Don’t pity the basalt block that resides underfoot in the cobblestone road. Horses and carts; buses and motorcycles have traversed these stones for centuries. And what are we, after all, without purpose? Pity instead the slab of marble. It was once a part of a living organism, residing on the bottom of the ocean. It … Continue reading Don’t Pity the Cobblestones
Aeolus drags his finger through the sand. His mind is wandering aimlessly. He retraces the line in reverse. He digs a deep furrow as he ponders the power of Zeus. “If Zeus merely sneezes his people bow down to him. I am only the god of the wind. If a sailor has a bad day … Continue reading Aeolus
As another seaplane comes in to land, Giacomo fires up the speedboat and heads out with his drum of petrol. He cuts the motor and drifts up to the plane, stopping within millimetres of the plane’s left float. The pilot flops some money in Giacomo’s hand and he ties the plane to the mooring and … Continue reading Showdown on Lake Como
Every morning I head out at 5:20am. Sometimes I leave at 5:21, sometimes I make it by 5:19. I hop in my truck, warm her up until the digital clock hits 5:24, and by the time it’s 5:30 I’m turning onto the highway on my way to the distribution centre. My next door neighbour doesn’t … Continue reading The Murder
Many years ago a stream bisected my route. It was too wide to jump lest I should ruin my shoes. The hide was not stripped from a cow’s rump to so readily go to waste. In search of the largest branch I found that alas, there were none. There stream did however run by a … Continue reading The Stream
As the voyage drags on, the steerage cabin fills to the brim. My fellow passengers are gradually losing all their money to the banker who, each night, cleans up our savings in a game of Mexican monte. He’s the only passenger aboard who can afford to sleep in first-class, but he’ll be staying with us … Continue reading The Island
I have been in Rome, Paris, Berlin, Athens, Amsterdam, Sicily, the Canary Islands and a lot of other places in the world. I loved them all. I have had plenty of adventures to tell about my stay in every one of these places. I enjoy my incredible life. Did I tell you when I entered … Continue reading The World Traveller
Waiting... The sun is toasty. Still waiting... The view is sweet. Too bad the three teenagers aren’t here to taste the sweetness of the view. They’re here to raise the alarm when bitterness arrives on the horizon. “I’ll rip out my eyes,” says one, “so I can leave them on watch while I go for … Continue reading Hardtack
"Amazing flowers. Don't you think?" Said Ernesto. "Do not touch them, we do not know if they are not poisonous." Said Mario Ernesto responded "Why should we be so afraid of a flower that looks exactly like a lily?" "But, it can produce some inconvenience to us... allergies, rashes, whatever..." "Look," said Ernesto, "they have … Continue reading The Flowers
“At times the ruts are deep - its gets messy, muddy and mucky. At other times it’s smooth bitumen.” I’m on the phone with dad who’s keen to try out his new smart-phone. He’s driven many dirt roads and sheep-tracks in his lifetime. He crossed the Nullarbor Plain, Explored the Simpson Desert and Tackled the … Continue reading The Difficult Road
Tandi Tales 