A handsome young man, about to inherit wealth and is a darling of society, has his portrait painted. The likeness to its subject is uncanny, and in a careless moment, Gray exchanges his soul so that he may always look like his painting. He gets his wish; and as the portrait turns ugly, reflecting the…
I picked up some books the other day I’d had on layby for a while. They were: I’ve already begun “Reading like a Writer”, and it’s been very difficult – not to read, but to handle. I’m so used to buying second-hand books that a new one to me is as fragile as a newborn…
It’s been a funny ole’ week. Since last Saturday, when I put the question of the blogging book to the populace (and got a subdued reaction – although I appreciate the opinions that were expressed), my mind has been full of thoughts of grandeur. I was going to begin my own little publishing company. I…
“Hi!” says a boy, running up to me in an indoor play centre on the weekend. “Hi!” says I. “My mum has a baby in her belly.” “That’s fantastic news. You’re going to be a big brother.” “My mum’s already had three babies die in her belly,” says the boy, unfazed. “Oh.” God, what can…
The ‘great idea’ I had was this: There is a proliferation of awards floating around the bloggersphere. Good ones; warranted ones. But is there a book of these available? Do “Best Blog Posts – 2006” (for example) exist, much like, say, this book? I haven’t seen any, but then again, there’s not much of a…
Since I’ve been sick and have had to take to my bed for the past few days, I’ve come to discover something about myself: that is, though I am ill, even during that time, I am pretty much the same control freak as I ever am. That said, I kind of have to be. Otherwise,…
Maurice is dry witted writer who runs into an old friend one night in a rainstorm. Henry, a boring civil servant, has a problem. He believes his wife, Sarah, has taken a lover and is unsure what to do next. Maurice offers to hire a detective to follow her, but little does Henry realise that…
Last night was the bloggers meetup here in Melbourne and after umming-and-ahhing about whether to go or not for a week or so, I said, “Bugger it. I’m going.” So this entailed me spending the afternoon deciding what to wear whilst a sick little boy clung to my leg, and the other sick child, luckily,…
Note the snot! Yep – the cold weather is upon us now, dammit! Edited to add: Adam drew this picture. It is of Riley, not me…
