A CONTINUATION OF THE STORY OF EDWARD RIDLEY In May 1933, police were called to a crime scene at a damp hovel below what had once been Ridley and Sons Department Store complex, on the Lower East Side of New York. The Ridley family had disposed of the property when the giant
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Hello from Editor Des, MY MUSHROOMS Well my guardian Pauline Conolly wrote a story about fungi the other day called Fungi: Flowers of the Fall . So I thought I would do a better one. Mine is about very special, magic mushrooms. I think you will love it
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The following photos were all taken at Blackheath, mostly in my garden or on the walk up to the village via Memorial Park or Robertson Lane. The scene that follows appeared in the Blue Mountains Gazette, when Blackheath had a bumper season a few years back. It
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WARNING – THERE ARE PICTURES OF SNAKES IN THIS ARTICLE. ALSO, I MUST POINT OUT THAT SNAKES ARE VERY INOFFENSIVE. THEY NORMALLY ONLY BITE WHEN CORNERED, OR WHEN SOMEONE IS TRYING TO KILL THEM. THEY ARE NOW PROTECTED IN AUSTRALIA, AS THEY CERTAINLY SHOULD BE. A BLIGHTED CHILDHOOD Being
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I grew up on a farm on the north west coast of Tasmania. In the late 1950’s a man came to see my father on some business or other. While he was there he produced a sugar bag which he carefully opened to show us what appeared to be the most
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WHAT’S IN A NAME? I recently expressed some disquiet over a book title chosen by a fellow member of a writers’ group. He was actually seeking advice on whether to include a blurb on the back cover of his memoir. Perhaps rightly, he was not impressed when
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It takes a particular personality to thrive in the Antarctic. It is harsh, yet breathtakingly beautiful. It is isolated, yet lacking in privacy for those who live and work there. David Barringhaus fits the bill; a tough, knock about Aussie who is also reflective and creative. It’s
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We writers are often rather introverted people. How cruel that after we write our books in our quiet little nests, we have to expose ourselves to the big wide world. Oh dear, giving talks and speaking on radio etc will always terrify me, no matter how
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My partner and I were driving to Sydney from the Blue Mountains one Sunday when we were caught up in the most horrendous traffic jam. After inching along for half an hour or so we were diverted off the Great Western Highway….into another dreadful jam. Apparently there
Read more →As many of my friends know, I have a great love for the sound of church bells. They ring to call the faithful to worship and to proclaim joyful events such as declarations of peace after war. They celebrate births and marriages and toll to commemorate the
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