Cathy Downes

Follow the Bishop family through 40 years of Christmases from 1949 to 1989.

Nora is a single mother who wants to live the life of an artist, as do her friends -- a group of Melbourne writers, actors and musicians. But when she's drawn into a passionate affair with a heroin addict, Nora struggles to maintain control of her life.

When a womanizing bookshop owner hears about the suicide of a former girlfriend, he tries to find out more and meets her friend, a prostitute. They hook up, but when she finds her friend's diary, she discovers she's repeating her mistakes.

Frances and Dorian live through the last few weeks of their dysfunctional relationship.