Two contentious Development Applications (DAs) are set to come before this week’s Byron Council meeting, setting the scene for some lively debate.

As a writer you never really know what is going to strike a chord with your audience. What will inspire them? Make them think? Make them change their mind? Make them angry? After more than two decades of publishing I am still surprised by what rocks a reader’s boat. About a week ago I discovered that a lot of people have strong opinions on the humble iceberg. I’m not talking about the one that took out theTitantic. I’m talking about the one that has been sinking wallets at the supermarket.

'At a recent gathering, I murmured something faintly conservative, and quick as a flash I was called a "Dutton"...' 

The first time I noticed a bush stone-curlew in Brunswick Heads it was waiting at the pedestrian crossing, on its way to the pub, across the other side of the road.