Mary Sayed

Notes on the Australian White Ibis (from a biased bird nerd)

A first — part two

The COVID diary

The COVID diary No, not the COVID diaries. Just diary, singular. This is the story of my COVID experience in one post. I didn’t think to write it day by day; I didn’t have much energy for the four most intense days of the virus. I live with asthma…

Missing our loved ones at Christmas

Missing our loved ones at Christmas The times we’re living in are once again likely to mean a different Christmas experience this year. In the US alone, there’ll be thousands of families missing a loved one — lost to COVID — from the Christmas dinner…

What's the best advice you've ever received?

What's the best advice you've ever received? I came across (and replied to) a tweet a few days ago asking tweeps about the best piece of advice their mothers had given them. That got me thinking about the best advice my mum — and others — have given…

A first

The ghost cat

Mary Sayed 1 hour ago·1 min read Bristled fur, giant paws, long tail, blue eyes... The snow leopard’s a stunning beauty When it comes to caring for them, we’ve failed In our sacred caretaker duty. Caring for nature is our call Custodians of the earth…

I don’t want this new world, yet it seems to want me

Mary Sayed 1 hour ago·5 min read I submitted this piece to the SBS Emerging Writers’ competition in September. This year’s theme was ‘Between two worlds’. Entries were to be at least 1,000 words (so this is a bit longer than some of my other pieces),…

The challenge of self-improvement

Mary Sayed 3 days ago·1 min read Wow, it’s a challenge to be an evolving human being, isn’t it? Working on ourselves — striving for self-improvement —sometimes feels like the road less travelled when we’re on it. It can be a struggle staying on the…

Simple pleasures

Mary Sayed ·Oct 25 What are your simple pleasures in life? Here are some of mine, in no particular order: Laughter Birds (yes, yes, completely unsurprising coming from a #birdnerd) — watching them, hearing them sing, studying them… Butterflies…

‘Murder in Oregon’ and the ripple effect

Mary Sayed Oct 18·2 min read Last week I listened to the 'Murder in Oregon' podcast, a meticulously documented record by journalist Phil Stanford and producer Lauren Bright Pacheco of the senseless murder of Oregon’s head of Corrections, Michael…

A tale of two deliveries (with apologies to Charles Dickens)

A tale of two deliveries (with apologies to Charles Dickens) OK, confession time: I’m a fan of internet shopping. A big fan, actually. Who wouldn’t want to go shopping in their pyjamas? Despite that enthusiasm, my purchase must be accompanied by good…

The little bird that could

Mary Sayed Sep 26·1 min read This week high winds hit the city I live in. They dropped temperatures and created fire danger. Leaves and branches were stripped from trees. So many, in fact, that one of the three huge Moreton Bay Figs near my workplace…

Outdoors + exercise + peace = garden

Outdoors + exercise + peace = garden Some of you know that I’ve recently moved in to a new home. One of the things the sellers established there is a beautiful garden. It’s small, but is dense with flowering vines, flowers, an archway, herbs, potted…

R U OK Day isn’t OK for some

Mary Sayed Sep 13·1 min read Have you ever felt stuck? I sure have, and I’m feeling it acutely this week. I feel stuck in grief; in sadness; sometimes I wonder if it’s a place I’m getting too comfortable in…if it’s even possible to be comfortable. I…

My emotional groundhog day

My emotional groundhog day When people have asked me how I am — especially in the last few months — I’ve described some days as ‘emotional groundhog day’. When I say groundhog day, I don’t mean the holiday; to me it’s like that day Bill Murray’s…

Signs from my mum

Mary Sayed Aug 30·2 min read Since my mum passed away last year, I have felt her presence in different and sometimes unexpected ways. I have dreamt of mum at least three times. Each time, she is happy and smiling (to me, a clear sign she is at…

The beauty of a handwritten letter

The beauty of a handwritten letter Today I had the joy of receiving something I hadn’t in a long, long time — a handwritten letter. It came from one of my oldest and dearest friends. In it, she reminded me of the weekly letters we had written each…

Watch the birdie(s) — a welcome distraction during lockdown

Watch the birdie(s) — a welcome distraction during lockdown If you’re a bird lover like I am (or even if you’re not and you’d like a lockdown distraction), there are live streams available of birds' nests around the country and around the world that…

My go-to moving tips

My go-to moving tips Having rented at least nine apartments over the past 16 years, I’ve had a bit (!) of experience moving house. Here are my top five tips for your next move (unless you have — quite understandably — sworn you’ll never move again):…