From the cobbled streets of Macclesfield, Cheshire to the golden sandy beaches of the New South Wales south coast, this memoir charts the life of Annie Gidman. Born into humble circumstances during the First World War, the story traces the hardship of Annie's childhood, the love she bore for her sisters and her difficult marriage to my father. She became a self-made businesswoman, a devoted Mum and she overcame the trauma of domestic violence. As a young woman, she vowed to make a better life for herself. She was loyal, industrious, and a risk taker, fencing diamonds from Holland through her business. She befriended an abortionist and visited her in gaol. She had numerous wartime friendships and a number of lovers. This is a story of love and loss, courage and determination, happiness and sadness but most of all it's a story of resilience.