A bit of a storm on the way mate.
D’ya reckon it’ll rain later Jacko? Ahh, mate! Dunno. Y’ never can tell this time of the year. Wadda you reckon? I reckon it might. Continue reading A bit of a storm on the way mate.
A dog called Molly.
She missed him still. How long had it been? Four years? No. Charlie was four next month and Charlie was three when his father had died. He remembered him. Charlie remembered him. She missed him, missed his words, missed the routine. “Did you put the cat out?” she would ask as he came to bed. And he would tell her, every night, “Yes Darling. I … Continue reading A dog called Molly.
My Father
He built a house with his own hands in the middle of thousands of acres of wilderness. He cut down trees and sowed grass and grew sheep. At night we sat at the table – all of us together. There was no TV to distract us. After dinner he pushed the dishes away and pulled down the Bible and read a passage. We took God … Continue reading My Father
A new prescription
“I’ve got a favour to ask of you John. And you’ll be doing yourself a kindness at the same time.” That is the way it began with my doctor, Matthew, when I saw him the other day. All I needed was a renewal of a prescription for my dicky heart. “I read your story last night about your brother and yourself and Vietnam.” “I had … Continue reading A new prescription
Spider Wasp.
Some time ago I needed to move a load of timber and when I lifted one plank I came across a nest. The nest was made of paper (Chewed up plant material mixed with the parent insect’s saliva) and in each cocoon. I thought I had found a European wasps’ nest but some research has led me to believe that this was a nest of … Continue reading Spider Wasp.
Adding a bit of light #2
So Bear and Tyabb were out there chatting away but it was quite hard to take a photograph because they stopped what they were doing. Anyway just four shots and no commentary. Continue reading Adding a bit of light #2
Adding a bit of light
“If there was a light in the tree,” I overheard Tyabb saying to Bear, “then we could come out here at night and talk to them.” I stopped what I was doing to listen. Tyabb and Bear were intent upon something. “Would you like me to ask him?” Bear suggested. “Not directly. I’m sure we would be more successful if we got him to think … Continue reading Adding a bit of light
Surviving years and years.
We are irises on a hilltop. We’ve been here for years and years. First was a goldmine and then came the miners and then the families and then a school. How old are we, asked the irises and I had to say I didn’t know. You wouldn’t have been here back in Napoleon’s time. Nor when the American civil war raged. But maybe then; … Continue reading Surviving years and years.
The Insurance Premium
He didn’t want to go. Every year at this time of the year the phone call comes. Every year at this time of the year their sister turns on the barbecue and sends out the call to duty. Danny brought cold salad last year so do you want to do the salad this year? If you really want to know he said in his head … Continue reading The Insurance Premium
The Bridge at the Snake Valley turn-off.
If you take the turn-off on the road to Linton just where the Pittong kaolin works are and take the Snake Valley road there’s a bridge that crosses a small pond; where the old railway was. “So you’re still here!” I said and the bridge wondered if I was talking to it or to the pond and I said it didn’t matter I was talking … Continue reading The Bridge at the Snake Valley turn-off.
Paol Soren 