Almanac Health: What to do when having a heart attack and you’re alone

Heart attacks occur on average every nine minutes in Australia. Here is some helpful advice if you are having an attack and there is no immediate help around.

A Hoppy Trinity of Outback Pubs

Claire and Mickey continue their honeymoon meander through regional South Australia, enjoying the array of wide experiences on offer at three local pubs.

Bruny Island oyster grower loves a furphy

Self-confessed ‘frustrated writer’ Lee Macefield entered the Furphy Literary Award competition and his story was chosen for the Anthology. He was interviewed for the ABC’s ‘Tasmanian Country Hour’.

Book Extract – Merger: The Fitzroy Lions and the Tragedy of 1996

Another extract from William Westerman’s book, ‘Merger: the Fitzroy Lions and the Tragedy of 1996’. Was this day the worst of a very grim season?

Almanac Music: ‘To Love Somebody’ – The Bee Gees

Col Ritchie has enjoyed the music of the Bee Gees for many years, especially the songs from the early stages of their career. Here are three of their great songs for your enjoyment.

Almanac Poetry: ‘Eddie Betts’s Shorts’ – Steve Rogers

Steve Rogers expresses his love of footy with memories of icons of the game, especially Eddie Betts’s shorts.

Almanac Poetry: ‘Fake Bacon’ – Tommy Mallet

The bush workers are famished, the cupboard is bare, the drink is talking as frustrations take over, and a dusty moth is oblivious to it all. Check out Tommy Mallet’s poem, ‘Fake Bacon’. [Warning: adult themes – Ed.]

Almanac Poetry: In the Good Old Days

This Tuesday’s poem from Kevin Densley concerns the typical profile of a serial killer back in ‘the good old days’.

Epitaph for a Triathlete

Sometimes you can’t have it all, as this Damian Balassone poem reflects.

Almanac Life: Our Honeymoon in Arkaroola

With the uncertainty of Covid border restrictions still a consideration, Mickey Randall and wife Claire opted for a road less travelled as their honeymoon destination. It soon became apparent why it was less travelled.

Almanac Life: The Painting

How many Almanackers have associated our regular columnist Smokie with the world of fine art? No? You Philistines! Here’s the tale to set you straight.

Almanac/Odd Friday Lunch: Andrew Stafford – Back On (Today!)

This lunch is BACK ON.
Andrew Stafford, music writer, footy writer, and lover of birds is the guest speaker at the next Footy Almanac/Odd Friday Lunch on Friday 7 May 2021. Details in this post.

Almanac Books: ‘Merger’ book launch

William Westerman’s book, ‘Merger’, will be launched at the North Fitzroy Arms Hotel on June 2nd. Details here.

Almanac Music: Vale – Denny Freeman (1944-2021)

Music legend Denny Freeman played with many greats including Bob Dylan and Stevie Ray Vaughan during his long career. Freeman had been based in Austin Texas from 1970 until his death last week aged 76. Col Ritchie had the pleasure of meeting Denny after a performance at the Saxon Hotel in Austin Texas 2014.

Almanac Poetry: ‘The German’ – Tommy Mallet

The bush is home for many people, a place to get away from it all, while for some, it’s a place to hide away from society like ‘The German’ in Tommy Mallet’s poem.

Almanac Poetry: Great Literary Fistfights of the Twentieth Century

When two giants of twentieth century American literature faced off (poet Wallace Stevens and ‘he-man’ Ernest Hemingway), it was no question who was really the winner.

Beer Review: Coopers Australian IPA

Mickey Randall emerges from the mists of freshly wedded bliss to pen a review of the latest amber nectar out of South Australia; Coopers Australian IPA.

Almanac Music: Jeff Lang at the Trinity Sessions

With live music slowly making a comeback, Greg A went to see Jeff Lang perform as part of the Trinity Sessions. He was blown away by Lang’s marvellous musical skills on a fine night.

Almanac Humour: Words That Make You Squirm

Do you have words that make you squirm? KD certainly does, and writes about one of them.

Almanac Life: The Grandfather

As he emerges from the fog of general anaesthetic, Smokie observes a fellow patient trying to cope with harsh reality of life’s wider struggles.