Why do we fear ghosts and all things supernatural on this day in particular? The customs of Halloween go back centuries and are so deeply steeped in religion and tradition that nothing about this tradition seems strange when you understand where it comes from. Yet, I never grew up with Halloween.
Read more: Halloween - myth or money?
It was 1939. My two older sisters and I were riding our bikes to school and Mum told Dad that she had heard a lady say “those Kirke children are strange, the eldest girl (Margery) rides along singing, the next girl (Mickey) whistles, and the boy talks to himself " … it's all true. In fact, I am not at all surprised that a couple of cats actually answer.
Read more: I remember when... I was one of those strange Kirke kids
My wife and are very fortunate to have been able to travel extensively and frequently. This trip on the Trans-Siberian Railway was the longest and one of the stand-out experiences of our lives. These days, with travel having been so severely limited, it is good to be able to share memories of past journeys and past experiences.
Lines are drawn on maps and continents carved up according to some pre-ordained or directed order: create a country, a state or a new political identity by drawing a pen line on a map.
Someone, somewhere, decides that this is where a border will go and so shall it be. The worker ants scurry off to carry out the master's orders.
When we line up to vote we do so because we naively believe that our vote means something. We listen to the policies and promises of each political party and decide which is the best fit for us.
Read more: The plunder in their pockets - at what cost Australia?
The Devil Didn’t Make ’Em Do It, and Neither Did the Pandemic.
A spectre is haunting discussions of the economy — the spectre of Covid agency. Almost from the very moment unprecedented government actions were announced worldwide to stop the spread of Covid-19, people became accustomed to referring to the virus as a sentient being with the ability to bend people to its will.
The killing of Gaddafi 10 years ago has resulted in the death of the nation of Libya and the destruction of its people
I have been thinking a lot about the impact that music has made on my life. Romanic moments when you danced with your loved one , sat and listened to a song together, been in a crowd when a choir sang a particular song . The piece of music that the Organist played for your wedding. Your choice .. your favourite song that meant something to you and your sweetheart.
During WW2, my grandmother used to take me to every official event that was held to honour our fighting servicemen and women. That is what grandmothers did and I loved the excitement of a day out and the chance to see a dive bomber in flight and a day to see a Vultee Vengeance.
I was 8 years old and it was 1943.
Read more: I remember when... biscuits, bombers and parades were patriotic
Recently, a young man I know preparing for the HSC had to write an essay contrasting the saying that Australia discovered its identity at Gallipoli from both a traditional and revisionist viewpoint.
Russia’s northernmost town, where people get KNOCKED OVER by Arctic winds and get power from a FLOATING NUCLEAR reactor. A cold Aussie beer or a vodka on ice? I will leave it up to you.
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