Keira has a lockable diary of a certain commercial doll brand that begins with ‘B’ – please don’t make me say it – which, until this week, she had forgotten she owned. It is full of those polling, personality profile quizzes that I’m sure we’ve all enjoyed doing at some point in our lives – I’ll even put my hand up.

She brought it to me, we cracked it open, and discovered she’s not filled it in for two years. A lot of the blanks were written in by me, as this was before she could write a whole lot, but truth be told I’d forgotten what she’d said.

We get to one line which was left blank before: who is your favourite television star?

Seems like you didn’t have one then – do you have one now? I asked.

She thought for a moment.

Yes, she said. Julia Gillard.

Um, really? Are you sure?

She giggled. Yes, she’s not allowed in the shed! I think that’s funny.

What are you talking about?

[Turns out this]

Okay… I said, moving on. Anyone else?

Yes, that lady who’s on in the mornings.

Lisa Wilkinson?

That’s her.

Why?

She stared into the middle distance for a moment but couldn’t come up with an answer satisfactory enough to tell me – when this happens she prefers to keep quiet, and I let her.

Very interesting.

***

Well blow me over with a hairdryer, the response to the newsletter was overwhelming! No one commented but lots of signups! Why didn’t I do it sooner? These are the eternal questions, I guess.

karen andrews

Karen Andrews is the creator of this website, one of the most established and well-respected parenting blogs in the country. She is also an author, award-winning writer, poet, editor and publisher at Miscellaneous Press. Her latest book is Trust the Process: 101 Tips on Writing and Creativity