We have all been deeply upset by the outbreak of war between Putin’s Russian army and Ukraine. It’s shocked us, because Ukraine is an independent country, and it should be free to choose its own destiny just as any other sovereign state. It is not a territory of Russia and yet Putin – against the counsel of his closest advisors – saw fit to invade it.

For those of us who live in Sydney, we are scratching our heads over the arrival of autumn. Did we even have a summer? The hottest time of the year has been more like an in-between season with cooler temperatures and a lot of rain.