Today, flags are half mast at the Country Fire Service office at Naracoorte and I remembered. Days after I watched TV and the dust storm cover cities in red dirt, hot air blasted the trees, throwing eucalypt branches into the community swimming lake where I was having lessons. The water was cool, even if I didn't … Continue reading A memory
Writing
Review: Knightfall
What with my new HEMA past time, I want to love Knightfall, but so far (after two episodes), it's more like curious skepticism. I will keep watching...it's just, well. Let's get medieval on this. On the side of the Angels: Yes to sets and landscapes. Yes to castle keeps and cathedrals. Yes to swords. Yes … Continue reading Review: Knightfall
Review: Bewildering and bewonderment
I finally watched 2016's Hunt for the Wilderpeople last night. It was written and directed by Taika Waititi, whose screenplay was based on Barry Crump's novel Wild Pork and Watercress. Oh, it's a sweet film. Funny, astute, sad, and serious without schmaltz. Casting was superb with Sam Neill as Hec and Julian Dennison as Ricky Baker … Continue reading Review: Bewildering and bewonderment
A course in uncommonplaces
I signed up for Catherine Ann Jones' Way of Story online course. Partly as a pick-me-up because the writing for the last few months has been absent except for posts here, and seemingly endless job applications. If you haven't heard of Catherine Ann Jones', don't worry, I hadn't either. Turns out she is an actor/playwright/writing … Continue reading A course in uncommonplaces
Over the edge of the world
Farewell and vale Ursula Le Guin. Thank you for going down a left-handed path, and showing the likes of me a way. Even if I am late, and lost, and have not yet tapped all the stories stored in the container of my imagination. Thus, I am reading, again, your essay "The Carrier Bag Theory … Continue reading Over the edge of the world
Writing the dark side
In a writing group a member explained she had been criticised by a teacher for creative writing which featured a bleak theme. She was told no one reads dark stories. This is clearly wrong. I think her teacher meant "I don't read bleak stories." Of course our group came up with examples that contradicted her … Continue reading Writing the dark side
UnReview: Triennial
I've visited the National Gallery of Victoria's Triennial twice now and I can firmly say I've not experienced everything. There is so much to see some art is skipped, but on the other hand, the scale of many works means that much is simply unmissable. So yes, reclining Buddha, check. Giant skulls filling a gallery, … Continue reading UnReview: Triennial
Review: Double the hot takes
Here's your two for one review of The Last Jedi and Twice Upon A Time Doctor Who Christmas Special. Because, to quote the classics, why can't we do both? If you think, like me, too much about these things the themes of each converge on memory, life and loss, and decisions in quiet moments that change … Continue reading Review: Double the hot takes
All aboard….or not
I saw Justice League but also Murder on the Orient Express, starring a mustache. I required escapism from both, and instead discovered meditations on grief, women stepping up, revenge, transformation, and forgiveness (as well as solving problems through ze little grey cells, gentle teasing, and extreme violence). No one needed this new version of Agatha Christie's … Continue reading All aboard….or not
Keeping an eye out for shiny things
One of the things I like about language is how it can become specialised. Last year I learned (a little) of the language of archery. This year, I am learning something of the language quilters use (interestingly it is very American, even though quilts predate the US of A). The other day I attended the … Continue reading Keeping an eye out for shiny things
Writing Bec 