Author Archives: Topher

Black Friday 2024 (Aussie edition)

Posted on December 1, 2024 by Topher

Black Friday (BF) is the US’s biggest shopping day. Say no more. Here, retailers have caught on. This year, many stores have started their BF deals a week earlier. For the uninitiated, BF unfolds on the day after Thanksgiving, the … Continue reading →

Posted in fashion, reviews | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A Rare Dialogue with ‘The Comma Poet’

Posted on December 1, 2024 by Topher

If you could meet a historical figure, who would it be and why? For me, Ernest Hemingway is the most obvious choice. He didn’t pen a dozen books, go to wars, and travel the world, if he wasn’t a gifted … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Literary | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘Strange Nights’

Posted on November 17, 2024 by Topher

Note: This account is based on a past friendship. He lives with his mum in Fairfield, NSW. They’re neighbours with my auntie. Parents are long divorced. His younger brother, Clement, has since worked in the UK. Nerdy, he went to … Continue reading →

Posted in movies, Past edited work | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Cobra, why?

Posted on November 9, 2024 by Topher

What are we to make of snakes? Not your average pet, they’re not as popular as cats and dogs. Instead, we see them in zoos and reptile parks. History is littered with cautionary tales of the serpent. (See also: Adam … Continue reading →

Posted in netflix, Past edited work, pets, TV | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Garage Man

Posted on October 26, 2024 by Topher

James was his first name but we christened him ‘Jackfruit’ Conked out in our toothless neighbour’s laundry room, until he had to scoot Penniless and homeless, Jackfruit was going back to sleeping rough Seeing him pack up brought me great … Continue reading →

Posted in Literary, Past edited work, reviews | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

October 2024 reads

Posted on October 20, 2024 by Topher

This marks my first inventory after August’s Winter Reads. I’ve crested three more. First was Storm Child by Michael Robotham. The Aussie crime maestro shines with this page turner. With each entry into his series, he raises the bar. Further … Continue reading →

Posted in basketball, Books, reviews, Sport | Leave a comment

‘The Replacements’

Posted on October 12, 2024 by Topher

List the locales you will consider to escape the cost of living crisis in Australia. We live in a dog-eat-dog world. Bite or get bitten. Prices in the Great Southern Land are on the rise. This trend will continue. Interest … Continue reading →

Posted in culture and politics, reviews, Travel | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Dead Ref Day

Posted on October 5, 2024 by Topher

This past week, we replaced our ref. The old one lasted for almost sixteen years. The right size too, and energy efficient. In 2014, a technician installed a new fan/heater. Recently, it acted up when the weather was Saharan. On … Continue reading →

Posted in cooking, reviews | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Word of the Month

Posted on September 14, 2024 by Topher

What’s your favorite word? At the moment, the phrase ‘conked out’ represents my favourite English words. I first encountered it in Stephen King’s 2019 novel, The Institute. The expression may mean a) asleep b) passed out or c) silenced. The … Continue reading →

Posted in culture and politics, Literary | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Hoarder of Chucky Street

Posted on September 7, 2024 by Topher

On the fringes of humanity, beyond the realm of decorum and sensibility As you fixate on typos, malapropisms, and tenses, before guzzling a calzone They’re shown foraging through mountains of trash Upon them a radical regression; yearning only to make … Continue reading →

Posted in Literary, Past edited work | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment