Lissa

Lissa is my godmother. Lissa for a long time was my adopted mother too in that I probably related more easily to her than I did to my own mother. She's Dad's sister. She lives in Albert Park in the most gorgeous little Victorian era cream weatherboard home that sides on to a laneway and has a huge liquidambar growing in the backyard which must not be that great for the foundations.

She lived with an arsehole for ages known as Richard but whom the whole family referred to as "Tricky Dicky" because he cheated on her and she kicked him out. For a while she was single then she met an amazing South African man called Greig. He was a marathon runner, worked for Kraft in a middle management role and was well respected by lots of women for his impeccable manners. He was also very handy around the home, always tidying up and super organised, something most of Dad's family are not known for!

Lissa was a librarian for a large corporate library, she had the most exquisite taste in clothes, her wardrobe was to die for, full of big labels, amazing fabrics, patterned, silks, woollen and cashmere and really funky shoes.

Greig and Lissa married and then at 39 Lissa had Jillian and she stayed home from then onwards to care for her child from birth through her thirties.

Lissa introduced me to so many exotic foods. From a young age, I was visiting her with my sister and we would stay for a whole week. She introduced me to avocado, sourdough bread, lots of Dutch things like pfeffernusse and speculaas, all sorts of herbal teas, couscous so many things that my plain eating mother wouldn't touch in a pink fit.

She also took me to the National Gallery of Victoria and other galleries, clothes shopping in little boutiques, walks down Acland street, trips to Luna Park, plays in the Botanic Gardens, South Melbourne market lots of wonderful experiences.

If we get on the phone to each other we will talk for hours like old friends or sisters.