Success is a five-letter word —

Last update before launch — In an increasingly short time I’m off on my first big trip since the pandemic. A weekend away at a booklovers convention in Scotland. My nine-flight itinerary Canberra to Edinburgh and back is reasonably complex but — apart from a tight transfer in Sydney on the way home — it…

Working out how to get there and back — The pandemic interrupted the orderly flow of annual BookCrossing.com conventions. Every April since 2004 a city somewhere around the world has hosted a convention to celebrate the anniversary of the site: St Louis, Christchurch, London, Toronto, Amsterdam, Melbourne, Gothenburg, Bordeaux… I’ve attended most of them, not to mention various more…

Back to travel with an adventure to a magic realm — (Not a Medium Member? Read the story for free here.) Menu The last stamp The problem with long-haul Transit and lounges Transit hotels Business Flying Make mine a stopover Now, about that home travel forum The last stamp My passport makes for sad reading. The last time it saw any serious action — apart…

Well, maybe… — In days gone by there was no question. Sovereignty stemmed from the sovereign, that is, the monarch. It may be best to define our terms. Let’s start with sovereignty. Sovereignty: noun. 1. supreme power or authority. 2. the authority of a state to govern itself or another state. — Oxford…

Writing a Novel Like Stacking Lego Blocks — ‍Are you an aspiring author looking to make it big in the literary world? Writing a novel is a daunting task, but with the right tools and techniques, you can create a masterpiece that will stand the test of time. In this blog post, we’ll discuss how to write a…

19/20 don’t know — We’re having a referendum next year. We cannot make any changes to the Constitution without a referendum. Think about it. The fundamental document, the legislation underlying all Australian law, and only we the people can change it. Not lawyers and judges and politicians. Us. The average schmuck in the street. …

Generalising the human condition — It is an easy way to demolish an opponent in discussion. If they say something profound, giving their words a universal dimension, then just declare: I see you are familiar with that soldier known as General Ising. I saw this tactic deployed in a discussion on To Kill a Mockingbird…

Listening to the Christmas Speech — This Christmas I might just listen to something I usually give a miss: the Queen’s Speech. Because this year it won’t be. For the first time in my memory, it will be the King’s Speech. Like most Australians, Her Late Majesty became Queen Elizabeth II before I was born. I…