and the car careened out of control, he managed to avoid the first group of children standing on the side of the road, but couldn’t avoid the second.

Whether he goes to jail or not, life as he knows it, for him and his large, extended Mildura family…and the families of every single one of those dead teenagers, will never be the same again.

Is it just me or does everyone understand the value of good neighbours?

There’s a lot of talk about getting to know your neighbours in New South Wales…

In Sydney yesterday, the bodies of two elderly people were found after neighbours noticed a smell coming from their flat in Neutral Bay.

That discovery brings to five the number of bodies of elderly people in NSW this month(!) who appear to have died alone in their homes. In the worst case, an elderly man had been dead six months, before Australia Post eventually told the police they should check out what was going on. That man lived in a flat surrounded by neighbours, but none of them were looking out for him…

The street where the elderly couple was found yesterday is quiet and leafy…Neutral Bay is a well to do suburb.

Most residents in the street had heard about the couple's death but few knew had met them.
One resident said: "The scary thing is I don't know any of my neighbours. If I knocked on their door they would think I was crazy."

We’re having an interesting time in our street.

When we moved into the little cul de sac it was like Ramsay Street…

We would all stand out the front and talk and laugh, and sometimes bring a bottle or two.

We had street parties, and everyone took care of each others kids, gardens, mail and feelings.

But we’ve had some movement and it’s a little different these days. I don’t even actually know my neighbours name…

He’s away a lot and I think it’s fair to say he’s not at all interested in me (understatement of the year....he has this quite comical routine of pretending he can't see you...even when you're standing in front of him at the letter box!!! I'd be upset, except he's the same with the rest of the street...so I'm hoping it's not personal).

I’m ok with it... but it’s a new situation for me. We’ve always been really close to our neighbours.

In Shepparton, our elderly neighbour Mary didn’t drive, so I used to pick things up at the shop for her. She used to make us biscuits and one rainy day I came home to no washing on the line…
Mary had taken it off and was airing it in front of her heater at home. I think if I had left her any longer she would have had it folded ironed and in our drawers…

Do you know your neighbours? Tell me a best and worst neighbour story?

Things I can't tell you on the radio!

Is it just me or does everyone think what goes on behind the scenes is usually more exciting than general release?

I am a radio announcer and I swear the scandalous, slanderous character assasinations that take place when the microphones are off, are absolutely ALWAYS more compelling than the on air banter.

If you're a regular MIX FM listener though, there's something I want to tell you.


A couple of weeks ago I wrote an article for the daily and later read it on air. It was a general rant about disappointment...and happened to include my general impoverishment (compared with the British Royal family) and the
fact that during my holidays I had been to a Paul Kelly concert in the Hunter Valley.

A couple of days later a woman from Maroochydore wrote to the paper, claiming that I was a
fraud of some sort, always going on about being poor when I was clearly a well heeled media magnate.

I loved it, mostly because I know how close we come to missing our enormous mortgage payments every fortnight. My boss was less excited by the letter, and actually said I should stop talking about ritzy things, such as Paul Kelly concerts.

For the record, I had a lovely time in the Hunter Valley, for two nights (woohoo...very ritzy)!

It was my Christmas gift/thank you present from my beautiful precious Godson Bill (pictured above)...who stays with us for a couple of nights every fortnight when his mother Margaret (John's sister) is away working (part time Qantas flight attendant - usually does a Singapore Sling every couple of weeks).

Anyway...I'm not really sure why I wanted you to know that. I just did. Because if I ever get to do something exciting in the future, you won't be able to hear about it on air.

Anyway, here's also a picture of Johnny and me at the concert. See, I told you we had a good time!



Love me

Wisdom through the ages!

Is it just me, or does everyone think simple words of wisdom are usually the most powerful?

I was sent a list of Good Advice through the ages. I think you’ll like it.

I've learned that I like my teacher because she cries when we sing "Silent Night". Age 5

I've learned that our dog doesn't want my broccoli either. Age 7

I've learned that when I wave to people in the country, they wave back. Age 9

I've learned that just when I get my room the way I like it, Mum will make me clean it again. Age 12

I've learned that nursing a sleeping child is one of life's great pleasures. Age 26

I've learned that wherever I go, the world's worst drivers have followed me. Age 29

I've learned that there are people who love you dearly but just don't know how to show it. Age 42

I've learned that children and grandparents are natural allies. Age 47

I've learned that no matter how bad it seems today, life goes on, and it will be better tomorrow. Age 48

I've learned that singing "Amazing Grace" can lift my spirits for hours. Age 49

I've learned that motel mattresses are better on the side away from the phone. Age 50

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a man by the way he handles three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. Age 51

I've learned that a vegetable garden is worth a medicine cabinet full of pills. Age 52

I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you miss them terribly after they die. Age 53

I've learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life. Age 58

I've learned the most positive thing you can do for your children, is work to improve your marriage. Age 61

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. Age 62

I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it might elude you. But if you work hard, love your family, meet new people, and do the very best you can, happiness will find you. Age 65

I've learned that whenever I decide something with kindness, I usually make the right decision. Age 66

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. Age 82

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. Age 92

Let me know what you've learned....

