Fear, Then Acceptance
Richard Harris has the very best of advice for those who fear.
Home | Western Walkabout
March 22, 2010
March 15, 2010
Interesting Neighbors
…Various ladies pursued Hank at Parkwood but for one reason or another he avoided their embrace. There was a controlling Dutch divorcee, Grace, whom he used to refer to as Attila the Hen,..
Richard Harris pays tribute to a good neighbor and friend.
March 08, 2010
A Little Act Of Good
A little act of good can preserve a small life, as Richard Harris reveals.
March 01, 2010
How Perth Has Changed
Richard Harris expresses affection for the friendly unassuming city in which he has lived since 1962.
February 22, 2010
How To Write Your Best
…I knew a competent writer who did some of his best reporting on the back of a cigarette packet, in shorthand, using a soft pencil, while smoking a pipe…
Richard Harris reflects upon writing habits, including his own.
February 15, 2010
The Wongi Storyteller
An ancient story reminds Richard Harris of our shared ancestry.
February 08, 2010
Thoughts On Today’s Children
Richard Harris is struck by the thought that today's children are bigger and brighter than their parents.
February 01, 2010
How I’d Like To Die
Richard Harris contemplates the topic which most of us shy away from.
January 25, 2010
Coping With The Heat
Richard Harris gives good advice on how best to cope with hot weather.
January 11, 2010
Grumpy?
Richard Harris is convinced that he’s not a grumpy man. And yet…
January 04, 2010
The Ghost Was So Cold
...Fred searched around for signs of a break-in. Clearly nobody had come through the ceiling. On the outside walls, the mullioned windows were high and closed. He looked at the bench beneath them and saw no marks, nothing of import. Then he noticed one of the floor slabs was slightly loose.
“How very interesting,” he said. “Do you have a small crowbar or jimmy I could borrow?”...
Richard Harris tells a ghostly tale well-suited to this chilly English winter.
December 28, 2009
Santa I'm Not
...The job interview, with a stern, humorless woman, started badly.
“Where’s your gut?” she asked. “You’re not fat enough to be Santa.”...
Despite the bad beginning Richard Harris became a Santa - but never again!
December 21, 2009
The Pig’s Teeth
Richard Harris tells of an old lady who has a rich storehouse of memories of wartime in Holland.
December 14, 2009
Song Of The Western Land
Richard Harris's poem celebrates the Eve who brought life to the Great South Land.
December 07, 2009
Kidnapped By Aliens
“We need your aid in a most deep action,” my captor said.
She turned to her twin, “Is that how you say it?”
The twin nodded. “Close.”
So there you are, strolling along Queen Street, Freemantle, when suddenly you are in the grip of an alien.
Richard Harris tells a tall tale.
November 30, 2009
The Magic Of The Movies
…Sometimes I think movies have replaced novels in directing our attention to basic but important issues, such as class distinction and the role of money…
Richard Harris is entranced by the magic of the movies.
To read more of Richard’s top-drawer articles and stories please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/western_walkabout/
November 24, 2009
The Witch, The Wood Elf And The Dragon - Part 12
...Skye, Woodward, Sapphire and Bart dressed carefully and took presents for the meeting. Skye took a tiny, super-sharp knife, Excalibur, for the orc sergeant, Woodward took a jar of quandong jam for Lady, and Sapphire and Bart took her some dragon scales wrapped in a clear tissue. Whenever the scales caught the light they glistened with unusual beauty and gave those that saw them a feeling of great satisfaction and contentment...
Richard Harris concludes his love story for children over 40.
To read earlier episodes of this tale, and lots more stories and articles by Richard, please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/western_walkabout/
Continue reading "The Witch, The Wood Elf And The Dragon - Part 12" »
November 23, 2009
The Witch, The Wood Elf And The Dragon - 11
...“We need to do something about that sister of yours,” said Woodward.
Skye said,“Our father spoilt her rotten. I was placed with a witch and her family at York. Father said his new daughter would be a lady. He named her Lady and sent her to Egypt to learn her manners at the court of the Pharaoh...
Richard Harris continues his love story for the over 40s.
To read earlier chapters, along with more articles and stories written by Richard, please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/western_walkabout/
Continue reading "The Witch, The Wood Elf And The Dragon - 11" »
November 19, 2009
The Witch, The Wood Elf And The Dragon – 10
…“Well, you realize I’ve conceived in my human form, so it won’t be a dragon,” said Sapphire.
“Won’t it?” said Skye. “This is March 2000. Your baby, if he goes full term, will be born in December, which will make him a golden dragon by the Chinese way of reckoning.”…
Richard Harris continues his entertaining love story for children over 40.
