Blog – Page 4 – Claire Richardson Writer

78-year-old ‘Knight Rider’ survives horrific bout of COVID19

78 year old Mick survives COVID19

Post published:April 17, 2020
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Michael Knight, or Mick as his mates call him, is a 78 year old who has suffered from asbestosis for the past 35 years, has arthritis in most of his joints he has to take pain killers for, and recently survived a horrendous, protracted, and simultaneous bout of COVID19 AND pneumonia. If you think this coronavirus is just another flu; you need to hear Mick’s story. If you are curious about what it is like to get COVID19 and what you should do if you, or someone you know gets it; you need to hear Mick’s story. If you are one of those people who doesn’t think they need to abide by social distancing norms; Mick says you’re a “f*cking idiot.”

The silly side of sickness

Post published:April 3, 2020
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Then there is that special form of sickness. The one that when people talk about it, their whole face and bodies change from the sheer traumatic memory of it. You know, when you were travelling and you ate something from a street vendor?

Quarantine, kids, and Groundhog Day

Groundhog in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, USA

Post published:March 27, 2020
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“We never get to see Lauren! Can we stop and see Lauren? I miss my friends!” exclaimed Lydia, Deana’s five-and-a-half-year-old daughter as they were walking past Lauren’s home with her four-year-old sister, Emilee. Deana’s heart was breaking. How could she explain to her five-year-old that although Lauren was likely just inside that house, she couldn’t go and see her because they were under quarantine for the coronavirus? She got down on one knee to get closer to them, and held their hands.

Ode to the coronavirus

Coronavirus in action

Post published:March 20, 2020
Post category:Claire's Poems
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But shit really started to get serious; Now there isn’t a place it hasn’t been; They even gave it a shiny new name; Introducing… COVID19. While for many, the symptoms are mild; Their immune systems taking care of the rest; For an increasing and alarming number of people; This awful disease will result in death.

OH the glamour of sailing!

Classic old wooden 49 foot yacht for our adventure

Post published:March 13, 2020
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Most of us made it back to the boat, but one critical player did not show up until 11.30am Sunday morning. All of a sudden the weather wasn’t looking as rosy as we had been lead to believe it would be. The clouds were angry, about to spew rain, and the harbour decided it would respond to the conditions with excessive choppiness. But bugger it! It was time to go if we were going to make our Wednesday deadline!

The curious case of the missing pug

Representative image of the pug. The identity of the pug is changed to protect the guilty. Photo by Colin Horn on Unsplash

Post published:March 6, 2020
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She arrived and looked with trepidation over at the scooter, but there was no pug. That was unusual. The pug was always there in the same spot. She saw Mr Roy, a tenant from the same building, and asked him where the dog was. "Dog gone! Dog gone!" he said.

Homestay hilarity or horror show? You decide…

Not the actual street I lived on, but you get the picture! Photo by Camille Villanueva on Unsplash

Post published:February 28, 2020
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I was one of the last people waiting when an older couple walked in. Wizened is a word that comes to mind as my first impression. One of the University staffers brought them over to my table. They most certainly had absolutely no English. Awesome! My Japanese was going to get really good, really fast, I thought.

Bali bike-smash bonanza!

A taste of my face injuries a few days after the smash

Post published:February 21, 2020
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But it was when I glanced over to the mirror on the wall to my right, I saw where the real damage was. There was a huge, deep hole in my right elbow. “Hmmmmmmmmm, a bandaid is not going to fix that,” I thought.

Valentine’s BONUS ‘two minute’ story – My favourite (unsuccessful) pickup line EVER

Unsuccessful Valentine - Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Post published:February 14, 2020
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I am very fond of one of my former clients, but not to the level I would like an intimate relationship with him. We went away to a number of conferences together without incident, until after one such conference, after one or two beverages, he made his move…

Goa? Get it India!

Typical bar scene in Calangute Beach, Goa

Post published:February 14, 2020
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“It is very hot here Madam. Everything is hot here: man is hot; sand is hot; everybody’s hot!” Words of wisdom greeted some ladies entering the beach down a long, uncovered path in the beating sun, from the chubby, local shack worker with his long, receding hair pulled back, and huge cheeky grin.