Annabet and her younger brother Anders grew up in idyllic surrounds on the lower north shore of Sydney, living in the original Balmoral boatshed. However, nothing was as it seemed and Annabet and Anders were both exposed to harsh, often irrational and frequently violent discipline from their parents, which left them emotionally unbalanced and starved of affection. In a time where domestic violent was never discussed within the family let alone outside of it, Annabet and Anders struggled to keep their spirits and souls afloat. But at least they had each other. As they endeavoured to find their paths in life, Annabet as a children's clothing designer and Anders as an internationally recognised chef, restaurateur and talented potter, neither could escape the legacy of their violent and disturbing upbringing. Anders never overcame a secret he kept tragically to himself and Annabet was perpetually wracked with self-doubt due to her mother's continual criticism. This beautifully written story not only traces the history of growing up on the north shore but the gradual evolution of the food and fashion scene in Sydney in the 70s and 80s. It encompasses many areas of day to day struggles within families that were not discussed then and which are, sadly, still occurring today.