I’m lucky to be writing a series of stories about the powerful sisterhood at Global Sisters, a charity that gives migrant, disenfranchised, homeless or stateless women the chance to run and profit from their own start-up businesses.

These are the people who work harder than I’ll ever need to to even find the doors that I simply pushed open. They don’t give up easily, they understand gratitude and they teach us not to take this safe, nourished and educated life for granted.

As part of the series, I’ve interviewed a Cambodian refugee who ran from Pol Pot and helped her father make steamed dumplings to help survive refugee camp. I’ve spoken with a Hazara rug maker whose community knots sorrow into its woven art. I’ve been bowled over by stories of tiny children and pregnant women escaping – and arriving in Australia – by boat.

Their one common thread is their determination to make good of the bad that went before.

I wrote about the healing power of scent and Australia’s burgeoning native botanicals industry for the beautifully put-together Ben & Co. magazine. Scroll down to page 22.

A lovely story to write, but the photos that were taken to accompany my words are simply delicious. Check them out…

The Isle of Pines pace of life – slow, very, very slow – is clearly rubbing off on me, hence adding this article, from Boat International back in January, now.

Empty beaches, sensational diving, fresh seafood on tap, all from the vantage point of a superyacht…

Now, to bury the lead, that beautiful boat, Masteka II, was attacked by pirates a couple of months ago. Guns and machetes were reportedly pulled out and the captain and guests on the yacht were lucky to come away with minimal injuries. Crazy stuff, by any measure.