To read the preceding episodes please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/western_walkabout/
Continue reading "The Witch, The Wood Elf And The Dragon – 10" »
November 18, 2009
The Witch, The Wood Elf And The Dragon – 9
Will Black Bart forsake his dragonhood and become human for the sake of Sapphire/Swanfire?
Richard Harris continues his love story for children over 40. To read earlier episodes, along with other stories and articles by Richard, please click on, http://www.openwriting.com/archives/western_walkabout/
Continue reading "The Witch, The Wood Elf And The Dragon – 9" »
November 17, 2009
The Witch, The Wood Elf And The Dragon – 8
...The tone of her voice drew the dragon, in her Sapphire form. She came into the study “What’s the problem?”
Skye turned to her, admiring the magnificence of her new form. “Woody’s feeling a bit unloved.”
Sapphire moved behind Woodward, placed her hands on his shoulders, and gave him the gentlest kiss...
Richard Harris continues his love story for children over 40.
To read the preceding episodes, and more stories and articles by Richard, please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/western_walkabout/
Continue reading "The Witch, The Wood Elf And The Dragon – 8" »
November 16, 2009
The Witch, The Wood Elf And The Dragon – 7
“Forgiveness, lady,” the orc sergeant said. “We are humble orcs in the service of the Lady of the Wood. We are missing a precious member of her household and all the orcs are out taking part in the search.”
“That precious member, wouldn’t happen to be a young, beautiful, female dragon, would it?”
Richard Harris continues his love story for children over 40.
Continue reading "The Witch, The Wood Elf And The Dragon – 7" »
November 15, 2009
The Witch, The Wood Elf And The Dragon - 6
...“Swanfire,” she said. “You have been living with Woodward and me for nearly a month now. It’s only a question of time before your presence is noted and that could lead to a lot of problems.”
The dragon held up a five inch talon glistening with Skye’s latest pink nail polish, and looked at it through narrowed eyes. It was razor sharp. “Nothing I can’t handle, darl,” she said...
Richard Harris continues his love story for children over 40.
To read earlier chapters, along with more stories and articles by Richard, please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/western_walkabout/
Continue reading "The Witch, The Wood Elf And The Dragon - 6" »
November 14, 2009
The Witch, The Wood Elf And The Dragon - 5
Swanfire the dragon learns something about quandongs.
Richard Harris continues his highly original love story for children over 40.
To read earlier chapters, along with other stories and articles by Richard, please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/western_walkabout/
Continue reading "The Witch, The Wood Elf And The Dragon - 5" »
November 13, 2009
The Witch, The Wood Elf And The Dragon - 4
...“What would you like for your breakfast, Swanfire?” said Skye.
“I’m a bit off my tucker these days,” said the dragon. “I’m thinking about going vegetarian.”...
Richard Harris continues his love story for children over 40
Continue reading "The Witch, The Wood Elf And The Dragon - 4" »
November 12, 2009
The Witch, The Wood Elf And The Dragon - 3
...However, the big goanna is vulnerable from the air. Whenever I see one, I usually give it a hot blast – seals the juices in – then a slow hot breath to crisp it. Like a sort of stir fry.”
“Any good?”
“Tastes like chicken, without that burnt feathers smell...
Continuing his highly original love story for children over 40 Richard Harris reveals what a dragon has for lunch.
To read earlier episodes please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/western_walkabout/
Continue reading "The Witch, The Wood Elf And The Dragon - 3" »
November 11, 2009
The Witch, The Wood Elf And The Dragon - 2
Richard Harris tells the second part of his love story for children over 40. In this episode Woodward the wood elf is captured by orcs.
Continue reading "The Witch, The Wood Elf And The Dragon - 2" »
November 10, 2009
The Witch, The Wood Elf And The Dragon – 1
Richard Harris begins a love story for children over 40 with a question. Does age really matter?
Watch out for further episodes of this story.
Continue reading "The Witch, The Wood Elf And The Dragon – 1" »
November 09, 2009
Three Queens For Tea
...I asked Boadicea what she admired most in the men of her times and how important were things like clothes and body scent? And did she have any advice about men that might be useful to modern women.
The Briton was blunt and gave me a shocking reply. “My father used to say that if it doesn’t fart or eat hay, it will be of no interest to Boadicea...
The guests are Cleopatra, Boadicea and Hippolyta.
Richard Harris imagines the tea party to end all tea parties.
November 07, 2009
Kidnapped By Aliens
“We need your aid in a most deep action,” my captor said.
She turned to her twin, “Is that how you say it?”
The twin nodded. “Close.”
So there you are, strolling along Queen Street, Freemantle, when suddenly you are in the grip of an alien.
