Almanac Life: A Human’s Guide to Pandemic Living (for-areas-yet-to-reach-Level-6)

July 24, 2020 by 6 Comments

Some timely advice for us all about pandemic living, the ‘Human’s Guide to Pandemic Living’ from ER.

Almanac Life – 18 Years of James: Happy Birthday!

July 24, 2020 by 2 Comments

We may be in the midst of a pandemic, but Anna Pavlou’s younger brother is 18 today. In a touching piece, Anna describes her bond with her sibling whilst growing up in a loving household.

Almanac Life: Special Subject – ‘Revolver’

July 24, 2020 by 17 Comments

Smokie Dawson is bit of a trivia buff. How and why he remembers all the ‘stuff’ is one of life’s great mysteries. With the ‘Revolver’ album as his special subject he’d cream any question Jennifer Byrne would ask him. [Perhaps a Footy Almanac Trivia night is on the cards? – ED.]

Almanac Reviews: These Treasures – Old Dog on the joy of a book

July 23, 2020 by 12 Comments

Find out why Damian Balassone’s recent book, ‘A Strange Game in a Strange Land’ is a treasure trove of delights for Matt Zurbo.

Almanac Life: A Pretty Possessive Apostrophe

July 22, 2020 by 16 Comments

The joy of an apostrophe is a delight to behold explains Mickey Randall.

Everyday Obituaries: T.E. Harms, my father (1931-2010)

July 22, 2020 by 37 Comments

When, recently, John Harms reprised his piece about the 2010 Preliminary Final between Geelong and Collingwood, the night his father T.E. Harms died, he mentioned that he would go looking for the eulogy from his father’s funeral. Numerous people contacted him to encourage him to publish it. Well, this is it, published today, July 21, his father’s birthday.

Almanac Poetry: When Johnstone’s Circus Came to Town

July 21, 2020 by 4 Comments

Kevin Densley looks back and reflects upon a circus he went to as a kid. To say not everything went as smoothly as he thought it would is an understatement! (Note: he doesn’t use the real name of the circus concerned, which in any case he has forgotten!)

Marvel

July 20, 2020 by 5 Comments

We’re lucky enough to witness a second generation Daicos these days and those of us fortunate enough to have seen both players will enjoy this poem about the original marvel by Damian Balassone.

Almanac History: VFL Footballers at the Battle of Fromelles July 19 1916

July 19, 2020 by 5 Comments

The Battle of Fromelles in World War I, July 1916, resulted in tragic loss of Australian soldiers’ lives, including some VFL footballers. Allan Grant has completed this new article in remembrance of those men.

Round 7 – Geelong v Collingwood: Foggy Days

July 17, 2020 by 8 Comments

Nicole Kelly has plenty of time for reflection on her daily commute, getting home and watching the Pies have a good win was just the tonic she needed.

Almanac Flashback: Fishing for a non-fisherman

July 17, 2020 by 7 Comments

WARNING: This story filled with beautiful images of sunsets, good red and fishing off the coast of WA will likely exacerbate any Monday morning back-to-work gloom you are feeling. Col reprises a story from a few years ago.

Almanac Music – Aussie album review: The Triffids ‘Born Sandy Devotional’

July 17, 2020 by 12 Comments

After a hiatus, Smokie is back with the fourteenth in his look-backs at classic Australian albums. This time it is the Triffids’ 1986 masterpiece ‘Born Sandy Devotional’.

Almanac Life: Looking back in lockdown

July 17, 2020 by 21 Comments

Nostalgia, going home, the innocence of childhood, living life – 50 years down the track, Dips O’Donnell remembers and relishes a rich tapestry.

Round 6 – Haiku Bob: no tomorrow

July 16, 2020 by 1 Comment

Haiku Bob and his dog – friends in an ISO world – tuned in to see his ‘Pies take on the Hawks.

Italian Team of the Century: Ian Stewart (Cervi)

July 16, 2020 by 6 Comments

To coincide with Ian Stewart’s appearance on ‘Open Mike’ we reprise Tony De Bolfo’s in depth profile of his family’s Italian heritage.
First published in 2010.

Almanac Life: ‘The Hunting of the Snark’ (or ‘Lessons for, and from, a life in policing’).

July 14, 2020 by 9 Comments

Danny Russell, known to Almanac readers as nonshedders, marks his retirement from the Tasmanian police with this insightful swansong. [Wise words, thanks Danny. JTH]

A Pensee on Bastille Day

July 14, 2020 by 1 Comment

To celebrate Bastille Day, Matt Harvey offers a few football related thoughts, experiences and observations.

Day 107 – Time of Coronavirus

July 10, 2020 by 9 Comments

Another day in the life of ER in the time of coronavirus so eloquently told in his inimitable style.

Almanac (Sports) History: John Curtin, PM…and footy lover.

July 10, 2020 by 15 Comments

John Curtin was not only a great Prime Minister of Australia during the most challenging of times, he also had a genuine love for sport especially football as Adam Muyt recounts.

Almanac Cricket: A Feast of Cricket in India

July 9, 2020 by 4 Comments

Cricket, India and artist John Campbell make for a compelling palette to draw in the sports-lover, the eye and the taste buds. It’s all here in one enchanting story.