“The new author from Downunder”
by Howard Gaukrodger
“Hey, Sam! You heard about that new Kiwi author from Oz who used to live in Norway?”
“Eh?”
“He’s a Brit.”
“Oh, well, that explains it.”
“Seems he’s written some interesting stuff.”
“Oh, yeah? You read ‘im?”
“I’m waitin’ for his book called “Campervans Gone Wild” – sounds pretty cool. You know, funny. Not your normal travelogue stuff.”
“Uhuh. Has he done anythin’ else?”
“Well, he’s into climate change ‘n all that, and he’s done some short stories. One of them’s a spy story, so, yeah, he knows ‘ow to write. But it’s his background wot’s interestin’.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, travelled all over the world, speaks more languages than I can count, and he’s got degrees from…”
“Bright spark, then?”
“Yeah, he’s one to watch, that one.”
“Maybe we should have a read, then.”
“Yeah, I reckon.”
Take a look
Novels
‘Campervans Gone Wild’, a humorous travel novel from 2021, awaiting publication. Ivan the Tank, a veteran campervan, proves he’s still got what it takes in the face of storms, mountains and characters that jump off the page.
Short Stories
A selection of short stories from my early writing days (500 – 1500 words): romance, espionage, childhood and more.
Poems
Thought-provoking poems, including a sestina, found poem, journal poem, exhibition contribution, romance and mystery. Written for fun and practice in 2014.
If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.
– Nelson Mandela
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An excellent article on education in the age of hi-tech and the pandemic. All academics should read it. http://ishort.ink/rege #education #onlineeducation #educationpolicy #learningmanagement #studentwelfare
This, I assume, increases heat absorption and #globalwarming.
The new study has found that our home planet now reflects almost half a watt less light per square metre than it did 20 years ago.
Consequently, the Earth's reflectance has reduced by 0.5%.
Some people advocate for geoengineering; some oppose it. While we argue about it, our climate smirks at us and gets hotter. "Scientists turn to risky plan B as the world fails on climate change" https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/scientists-turn-to-risky-plan-b-as-the-world-fails-on-climate-change-20210820-p58kjp.html #geoengineering #globalwarming #globaldawning #climateaction
One more positive step: "5000 free fast electric car chargers to be built around Australia" https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/5000-free-fast-electric-car-chargers-to-be-built-around-australia-20210823-p58l8b.html #renewables #globalwarming #globaldawning #fossilfree #climate
Is this the best way to protect NZ's unique environment? "If you're not a 'high value' tourist, some places don't want you any more" https://www.traveller.com.au/new-zealand-tourism-strategy-focuses-on-high-value-tourists-at-the-expense-of-the-rest-h1vqjj via @TravellerAU #Tourism #Environment