Richard Harris tells a tall tale.
November 02, 2009
Drifting Off
Richard Harris drifts away to share a conversation with an owl.
To read more of Richard's richly varied columns please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/western_walkabout/
October 26, 2009
The Qi Qong Class
...We sat on cushions on the floor while the teacher told us a story about the futility of worrying about things you can’t fix. He led us in meditation for 15 minutes and then taught us the 18 steps of Qi Qong...
Richard Harris joins a Qi Qong class, stepping into a different world just a few doors away from where he lives.
To read more of Richard's entertaining columns please click on
http://www.openwriting.com/archives/western_walkabout/
October 19, 2009
Getting Started
Richard Harris offers sound advice to would-be writers.
To read more of Richard's varied and entertaining columns please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/western_walkabout/
October 12, 2009
Things Were Different Then
...During the 1940s, when our spirits were low, Mother would take us out to a farm for tea on a Sunday afternoon...
Richard Harris recalls days of delight.
To read more of Richard's entertaining words please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/western_walkabout/
October 05, 2009
A Story With A Moral
Richard Harris tells of the day he learned a lesson about canine behaviour while out running.
To read more of Richard's brilliant columns please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/western_walkabout/
September 28, 2009
A Decision That Changed My Life
...I had already asked my father if I could go to the university.
“I’ve got three boys,” my father said. “A tuppeny bun costs me tenpence. You’ll have to get a job.”...
Richard Harris tells of the decision that was to steer him into work that he enjoyed.
To read more of Richard's splendidly-varied columns please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/western_walkabout/
September 21, 2009
Pride
...a man should be able to take pride in himself and his work. That way he would always do his best and get some satisfaction out of his life.
In his view, when you are very poor, it’s only your pride that will keep you going...
Richard Harris tells of a man with sound advice on how to live a long and happy life.
To read more of Richard's columns please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/western_walkabout/
September 14, 2009
Who Do You Think You Are?
...He has a lot of color in his face, and a strong nose – good for warming cold air in northern lands, or poking into other people’s business to find stories, or for sniffing the wonderful wildflower scents in the great southland....
Columnist Richard Harris looks in the mirror in search of himself.
To read more of Richard's entertaining words please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/western_walkabout/
September 07, 2009
Deep Fried Mice
Richard Harris tells of a ghost who serves up a most unusual dish.
To read more of Richard’s entertaining words please click on
http://www.openwriting.com/archives/western_walkabout/
August 31, 2009
The Landlubber
...We boarded a catamaran and set off into big seas. The whales were into private whale business and did not want to be watched. They’d dive deep as soon as we got within a cricket pitch of them.
Glassy-eyed, I sat rigid in my deck chair. A friend, Maria, lay face up on the floor, her breakfast already heaved overboard.
Sailors we weren’t....
Although there was sea-salt in the veins of his ancestors, Richard Harris, in this engaging column, confesses that a life on the ocean wave sea is not his thing.
To read more of Richard's sparkling prose please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/western_walkabout/
August 24, 2009
The Knock On The Door
Richard Harris tells an enchanting tale for children.
August 17, 2009
Pale Star, Distant Faces
Richard Harris's imaginative journey into ancient times reminds us of our common heritage.
For more of Richard's words please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/western_walkabout/
August 10, 2009
Tea With Attitude
A heavy cold? Or maybe ‘flu? Richard Harris suggests that drinking Indonesian tea may set you to rights.
For more of Richard’s tasty words please click on
http://www.openwriting.com/archives/western_walkabout/
August 03, 2009
The Good Old Days?
...When Richard Harris's father left England to work on a wheat property in Saskatchewan he had to harness teams of horses to plough the land. He worked for a tiny salary and his sustenance. When he received his first month's pay, the farmer, Mr Joe Slattery, a soldier settler, had deducted his funeral expenses...
If you think these times are hard, read Richard Harris's story then realise things could be much worse.
To read more of Richard's columns please click on http://www.openwriting.com/archives/western_walkabout/
July 20, 2009
The Birthday Present
“Quick, after it. Follow that frog.”
Richard Harris tells of a hunting expidition to capture the best of all gifts for his son Leon.
Here’s a big welcome to Richard who will be regularly contributing to Open Writing.
July 12, 2009
Turning 60
…The course was a delight. The rocks in the background were full of wallabies and frill necked lizards. Wild figs grew in the fertile pockets, also wild oranges and a vine called the bush banana…
When he was 63 Richard Harris ran with success in a 6km cross country and was presented with a medal by Yvonne Goolagong.
Watch out for more of Richard’s lively words on ensuing Mondays.
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