It is time I stopped being self indulgent. It is time I contributed to your well being. I wish to show you something that will enhance your life. Today I made strawberry jam. For anyone who does not speak English Strawberry Jam has been known in some places as Strawberry Conserve. The making thereof is very satisfying and I believe that we can all learn … Continue reading Lambrusco and the art of jam making.

Preface:- It all began with the Known World Bookshop story if you need to be reminded. LINK James has no grandparent and neither has he a father. I only know him through my wanders around town on sunny Sunday evenings and the first time was when I was tired and sat on the low brick fence in front of their house. His, and his mother’s. … Continue reading The Problem of Time.

South of the Grampians in Western Victoria.   Ditto. Continue reading Under the shade

His mother drove James home and he went straight to her bedroom and sat waiting patiently looking at the Polar Bear on the bedside table on his father’s side of the bed. He wasn’t meant to touch it because it was a special thing for his mother to keep to remind her of James’ father who had died. “Yes, Darling. You can take it with … Continue reading The Polar Bears

The story so far. You may skip the introduction if you are up to date. There is a bookshop. It important that you know this. At the bottom of the stairs there is a door to the Unknown World. It is here that the adventures start. Our protagonist sets out on an Adventure to the other side of the world. He arrives and meets a … Continue reading James and a New Adventure – Perhaps.

This is not my poem. It is from a book that a beautiful Syrian girl gave me. Her father actually was the one who gave it. I found the book today as I was moving boxes. He recited it in the original language and he said it was a dialect of Tajik. He recited each line and she told me in English what he had … Continue reading Leave the desert!

James was only a young boy but his brain was working hard. He was trying to understand his visit to see Mr Knifton and Widdle the fox. It was ‘That’s the ticket’ that had him wondering. The ticket. Did the whole trip depend on the ticket? When he entered the ‘Known World Bookshop’ he had his fox in his hand and he ended up visiting … Continue reading James cogitates.

Total silence when I woke up at ten past four this morning. Clear skies and a bright moon. All was still. Make what you want of the shot. But it was the silence that tempted me to go outside. I took one shot and it was too cold to try to get a better one.   Continue reading 4.10 am

My doctor said it’s tinnitus. What is? The ringing in your ears. What’s the treatment? There is none. But I don’t notice it when there are different noises surrounding me. Like what noises? Well traffic in the road outside, and the television, and when I can hear the refrigerator humming. Actually the fridge is humming and I can still hear it. How long has it … Continue reading The diagnosis.

Lake Wendouree. Ballarat.  Continue reading Solitary #11