Hello everybody. Welcome to AA. My name is Bea. And I’m an artist. We’re often told that art is not important. That it’s fluffy, insubstantial, esoteric. That it has no value — economically, educationally, intellectually. Successive governments have eroded the arts (and culture) over a long period of time, pulling…

Are you a fan of Hayao Miyazaki’s movies? Have you ever wanted to ride in the Catbus? Or have you ever dreamed of having your very own Catbus? I am all of these things! I’m also an artist who loves dressups, cosplay and festivals, so I decided to embark on…

Let’s be adventurous, Jess said. Let’s hire motor scooters and take the kids up into the mountains to find a traditional village. Ok said Andrew. Do you know how to ride a scooter? No she said. But it can’t be that hard. We can learn. The scooters were cheap and…

She was watching young people again. It was becoming something of an obsession. A young man with a permanent 5-day growth and a man bun rode past on his motor scooter. He wore sunglasses but no shirt and the haughtiest, cooler-than-thou expression she’d ever seen. …

What are you doing mum? Lily asked. I’m reading a book, Jess said Boring! The internet’s not working again. I can’t watch Netflix! Lily moaned. There’s nothing to do! How wonderful! Jess replied. Wonderful! No it’s not! I’m bored! Lily yelled. Which means something wonderful is going to happen, said…

The Japanese shipwreck was surprisingly close to shore. It lay resting in a stunning little bay, ringed by steep mountains wearing cloud crowns. Colourful wooden boats lined the stone beach. Snorkellers bobbed in the water as the fishermen-turned-tourist-water-taxis for the day, squatted on their boats and waited patiently for the…

The gallery was packed by the time Jess arrived. She squeezed past the food tables where people stood chatting and laughing with wine in their hands. She waved at a few people she knew as she looked for Andrew. His band was already playing. Strands of improvised jazz floated through…

“Good morning Mr B,” Benny called as he strode casually by. Boris scowled down at him from his perch high in his tree. “Mr B,” he growled back. …

It was 10am before Peggy got out of the house. Late today. Ha! That was nothing unusual. Her mother had always said she’d be late for her own funeral. She usually left just after Tony left for work. She liked to make sure his shirt was ironed and his lunch…