Author Archives: Marcus Forster

No wait… I’ll tell you what I want – eating out in a post-modern world.

What is it about communal eating that makes it such a central part of our lifestyle?  It is not, after all, the most attractive process to undertake in public.  Compiling sustenance and shoveling one utensil after another into our gaping … Continue reading

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Day of Departure

“Set a new direction for the harvest ahead.” It is done! We are finally on the way.  After months of preparations, research, and far too much waiting we are finally off on our great adventure.  This morning we loaded up … Continue reading

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“Get a life, will you people”

Conventions are held the world over for any number of reasons; trade conventions, hobbies, pastimes, fads, obsessions (haven’t you heard about Star trek conventions?) or pop cultural fads of the moment.  But it is in America that these events are … Continue reading

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“Here will be an old abusing of God’s patience and the King’s English.”

Where would we be without words?  Aside from a real difficulty telling a bartender what you would like to drink, there would be no lit-tra-ture, no Shakespeare, Hemingway, Byron, Yeats or Kerouac.  It is not the purpose of this post … Continue reading

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“What excuse do you need to take a day off from work.”

As an expat I have been, for many years, a little like an overseas embassy, benefiting from both traditional Australian holidays and also those of my adopted country, the US.   As both countries were settled by Europeans there are, to … Continue reading

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A Man’s Home is his Castle – Literally!

I have heard that over the past two years the average size of houses has decreased.  This is, at least for me, news of some importance. Until 2009 the average house size in the US and also Australia was steadily … Continue reading

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An Aussie’s pledge for American Public Radio

When I spend a few moments thinking about our imminent American departure and the things I’ll miss, one thing often boils to the top, National Public Radio.  This may seem like a strange choice to many, but for those that … Continue reading

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“A bar is better than a newspaper for public discussion.”

This is one race of people for whom psychoanalysis is of no use whatsoever.” – Sigmund Freud A good pub is a wonderful thing to behold.  It might, for me, be one of the best things.  Good pubs don’t occur … Continue reading

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Ya Want Them Over Easy or Scrambled?

In Northeastern America there is a little slice of heaven that I shall sorely miss once we are living in Australia, and that is the diner. Diners came into prominence in the early 20th Century, but really took off after … Continue reading

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Bodhisattva #2 – The Staff Sergeant.

Heathrow airport is one of the busiest in the world.  It actually hosts more international passengers than any other.  Walking through one of its terminals is to expose oneself to more languages, ethnic backgrounds and clothing choices than almost anywhere … Continue reading

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