100 stories and counting
Short stories from the heart…about life, family and local history, people, places and food.
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WHAT’S NEW
Love in a little black diary now has a dedicated YouTube channel. To date, I’ve uploaded 21 videos, mostly short clips covering life, family, people, places and food. You shouldn’t be surprised…each video clip tells a story.
Recently uploaded to YouTube
Ilfracombe is a small town and district in central western Queensland, 660 km west of Rockhampton. It’s located on the Landsborough Highway, between Barcaldine and Longreach. The town dates from 1891, when the Central Western railway line from Rockhampton reached there. At the 2021 Australian census, the population of the town and district was 310.
One of my YouTube favourites
The writer of the Book of Ecclesiastes gives us a clear answer to the question “What is the purpose of life?” In this video, photographs my daughter and I took during a family holiday at Agnes Water and Mackay provide a fascinating backdrop to the poetic Biblical text.
WHAT READERS SAY
What a lovely article Judith; it brought back so many wonderful memories of the 1950’s for me. I grew up in rural South Australia, and we had so many of the appliances and utensils that you mentioned, and my mother made most of those recipes. I still make her meat loaf (very similar to the one you mentioned). We didn’t have electricity until 1966, so our fridge ran on kerosene, we had a wood stove and a petrol driven washing machine. I am looking forward to receiving more of your newsletters.
– SANDRA McKENNA
On My mother’s 1949 spiced meatloaf: Home cooking in post-war Australia, May 29, 2020
Dear Judy, I just came across your amazing story of the Apple Tree Creek Memorial. My name is Jeffrey Alexander Trevor and Alex Trevor was my great uncle. My dad, whose father was William Trevor, also was named Alex and one of my grandsons middle name is Alexander. In 2014 my wife and I visited Moquet Farm in France where Alex was killed and to this day somewhere unknown he lies. In 2016 we held a family reunion to commemorate the hundred years since Alex died. Thank you for your research and story.
– JEFF TREVOR
On Apple Tree Creek World War I Roll of Honour, November 11, 2019
What a loving, moving story of your mother. I so identified with it as my mother was about the same age. She passed away a few years ago at the age of 94. She too grew up in a household of brothers and by her own admittance, was quite the spoiled girl. She also suffered from dementia and when we could no longer have conversations, I found such solace in holding her hand. She always had the smallest, petite hands, despite raising seven rambunctious children. Your story brought such precious memories to mind, of which I am very grateful to you. You are a very talented storyteller!
– BREN
On My mother, a young woman, September 3, 2019
Congratulations Judy another well written and researched story. Really enjoy your blogs especially having grown up in country Qld. I have always loved walking through cemeteries and reading the inscriptions on the graves. So much history can be gleaned from them. Your story certainly brings life back to those old pioneers. Thank you for each story. I find much enjoyment in reading them.
– BETTY JONES
On Secrets from the Banana Cemetery, April 2, 2019
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