Thanks for coming!

Is it just me or does everyone feel a little daunted by change?

I've written a column for the Sunshine Coast Daily for seven and a half years.

The very first post on this blog is in fact the last ever daily column.

It made me a bit sad to leave the daily and I'm not sure exactly where I'm going with this blog, but thanks for coming to check it out anyway.

I promise to write as often as possible...quite possibly, it will just be to share boring bits of information about my life....but I'd love to see you here.

There's a bit down the bottom where you get to write to me. And if there is anything in particular you'd like to see on this site...just let me know.

For instance, I had a murder mystery party at my house last Saturday night, and I was thinking I might post the photos, just to give the lady who ran it a plug.

Her name is Jennifer Rousset by the way, from JR Productions. You can call her on 0418 778 444.

Our murder took place in a luxury Spanish Hotel and involved everything from a french chef to a Brazilian masseuse and a Carribean cocktail waiter - heaps of laughs and some bloody awful accents.

However, I'm not entirely sure how to do that yet (had a lesson on blogging at kook media yesterday...might have to go back for a refresher...) so if you want to see the photos, stay tuned!

But change is a good thing isn't it? Once you get your head around it.

I never would have thought I'd be 'blogging' (that is a really wanky word isn't it?)!

I have always been a technical illiterate. And you know what? It's not my fault!

My crazy Aunt has a theory that children born between 1973 and 1980 are from the lost city of Atlantis (I'm not joking, that is truly what she believes) and apparently they were pretty technical in Atlantis.

Therefore, she says poor little 1968 babies like me were pushing it uphill from the start, we're just not as pre-disposed to computing as our peers....

And I have to admit I don't do anything to discount the theory. For about two years I got John (my husband) to send my emails for me, refusing to take five seconds to find out how to click on 'create mail' and 'send'.

When I finally gave in and had a lesson I was pretty embarrassed, but that's me. I would rather get something wrong 10 times through trial and error than sit down once and be told how to do it, or god forbid actually read instructions or watch a 'how to' dvd!

But look at me now????

Anyway...this is all I've got for now. If you've got a crazy theory...I'd love you to tell me all about it...just click down the bottom of the page...if you want to see photos, let me know that too, because I don't want to be too down home and daggy with this thing...so let me know the minimum 'Caroline overload' before you start to gag!!!!

Thanks again for coming.

Love me

Is it just me or does everyone hate goodbyes?

This is going to be my last column for the Sunshine Coast Daily, for a while at least.

It’s not really a planned finale. The Daily is about to go through some very exciting changes and since I’ve been boring you all stupid about an alleged book I’m supposedly writing, I thought it would be a good opportunity to exit quietly.

I know for some people this is news too good to be true. Hopefully at least a couple of you are crying in your cornflakes.

In particular, I’d like to thank my friends and family who have spent the last seven and a half years shivering with anticipation every Saturday morning, petrified their antics may have been grossly exaggerated and committed to print in a cheap Caroline “anecdote”.

I’d also like to thank you. Together, we’ve been through quite a bit don’t you think? And there’s no doubt we’ve learned some pretty good stuff.

For instance, don’t let your four year old near scissors with her best friend, together they will probably cut off her hair.

Don’t criticise your family in Western Australia for their poor present buying record. Chances are someone they know will be visiting Caloundra that weekend and happen to see their names in the paper.

Don’t forget any of your children’s birthdays. Invariably it causes them to have a very good memory.

Don’t leave your four year old alone in a Mazda. There’s a good chance she’ll whack it in drive and knock down the school fence.

Hold onto your bathers top when running on the beach. Even small unimpressive breasts are best left encased.

If, during work drinks, you’re prone to bouts of unbridled honesty, stop going.

If you’re a husband and your wife writes a newspaper column, get out now.

I don’t want to sook, but I’ve been amazed by the generosity of readers. Like Alasdair from Caloundra who worked closely with my father in law 40 years ago and wrote me the most incredible letter after Bill died. Charlie Frame, the old soldier who wrote me his entire life story, just because he thought I might enjoy it. And the beautiful letters when our beloved babysitter Meg was tragically killed.

Like I said, we’ve been through a lot together.

And, for anyone who thinks they might like to continue learning from my mistakes, http://www.isitjustme.com.au/ will be up and running very shortly. It’s a new caper called a web log or ‘blog’ which means you’ll be able to track my daily ramblings and let me know in no uncertain terms whether it really is just me.

In the meantime, thank you again and be good, I’m going to miss you.

Is it just me can be heard Weekdays 92.7 MIX FM thanks to Sunshine Coast Mazda.