The story begins with the shock of Annabet’s brother Anders’ tragic suicide and traces his and Annabet’s careers while remaining close and supportive of one another. Anders became an internationally recognised chef and trained and influenced many of the well known chefs of today: Neil Perry, Serge Dansereau and Matt Moran amongst others. He was know as the ‘Mr Fixit’ of many restaurants in Sydney. He was also a talented ceramist and had many shows that displayed his art. Annabet was an influence in the developing fashion scene in Sydney with her own clothing line and became an business woman in her own right.

Despite their success they struggled emotionally their whole lives; Anders because he was gay in an era which did not approve of or legally recognise homosexuality and Annabet because she was continuously criticised and undermined by her parents.

The memoir encompasses many areas of interest – the 1950s, iconic Balmoral Beach, being raised in a boatshed, the developing food culture, the struggle of being homosexual and regarded as socially unacceptable, a dysfunctional family, suicide, grief and poor relationship choices – this book touches on many areas of day-to day-struggles within families that occurred then but were not discussed and which are, sadly, still occurring today.