Okay, the story behind these pikkies from our Awards Dinner...  The nominees for that year's Lynne Wilding Meritorious Service Award were called to the front of the room, and somehow, the Grecian column behind them decided to fall down (I think it was Trish Morey crashing into it in a fit of drunken exhuberance, but anyway...)

Down comes the column and off goes Trish's head.  And of course, Anne Gracie laughs while Emma Darcy is left wondering what the heck's going on...

Robyn Aldridge helps out the hotel staff to erect (ahem) the column, while Trish finally finds her head and Emma Darcy gets the joke.

Robyn, Emma, Anne and Trish seeing the funny side to their column ordeal (well, Anne never didn't see the funny side).

Held over three days in Sydney, we had fun, food and fabulous speakers!

Anne Oliver (L) and Bron Jameson, whose hairdresser will be pleased with this shiny photo!

Australia's first Spice Briefs author,
Cathleen Ross (L) and New York Times bestseller, Keri Arthur.

L-R: Anna Jacobs, Roseanne and Alison.

L-R: Me, Alison Stuart and an oddly miffed Elizabeth Rolls (maybe someone nicked her champagne?)

My squirrels! (it's a Jenny Crusie thing...) 

L-R: Linley, Carmen and Leah.

The two Cs - Carmen (L) and Catherine, have a D&M.

Are they real?  A grabber attacks Anna Campbell.

(L-R): Me, Trish Morey, Keziah Hill and a slightly worried Yvonne Lindsay.

We've been honored with a visit from a pair of rainbow lorikeets, intent on fattening up at our seed bowl (Christmas 2006).

...get singled out by Cathleen Ross  ("don't you dare take that photo!")...

It's a busy night - I pose with Amy Andrews...

...grab a few shots of friends Vanessa Barneveld and CC Coburn...

...capture Nora Roberts dancing over my shoulder (look veeery closely at the waving hand)...

my working day, my backyard, my front yard... and the animals.

writing retreats, official engagements and conferences

The resident galahs popped in for a visit and the cat took herself off to the corner.  Bad kitty...

Just another typical day in Sydney, on the harbour...

A view of Lake Burley Griffin, from the Telstra Tower in Canberra.

Feeding a wallaby at Featherdale Wildlife Park.

holidays and outings

As usual, we all had a fantastic weekend, networking, talking writing and meeting up with fellow authors and brand-new writers.  There's more photos to be found on my blog.

Leah (left) and Linley.

Me and Harlequin American author, CC Coburn.

Jenny (left) and Kaz Delaney.

Me and Kaz Delaney.

(L-R): Modern Heat author Kelly Hunter, Harlequin Sydney Managing Director Michelle LaForrest, and M&B Medical author Amy Andrews.

My awesome writing buddy, Linley.

What a blast we all had for Australia's very first romance readers conference!  There's more photos to be found on my blog.

Our "Aussie Voice" panel - (L-R): Melanie Milburne, Michelle Douglas, Jane Tara, Elisabeth Rose and me.

Me and Mills & Boon Medical author, Sharon Archer.

I noticed most of my photos of the weekend involved me in a mermaid costume.   Hmmmm...

For the Americans, it's a regular event - but we Aussies have to save up all year to trek over to the States for their annual Romance Writers of America national conference.  And of course, when you're there you have to take some time prior to shop and sightsee...

The morning ocean view at Broadbeach, Gold Coast.

Pristine, uncluttered Broadbeach beach.

Driving up into the Blue Mountains, we passed through Katoomba, Medlow Bath and turned left over the railway at Blackheath.  Then it was down into the twists and turns of the Kanimbla Valley and finally, a dirt road to our destination - The Woolshed Cabins. Then I spotted the old woolshed (righ) and had a sinking feeling.  Was this the place we were staying?  (yeah, the "woolshed" in the title should've tipped me off...)

Hang on - :::sigh:::  Civilization at last (far right).  Kitchen, appliances, electricity, clean beds, running water and a fabulous breakfast (egg, bacon, muesli, coffee, milk...)  whew!  And best of all, the view from the balcony, albeit with the haze of distant bushfires.

We saw bunnies in the morning, had some visiting cattle dogs at morning tea and then grazing horses mid-afternoon.

Just look at the glorious clear blue sky!!