From a floury encounter on a baker’s work table to the art of sitting backwards on chairs, from budgie training to spontaneous human combustion, this collection showcases the non-fiction writing of one of Australia’s best-loved authors.

These pieces encompass suburban portraits and coastal living, affectionate nostalgia and the absurdity of the everyday. They are endearing and often hilarious snapshots of Australian life from a master novelist who has turned the column into an artform.