Category: Personal
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Writing Out Loud #1 : The Short Story that Grew…
If I wait long enough a story appears. It’s my calling to catch and keep it. Usually a pen or Evernote is in reach. Then the work begins: to unravel the story into most of its truth. The rest is for the reader or remains unknown. Like unravelling a twisted string strand by strand….or unwrapping…
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Vulnerability is the Endless Way Back
Twitter is like someone sitting next to you while you write. And as soon as you look up, she winks at you. Then you go back to writing again. Until you stop and she winks at you again. Until you put down the pen or stylus and return the look. For you realise that she…
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Blue Sky Mine : The Wittenoom Tragedy
Every time I hear Blue Sky Mine by Midnight Oil, about the Wittenoom mining tragedy, I’m taken back in time. To 23 May 1988, to probably the saddest TV interview I have ever seen.
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Just Grandma and Me: A Reminiscence
Perhaps I should have bought the game and computer too! It began with Nicole Matejic. She was reminiscing about her old Apple personal computer experiences. In passing she mentioned the children’s game Just Grandma and Me (based on a popular children’s book). And the next thing I remember is my daughter perched on a stool…
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More Than A Kiss From Mr Fitzgerald
As a recent and still temporary resident of Sydney, I wanted to meet other writers. And of course to pick up some writing tips from a real-life author. Naturally, the best place and time to do both is a book launch. So there am I, on a pre-east coast low cold and rainy Wednesday (31st May 2016) at…
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Light, Inspiration and Chocolate : Vivid Sydney 2016
On a reluctant impulse, I went to Vivid Sydney on a Sunday night (29th May 2016). I would have preferred to stay home. I would have preferred a movie. In either case I was too tired for both and decided against falling asleep for money at the Dendy Cinemas. Rather than feeling sorry for myself…
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This Teleconference Has Been Postponed…
At last! Another opportunity to catch up on the backlog of outstanding work. A teleconference! I dialed in, entered the meeting identification, my pin and spoke my name. Then I placed my phone in hands-off mode and muted myself. I knew I was safe because: As people signed into the teleconference, I started to listen absently.…
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Walking Through Pendulums
A few weeks ago, I checked out Sydney Biennale‘s the Embassy of the Real at Cockatoo Island. Cockatoo Island is a now heritage listed former factory and shipyard and is fascinating in its own right. But what I found fascinating were some of the exhibits of the Embassy of the Real including the dirigible on the left. But…
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From Melbourne to Sydney
One often says of oneself as a child, this is where I grew up. But to me, at least, one doesn’t realise that one has grown up until one leaves that place and returns. Yes I grew up in Canowindra (New South Wales). I grew up too in Kiama (New South Wales). And then Canberra…