Space Voting!
We touched down on the surface of the planet we’d named, ‘Zangerlünd’ with no problems and, as usual we all pressed our noses to the portholes to get the first view of the new place. It was yellow, sandy but… Continue Reading
The Horse Came into the Bar
O’Keefe sat at the bar and told me that he was going to retire before the business killed him. As ever, he was wearing his old grey mac, sipping a stout and had just stubbed out a Carrolls cigarette before… Continue Reading
The Peace from her sleep
Beyond the peace that flowed from her sleep Was a dark room, a cold place. Deeply moved by kind wishes, We stood in the tidal grief, Washing us into sand, Ground down by the apparent eternity, Of her brief life.… Continue Reading
Lucky Boy
Lucky boy rescued Gave me this wonderful picture Of freedom At the start of that long Spring evening. Lovely rescued boy Cornered on a sixpence Madly happy Barking, bouncing, playing ball Lovely, lucky boy Now jumps up and chases Everything… Continue Reading
The Swing of Things
The swing of things Around here Today Resulted in a contagion Like love on holiday (Remarking to you Around there that day That you should smile Was stupid and remiss) The swing of things Around here Today Is… Continue Reading
On the Death of a Child & Trigger Warnings
The problem with Trigger Warnings is that they often exacerbate the pain than they seek to protect us from. They also propose a world where healing from many different traumas is homogenised into a synthetic mass agreement on what constitutes pain, damage, confrontation or peace. The synthesis is too simplistic and is in fact more demagogic than pedagogic: it speaks to a mass lie of consensus rather than enabling people to learn their way through their horrors. Continue Reading
Not Missing
You are missed You are not missing. You’re up on Cavendish Way Or School Street Or the council estate by the church. In your room, waiting. New habits come hard Developing tunnel vision You search out the light.… Continue Reading
After the Doors Open Again
Crisp snow Outside Under a cloudy, blue sky With friends Vinegar fries Outside The chip shop We are drunk Loud music Inside The Social Club We all dance New baby Inside A calm hospital All renewed … Continue Reading
How to Make Risotto
This recipe was taught to me when I lived in Leichhardt in Sydney. It’s a risotto-base to which you can add whatever ingredients you like at the end. There are many risotto recipes, this is mine. TL;DR Version There is… Continue Reading
How to Make a Good and Useful Stock
A good stock is a marvellous, beautiful wonderful liquid that you can use as the base for soups, stews, pie-fillings, risottos, pilaf/pilau. Here’s how I do it. The first and most important thing to remember is never to add salt… Continue Reading