Housewife Superstar

Book excerpt: Housewife Superstar is the life story of eccentric Tasmanian domestic goddess, Marjorie Bligh. Now 94 years old, Marjorie is the author of a library of advice books covering topics including food, household management, health and beauty, poetry, gardening and recycling. Marjorie is the go-to-girl for all manner of problem-solving. She knows what to do when a goldfish has constipation (feed it Epsom salts), and what to do when you run out of rouge (cut a beetroot in half and slap it on your cheeks). Famous for never wasting a thing, Marjorie has constructed a museum within her own home to show off the various items she has knitted and crocheted out of such unlikely materials as plastic shopping bags and used pantyhose. Her abundant garden is staked out with old-fashioned corset brassieres that function as plant protectors. Sensationally thrice-married (once divorced and twice widowed), Marjorie is, according to her colossal fan Barry Humphries, 'no slouch in the matrimonial department'. Her short-lived second marriage, to preacher and schoolteacher Adrian Cooper, was punctuated by endless love notes, breakfasts in bed and territorial catfights with Adrian's adult daughters. Following Adrian's death, Marjorie met her third husband Eric Bligh – a bus driver – on a CWA outing, snagging him with promises of fruitcake and flirtatious glances in his rear view mirror. Housewife Superstar is an illuminating look at a true Australian treasure. Marjorie Bligh will soon be a household name.