Sydney Storm
Some dogs smell them coming and hide under the hedge. Others smell them coming and spin on their chains in insane, barely comprehensible excitement. I relate to the latter.
Thanks for reading. This blog is an opportunity for me to capture some of the diversity of my writing interests. My muse tend to appear on my shoulder as I board an international flight although not all of my writing is inspired by travel and foreign places. These blogs have been the basis of a novel (Flowers of Baghdad) but there are a few other writing projects in progress besides. Please feel free to leave a comment. Or two.
Leunig Lessons For Life
It is that time of the year again when those of us who have resorted to online newspapers pick up a print copy – the Leunig calendar is out. Was out, on Saturday. His ability to distill the essence of an idea in a few simple lines, and convey a poignant message at the same…
Evel Knievel
Here is a chap who attempted to kill himself year on year and yet he managed to survive until his 69th year. Passed away from an illness or illnesses that may well have come about from bashing himself up with his motorcycles. And other vehicles.
A Land Flowing with Honey and Diesel
Recollections of an attempt to seize raw honeycomb from a live hive, nestled out of the way in a willow tree. A Land Flowing with Honey and Diesel A Story by PickledEel
Norman Mailer and Bad Sex
I do like this piece of news. It tickles my irony bone. So to speak. On my shelves I have a select handful of books on writing ( I know, I need more). Perhaps the most useful in terms of unleashing my pen has been Stephen King’s On Writing, a surprisingly well written piece on…
Singapore Sign of Our Times
Notice anything odd about this sticker? It is the reverse (inside) view of a Singapore car registration sticker. Taken as we drove up the freeway when its message caught my eye. It is pretty nondescript actually and I paid it no attention for most of the trip.
Snow Dump in New York
Thanksgiving 2003 We made it to the meeting this afternoon after scrubbing up and brushing the light dusting of snow out of our hair. But were feeling the cold. After slushing and sliding our way down through Manhattan we made it into the hospital and into the manager’s office.
What are the Churches Not Doing?
I am no social commentator, not do I have aspirations to be one. But as a “member” occasionally things just leap out and slap you when they point at our society and highlight our shortcomings. In the Sydney Morning Herald this weekend there was an interesting article about a small company which has built its…
Hidden Piper in Xian
It is a not uncommon cliche of those who observe China that these are a people comfortable being in close proximity with each other. They live right on top of each other and being comfortable around other human beings is something that is part of the their DNA it seems. Certainly they have a sense…
Drawing Attention to a Killer
Here is an interesting dilemma which I find rather intriguing. Take your spent fuel rods and bury them somewhere other than near the Hudson River. Then warn off the accidental and the curious who might want to dig the stuff up again – not a good idea if you are planning on dying in your…