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The Curious Scribbler
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Iraq

Chapter 5 Iraq
August 30, 20192

Refuge #26 The last scene

Sabah, an Iraqi playwright, describes the last scene of violence his family witnessed enroute to Jordan, where they hoped to apply for asylum to Australia.

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Chapter 5 Iraq
August 23, 20191

Refuge #25 A playwright and his chess-playing daughter

After the ousting of Saddam Hussein, an Iraqi playwright is blacklisted and his daughter, a chess champion, is told not to visit the chess centre anymore.

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Book progress update
May 22, 20152

What do we have in common?

“It’s bad to say goodbye in my language; instead, we say ‘see you later’,” said the Aboriginal lady to me, teaching me an Aboriginal word, which...

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the writing life book cover
My Reading Chair & Writing Desk
April 23, 20150

The first sentence

‘Trying to write before you’re ready is like trying to squeeze toothpaste out of an empty tube,’ I wrote in exasperation after I allowed yet another day to...

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My Reading Chair & Writing Desk
April 15, 20150

Reality check

‘You no-good scribbler. Yes, I know who you are. I have seen your columns, God help us. I have read your foolish stories, may my enemies be so clever.’ And so, I...

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My Reading Chair & Writing Desk
April 13, 20150

Teleporting

I raided my local library and met Australian reporter Lynne O’Donnell. That is, I read her book. ‘High Tea in Mosul’ is the result of O’Donnell’s...

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Book progress update
April 9, 20150

Slow cooking the story

I tried to write Sabah and Lamia’s story but nothing worked. I tried to imagine what it was like in their home in Baghdad but I could not conjure up sounds or smells or...

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man and woman on theatre stage
Book progress update
March 18, 20153

Ancient civilisations meet

When I drove across Adelaide for my first interview with Sabah and Lamia from Iraq, I had fanciful ideas about 5000 years of Chinese civilisation meeting 5000 years of...

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glass chess pieces
Book progress update
March 12, 20151

The American invasion and chess

“The circumstances in our country are very difficult; this difficulty comes from the Americans invading my country because everything was destroyed after the invasion....

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