Turack was sitting on a bale near the loading bay of the shearing shed eating some home-made rice concoction from a plastic tub and staring out into the cool morning air. ‘How long have you been shearing’ I said. ‘About ten years’ ‘So what’s the secret to it?’ I asked. He smiled and looked out … Continue reading How Stories Matter
‘I haven’t led for a few months’ she said. ‘I want to build back up to it, but I’m not fit enough yet’ It was twenty years ago for me, but I could recall how leading a climb is appreciably more dangerous, especially when you are putting your own protection in. But how that extra … Continue reading The Power of Commitment
It seems like this year has had a bit of a theme – that what you see along your personal path might only look reasonable to you. I’ve seen a guy build a luxury hotel in my old town. Which is right out on the edge of the mallee, sits on about 40m of clay, … Continue reading On Being Unreasonable
During WWII, Churchill was asked to cut funding for the arts. He replied, ‘Then what are we fighting for?’ I first read that quote maybe 10 years ago and I so wish it was true but I’m pretty sure Churchill never said anything like it. I like the sentiment though. I like how Tim Winton … Continue reading Useless Beauty and When the Going Gets Weird
We rolled through the village not long after the rising sun had started to glow through the orange-brown filter of smoke haze. What photographers and film-makers call the 'golden hour' of beautiful light just before dawn and dusk, lasts until eleven and starts again at two in India. We passed a throng of men huddled … Continue reading Pictures only stored in my mind
We drove the quiet streets of NaTrang at dawn. Twelve hours on the battered highway from DaNang and we fell out of that mini-van barely able to walk. In a concrete Russian built hotel across the street from the beach, that soft bed should have been the most delicious thing in the world. But, as … Continue reading Nha Trang
There is some dispute about how we met; but Hera has had so many other adventures that the one she had with me is probably in the shade, so I reckon we go with my version. Checking in for a flight in Singapore, something makes me glance down to see what this blondie has on … Continue reading The Brave One
I'd been watching these two play chess in the afternoon for a few weeks. For someone who loves taking photos of people I lack the pushiness that's required to stick a camera in a strangers face uninvited. But this afternoon I just walked up and asked if they'd mind me taking their picture. They made me … Continue reading The Grandmaster and the Galah
It begins with the far-off sound of drums. Fading in and out and washed my way by the same breeze that’s rustling the rice stalks like a sweeping hand. Then as I walk towards town, the beat gets stronger and under the high-pitched rat-tat-tat that's traveled the furthest, there's the boom of the heavy drums, … Continue reading Burning the demons
You’ll never know what worse luck your bad luck just saved you from. Cormac McCarthy wrote that in ‘No Country for Old Men’ and I recall it every time I think of the occasional character who’s dealt me a hard life-lesson. Tyrants can be our greatest teachers and while I’m thanking them through gritted … Continue reading Finding the switch
Kingsley Flett 