Adam was already two beers in and still annoyed about something that had happened ten minutes ago. “Five-fifty pitch,” he said again, like saying it often enough might stop it being wasted. “You don’t force that. Ever.” Marcin didn’t look up from the screen. “You say that now. Same bloke who tried to reverse sweep… Continue reading Sydney 2026
New Year
New Year’s Day.Sun already doing damage.That hot, clean Fremantle light where everything feels forgiven too early. They’re wedged outside by the water, tables sticky with last night’s ambition. Someone’s thongs are under the wrong chair. Someone else hasn’t bothered finding theirs. Salt in the air, yeast in the air, a faint smell of regret and… Continue reading New Year
Boxing day
They were already arguing before anyone remembered why they’d come out. The Sandbar smelled like hot oil and damp carpet, the sort of place that claimed “coastal vibes” despite being three suburbs from the water. Mitch was at the bar first, talking to the bartender about how sustainability was just “risk hedging dressed up as… Continue reading Boxing day
Missing Summer
Adelaide Oval, Day 2, sun sharp enough to peel paint.Plastic pints everywhere, Barmy Army already half-feral. Adam, Marcin, Anna and Isobel parked under the scoreboard, pretending the heat is “character-building.” England ticking along nicely, which everyone knows is a bad omen. Adam:Look at that—England have a bat. Every Pom in the ground acting like we’re… Continue reading Missing Summer
Ch.7
Loose stools, rings on the table, similar universe as before. summer, cicadas, shower an hour or so ago, some drips, heat of the day fading Adam was already a few drinks in when Marcin said it. “I still think you’re smuggling time in through the back door,” Marcin said, staring into his glass like it… Continue reading Ch.7
Filtering
We were told to choose a sideso we built two cliffsand argued about the colour of the fall. Left waved a flag,Right waved a mirror,both fell equally fast. Someone shouted save the unborn,someone else shouted save the women,the hospital burned quietlywhile they debated metaphors. War arrived dressed as necessity,said it hated violence,asked politely for our… Continue reading Filtering
The BBQ
Needs some more vernacular.... Mick: (staring at the rusted bloody barbecue)Everything ever created is unique, they say. Look at this thing. Unique my arse. It’s just bent metal, melted knobs and regret. Rhea:Nah mate, that particular pattern of bent metal and regret has never happened before and never will again. Tom:That’s beautiful, that is. Shakespeare,… Continue reading The BBQ
Bunkering down
The snow along the fjord road had that grey, exhausted look,the kind it gets when it’s been asked to cover more sinsthan even nature thinks reasonable. Albert kicked at a frozen clump and muttered,“So Silicon Valley’s digging bunkers now.”Marin didn’t look up. “Of course they are.They think the world’s falling apart.”“Isn’t it?” he asked.She shrugged.… Continue reading Bunkering down
Ethically suspects
Reith lecture this morning on the commute Albert kicked the snowdrift outside the old server farmand muttered that the machines had finally learnedto gossip worse than people.Marin just shrugged — she’d known that for years. The platforms weren’t evil, she said,just overeager dogs chasing whatever smellwas strongest: fear, envy, loneliness,that sickly-sweet scent of validation going… Continue reading Ethically suspects
Stab
SCENE:Same Brisbane pub.Same sticky table. Bill (Old Miner):Heard you lot talkin’ last week.Bloody entropy this, coherence that.Figured I’d come back and see if the world ended yet. Anna (physicist):Not yet, Bill.Entropy’s patient. Riley (FIFO):What’s entropy?Is that when your roster goes to shit and no one knows what day it is? Jesse (biologist):Honestly? Close enough. Adam… Continue reading Stab
Ceteris Paribus 