Almanac Travel: Dodgy haircuts and arrival in Chicago

June 28, 2024 by 2 Comments

As he travels by train to Chicago, Ian Wilson has reason to muse on childhood haircuts.

Almanac (Writing) Memoir: My First Cricket Book

June 9, 2024 by 4 Comments

Bernard Whimpress remembers the six wonderful months it took, working with his great mate, the late Nigel Hart, to write his first cricket book.

Mystery Pub: Shostakovich liked a snort

May 29, 2024 by 10 Comments

The Port Admiral is this week’s mystery pub. Mickey Randall reports on his findings.

Menin Gate At Midnight

April 25, 2024 by 10 Comments

Smokie Dawson explains why he attends the Williamstown ANZAC Day Dawn Service each year, and the importance of the painting, ‘Menin Gate At Midnight’ by Will Longstaff. (Reprised from April 2022 – Ed.)

Almanac Life: When Was The Last Time You Popped In?

March 13, 2024 by Leave a Comment

Has the ritual of “popping in” to a friend’s house gone by the wayside? Ian Wilson believes so.

Meeting The Sportswriter author, Richard Ford

March 7, 2024 by 19 Comments

Mickey Randall recounts his “McCartney moment”, meeting his literary hero Richard Ford at the Adelaide Writers’ Week

Almanac Life: On the Glenelg Surf Club, Vampire Weekend, and Roast Beef

February 23, 2024 by 7 Comments

Mickey Randall recalls some of the activities he and Claire participated in this month including, visiting a surf club, listening to music, and cooking a roast.

Almanac Communities: Smokie’s Williamstown

February 13, 2024 by 3 Comments

Smokie Dawson writes about life in Williamstown in an opinion piece in today’s edition of ‘The Age’.

Almanac Christmas: Paul Kelly’s “How to Make Gravy” and me

December 25, 2023 by 22 Comments

Mickey Randall’s favourite Christmas song, Paul Kelly’s “How to Make Gravy”, is twenty-two. But it seems as though it’s been around forever. Like Love Actually, which premiered in 2003, they’re both part of the festive furniture, and signal the season’s arrival. Mickey explains.

Almanac Memoir: A Mallee Christmas

December 24, 2023 by 7 Comments

Hayden Kelly remembers classic Mallee Christmases and the freedom of summer holidays.

Almanac Communities: Some reflections on a small town community hall

December 22, 2023 by 4 Comments

Allan Barden reflects upon the spirit of the small community hall, the life and soul of many small towns, their activities and organisations bringing immense pleasure over many generations for those communities.

Almanac Family: Mum Knows Best

November 27, 2023 by 5 Comments

Ian Wilson remembers his much loved mother and the lessons in life he learned from her.

Almanac Life: Royal Mechanic Mick, Prince Ronnie of Renmark and the HK Holden.

September 26, 2023 by 1 Comment

Johno ‘Snowy’ Nugent has been reading about ‘The Beautiful Car’ in John Harms ‘Play On’ and has written him another letter.

Almanac Footy: They’re The Boys From Werribee

September 22, 2023 by 3 Comments

Ian Wilson was a member of the Werribee FC’s first premiership in 1993, and 30 years later he is hoping for another Werribee premiership in the VFL Grand Final next weekend against Gold Coast.

Almanac Memoir: Uncle Colin

September 1, 2023 by 2 Comments

Kevin Densley has written a short memoir about his Uncle Colin, a tough man who grew up in ‘God’s Country’.

Almanac (Sporting) Life: Lyndon ‘Beefy’ Andrews – A Lifetime Watching

August 2, 2023 by 2 Comments

Lyndon ‘Beefy’ Andrews and his wife Marilyn have attended an abundance of sporting events across Australia and around the world from toad Races to World Cup Finals.

A Tribute to Fred ‘Chocka’ Bloch

July 27, 2023 by 216 Comments

Sadly, Fred ‘Chocka’ Bloch died this morning (July 24, 2023). In respect of a life superbly lived, we reprise Rulebook’s tribute to him:

Fred ‘Chocka’ Bloch (OAM) is an Adelaide University Football Club institution. In fact, some would argue that he IS the Adelaide University Footy Club. Rulebook Ashwood pays tribute to a man who’s had a considerable influence in his life.

[This is a dead-set Almanac Classic. Well-played Rulebook – Ed]

Almanac Life: A lesson from (Brother) Robo

July 24, 2023 by Leave a Comment

John Nugent recently told the story of meeting (and selling newspapers to) John Coleman. He follows up with a piece about a childhood influence.

Almanac Cricket (Memoir): Falling towards Headingley

July 9, 2023 by 12 Comments

John Harms remembers 1993, and his trip to the Headingley Test with T.G. White.

Almanac Life: Apollo 23

June 3, 2023 by 11 Comments

Having just turned sixty, Ian Wilson reflects upon life and mortality and the subtle life lessons passed onto him by his parents when he was young. [Very honest – Ed]