Fizzing with wit and style and featuring original illustrations by the author, this lively, humorous, and tragic memoir traces the roots of a distinguished painter and her crucial role in New Zealand's feminist movement. Exploring the author's Irish ancestors; childhood in provincial Timaru, New Zealand; bohemian life as a student; and marriage to celebrated psychiatrist Fraser Macdonald, these stories highlight the evolution of culture and visual arts in New Zealand while they brilliantly depict her courageous and flamboyant trek through life.