Magic Minute Knee Deep in Grapes By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // When I was 15, I found myself knee deep in grapes celebrating their squashing into wine with a Sicilian family… very unusual for an Australian lad in 1962 Melbourne! I enjoyed the festivities so much I ended up living with Peter and Maria […]
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Magic Minute Life’s Surprises By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // In life you never know what awaits you around the corner. A guy once phoned me and asked for some help with his public speaking fears. What he didn’t say was, he was the captain of a floating oil-rig ship in Thailand’s Gulf of Tonkin,
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Magic Minute Am I Hearing English? By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // I was listening to directions from a Scotsman in his thick brogue, but all I heard were meaningless sounds. This challenge of understanding the accents and slang of others doesn’t only fall on the proud Scots. While a German friend of mine was
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Magic Minute The Italian Islanders By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // When I first heard the term ‘Italian Islanders’ I thought, “Italian what?” But later discovered there is such a proud body of Italians who live on a picturesque volcanic archipelago in the Terranean Sea north of Sicily who consider their Aeolian Islands some of
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Magic Minute Smiling Magic By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // “Barely 5 weeks old my tiny grandson Vincent gave his proud Granddad a wonderful captivating smile which filled me with joy. In contrast, I often come across a wizened old Chinese lady shuffling along with her walker on my Sunday walks. I’d say she’s in
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Magic Minute Another Language Broadens Your Mind By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // “Why don’t you speak English?” and “Go back where you come from!” was the awful way newcomers were treated in 1960s Australia. Working in an Italian glass factory as a poorly educated 14-year-old opened my eyes to the truth. I eagerly soaked
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