quirks from the suburban front lines...

So adore these quirky moments from the 'suburban front lines' as Anna calls them...
Great for kicking a smile into the day... https://t.co/KXfQdlXBUY

— 🇺🇦🌻Gemma Wiseman-on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) April 5, 2022

my first smile today..

My first smile on a rather 'grizzly' day...
Feels good... https://t.co/jiBcpisRws

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) November 19, 2021

'sideshows' on Twitter...

So love these 'sideshows' on Twitter...This is quirky, lovable reality in action...Turn a 'disaster' (rigged?) into your personal happy place...

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) October 7, 2021

Are you?! The Christmas chocolate keeps trying to jump into my basket

— anna s-r (@annaspargoryan) October 7, 2021

You’re welcome. I’m glad your lawn mower is safe for now.

— anna s-r (@annaspargoryan) October 7, 2021

If I ever get off the couch, I’ll write one

— anna s-r (@annaspargoryan) October 7, 2021

I moved the mop from the laundry to the kitchen 5 days ago and no further action has been taken. Plenty of cake has been eaten though.

— Sarah Liversidge (@livo_sarah) October 7, 2021

I've heard housework doesn't kill you, but why risk it 😐

— Pez (@Pezzamystic1) October 7, 2021

down-to-earth-happiness...

This really is a sign of 'down-to-earth-happiness'...
for the cat...
Not so sure about the human...
Maybe she will succumb eventually...
Henry will work on it... https://t.co/xJdCi5dShX

— Gemma Wiseman - on Bunurong land, Kulin Nation (@AuraGem) August 22, 2021

cute stuff during lockdown...

I've printed up little copies of our kids bird guide for a few parents desperate for distractions. We've received lovely care packaged (random chips, books, little craft projects) from all over. Been leaning on @alidogood's flower delivery a fair bit for pals.

— Michael L (@wtb_Michael) September 24, 2020

We got new neighbours a couple of months ago so I left a note in their letterbox welcoming them to the neighbourhood because it must be so tough moving in the middle of lockdown and they left a note in return and now we have chats over the back fence, it’s really nice.

— Harry Saddler (@MondayStory) September 24, 2020

Someone anonymously put a block of caramilk in our letterbox. I love you, beautiful stranger.

— Van Badham (@vanbadham) September 24, 2020

Our street established a collective tab at the local cafe so the paramedics at the ambulance station here eat free. Putting a tenner on the till for the ambos has become a community habit.

— Mat Larkin (@matchtrick) September 24, 2020

For my first Father’s Day my wife projected a film onto the brick wall beside the car park behind our apartment building. We sat in the car, bluetoothed the audio and ate malteasers and pop corn. It was v nice.

— J.P. Pomare (@JPPomare) September 24, 2020

Book swaps - a number of my neighbours have been leaving stacks of books at their gates. Books that they’ve done reading free for anyone to borrow pic.twitter.com/wFaPEwJ1lw

— Lauri King (@LauriKing15) September 24, 2020

A cute family of local kids are convinced I’m Rapunzel. This has been going since April! They leave flowers on my doorstep and I have a makeshift pulley system to lower down, smarties etc pic.twitter.com/zNZm5p6CfB

— emma koster (@Hey_Koster) September 24, 2020

minds working together from a distance?....

Just writing my back cover blurb pic.twitter.com/V5MYRoYY5e

— anna spargo-ryan stays inside (@annaspargoryan) September 14, 2020

Hmmm... And I just posted about Victorian gas lamps in London - actually sewage gas lamps - a short time ago tonight... (inspired by an SBS documentary I was watching at the same time)...Synchronicity?... A sign...?

— Gemma Wiseman (@AuraGem) September 14, 2020

we Melburnians according to Anna...

A wonderful, sparky, spikey, snarky article from Anna... That conglomeration of incoherent rumblings we Melburnians feel cavorting around inside us has been beautifully represented in her article...Go Anna...🙏❤️😃❤️😃🙏 https://t.co/kzR7lJRz7c pic.twitter.com/HzL2lQVAxN

— Gemma Wiseman (@AuraGem) September 9, 2020

empathy...

I relate...While some are out of work, I have remote learning with v.v. high demands...I feel stuck to the screen. I feel like crying but no time...collapse at the end of the day. I 'borrow' time to write+shop. Going out=fear. But working on it, with my little Shaddie's help. pic.twitter.com/T4uDw8gDQZ

— Gemma Wiseman (@AuraGem) August 22, 2020

quirky responses to covid-19...

Inspired by @yumichild’s Zero Fucks Cooking cookbook, my zero fucks cauliflower soup:

• Sautee garlic/onions
• Chuck in chopped cauliflower
• Cover in stock
• Add tsp Vegetime
• Simmer the shit out if it
• Blend the shit out of it
• Garnish. Or don’t. Who cares. Eat. pic.twitter.com/pREvAnhwJj

— Benjamin Law 羅旭能 (@mrbenjaminlaw) May 23, 2018

I have one commissioned article to write today. It’s going well. pic.twitter.com/7FTHWZmBR2

— anna dontgo-outside (@annaspargoryan) July 14, 2020

I have now bought 100 books in lockdown.

— anna dontgo-outside (@annaspargoryan) July 14, 2020

Just love it... Who knows... This could be a global society of friendship... https://t.co/3StrTguXY4

— Gemma Wiseman (@AuraGem) July 18, 2020

Ain't that the truth... I think I've found a twin spirit... https://t.co/HDQFChPpuF

— Gemma Wiseman (@AuraGem) July 18, 2020

Anna Spargo-Ryan is the Melbourne author of The Gulf and The Paper House, both from Picador. She won the 2016 Horne Prize and writes widely on mental health, loss, love, and breakfast.

As sure as death and taxes I just saw a guy riding a penny farthing in North Fitzroy. Don’t go changing 3068. #northside #CovidVic

— Emma Race (@Emsyanna) July 18, 2020

Out at my local oval & noticed two little girls keenly watching us have a kick. They started copying what we were doing. A quick few tips (at a distance 😉) & a little chat lit up their faces! 😁 Think seeing their joy brought me more happiness than they realise! #girlsinsport

— Chantella Perera (@chantellap) July 17, 2020

We go into a second lockdown and the Mr Whippy vans suddenly reappear. I never anticipated that the soundtrack to the pandemic would be Greensleeves.

— Sean Dooley (@Twitchathon) July 18, 2020

a beautiful spirit...

Such a beautiful public offer... So hope many who are in need see this... May you be blessed... ❤️🙏❤️

— Gemma Wiseman (@AuraGem) July 18, 2020

I am in the 'older category', but still have work... stressful, but work... This generous offer is so inspiring... There are some good people out there... ❤️🙏❤️ https://t.co/0LVUvsJGaF

— Gemma Wiseman (@AuraGem) July 18, 2020