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Life's Surprises Laurie Smale Magic Minute

Magic Minute Life’s Surprises

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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Am I Hearing English? Laurie Smale Magic Minute

Magic Minute Am I Hearing English?

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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Comfortable Conversation Laurie Smale Magic Minute

Magic Minute Comfortable Conversation

Magic Minute Comfortable Conversation By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // In a friendly conversation I once asked a young guy what he did for a living. “I work with animals,” he said. I immediately thought of a zookeeper or some sort of animal trainer – but he turned out to be a butcher! He told

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Snakes Alive! Laurie Smale Magic Minute

Magic Minute Snakes Alive!

Magic Minute Snakes Alive! By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // Ever been staring at one of those illusory pictures till something leaps out at you in 3D? Well, that’s what happened to me in Western Australia’s Yanchep Crystal Cave. While admiring a big stalagmite a 6ft tiger snake morphed from the structure into my view,

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Misunderstanding Laurie Smale Magic Minute

Magic Minute Misunderstanding

Magic Minute Misunderstanding By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // I just got on a tram when a smartly dressed young lady said, “Are you Laurie Smale?” “Yeah, that’s me.” “Well, I’m Susan Grimshaw and I was very jealous of you in grades five and six for you continuously out-shone me with Reading Writing and anything

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Race of Survival Laurie Smale Magic Minute

Magic Minute Race of Survival

Magic Minute Race of Survival By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // The ominous clatter of a German half-track echoed through the trees. “They’re right behind me!” Thought seventeen-year-old Lino, hurtling around a bend on his racing bike in the Piedmont foothills. “Better bury myself and my bike in the scrub!” He thought heading for the

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Don't Push Your Luck! Laurie Smale Magic Minute

Magic Minute Don’t Push Your Luck!

Magic Minute Don’t Push Your Luck! By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // Mushrooming with my brothers, we came across a magnificent but very deadly Copperhead snake curled up in the sun, his body nearly as thick as my 9-year-old legs. Mesmerized by the golden glow of his burnished body, I did the dumbest thing imaginable.

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3-Year-Old's-Logic Laurie Smale Magic Minute

Magic Minute 3-Year-Old’s Logic

Magic Minute 3-Year-Old’s Logic By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // Ever been stung by the logic of a three-year-old? Well, we were sitting at the breakfast table when one of my little kids started spreading their Wheaties all over their face and making funny growly noises. “What are you doing?” I said. “Eat your breakfast

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Tropical Fruit Salad Laurie Smale Magic Minute

Magic Minute Tropical Fruit Salad

Magic Minute Tropical Fruit Salad By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // I was 15 and temptation got the better of me for I was surrounded by a stack of something I’d die for – canned tropical fruit salad. I’d just won $50 in Tatts and thought “Hey, I could buy a whole carton of 36

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Endless Love Laurie Smale Magic Minute

Magic Minute Endless Love

Magic Minute Endless Love By Laurie Smale MAGIC MINUTE // On Sammy J’s Breakfast Show a lady rang in with an incredible story. Her little Shi-Tzu dog had simply vanished. Broken hearted, they posted signs far and wide and searched everywhere. But nothing. Ten long years went by and their beloved little dog became a

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