Letters to the Editor section in today's Canberra Times includes Remember the Few. Thank you RC Warn for your endorsement. Below is a pic of that 'excellent, deeply researched book' and a pic I took when attending the 72nd anniversary wreathlaying ceremony on 14 September 2012.

Chocolate cup cake and a pot of tea. And a good book, of course. Certainly assuages the trauma of going to the dentist. Anyone who endured the school dentist system of the 70s will appreciate that some are still haunted by their experiences.

Red letter day! Memories elsewhere tell me it's 7 years since my @ausdictionarybiog.bsky.social for Clive Caldwell went on line. It was my first and my, wasn't I proud! Funnily enough, I've been thinking of him recently as I go through old photos & newspaper articles. adb.anu.edu.au/biography/ca...

The only one of my freesias open at the moment is one that naturalised. It doesn't look too healthy as its in the 'lawn' and I keep tromping on it when I cut through to the bus stop!

Yet another good book for morning tea. Yet another fine muffin for morning tea. And a swiped corner of that sponge cake! #histbookchat readers: this book is the winner of the 2025 Anzac Memorial Trustees Military History Prize. It is well worth a read. www.anzacmemorial.nsw.gov.au/about/anzac-...

marion.ink/news/les-car...? 'Authors, whether established or emerging, expect that their work will be judged on its merits under the rules published at the time of entry, and that the decisions of independent panels will be respected.'

Gosh! David had only put out the Cutlack that morning. It literally flew of the shelf! I love the Scates: a great find.

I've seen precious little of him this last week, what with the Closing-the-Shop sale. He was rushed off his feet as books rushed from the shelves. In between reading & eating we did catch up! It's back to work this afternoon, tho, for both of us. He has to restock shelves & my to do list is endless.

What a surprise! An article I wrote for Wartime a couple of years ago has been put online: 'Missing in Action', the story of Ray Thorold-Smith. With more pics and footage than the print version it looks fantastic. I'm so pleased it is 'out there' for everyone to read wm.awm.gov.au/read/missing...

I joked earlier about a Hobnob hunt. I haven't found them but I really need one. I've been writing about incinerated aircraft from photographs: 'bits of pilot still smoking' runs the caption of one. I won't share the pics but the imagined stench has got up my nose. I can't shake it. Is this common?

Apparently there are Hobnobs in the cupboard. I haven't seen them but I am putting down my pen to go and find them.

What an honour. Winners announced on Friday. For more info about the book, and about the Torres Strait, and about our collaboration, try my website - deets in the bio. @allenandunwin.bsky.social #middlegrade #amreading #AaronFaAoso

It's raining! Hope it isn't heavy enough to ruin the blossoms on my favourite walk. Those crabapples are getting very close to a full glorious bloom. And I would hate to see the daffodils smashed. (Today's walk was a healing balm for a challenging week.)

@stanleyhistorian.bsky.social makes many good points in this interview, including the lack of recognition for the Les Carlyon Prize shortlistees www.abc.net.au/listen/progr... Questions over the Australian War Memorial literary prize. Please look at the pic & read my note re shortlist recognition.

As much as it reveres bravery on the battlefield, its management could not find the courage to face the truth in the Memorial’s Council room. #Auspol #AWM

Isn't this just the most wonderful news! Thank you anonymous donor for recognising the importance of the NDC to Australian literary and linguistic culture.

Most recent movie night. I was inspired to watch it because of its connection to @avculturesconf.bsky.social recent Print the Legend! Call for Papers. Great film. Improves on each viewing. James Stewart improves with age (his and mine). Not as fussed on John Wayne.

Not sure what excites me more: a good chat with a dear friend, a fresh muffin, or new books! (TBH: all are exciting!)

Sad news for Alexander Fax Booksellers in Mawson ACT. We're closing the shop. But not the business! We will continue to sell quality military books online and by mailorder to subscribers. If you are local, pop into the shop and check out the bargains. 50% off most; exceptions bargain bins & shelves.

Issue 22(3) of History Australia is out now! www.tandfonline.com/toc/raha20/c... #openaccess

The puff balls are out! It is, however, currently storming here so I hope they survive.

85 years ago. A turning point in the Battle of Britain. Many pilots from many nations fought and died. Including Australians. Well, I wrote a little book celebrating, remembering, and mourning the contribution of eight Australians. newsouthbooks.com.au/books/austra...

Sometimes, when life gets a little challenging, and the wrinkles run deeper, I just wish I could go back in the Tardis! But if I did, would I have been able to get my hands on this brilliant book by @sularigentill.bsky.social? And sponge cake.

Sunday morning banana bread, coffee, chat, and a classic aussie book (e-version ... as my IPAD reader was feeling a bit neglected). David had hot chocolate but he generously donated his marshmallow to a good cause!

I first read this book over a decade ago. I love it (as I do most of @midgegillies.bsky.social work. David had this one sitting in a book pile and I thought, I would like to revisit it. I can't find my copy (double stacked shelves) so I nicked it! #histbookchat I love it more: it's brilliant!

Reading in bed📚📚📚

My garden. The puff balls will bloom any day now and the banksia rose is seriously thinking about it. There is a sole sun daisy (or whatever it's called), the Freesias are starting to pop their heads up, and the lavender is in bloom. The air is warmer so, yes, spring is definitely here.

Sometimes you just need a little cheering up and looking at Miss Millie is so uplifting. How can you be sad in the face of such beauty?

My life in cake! Cheesecake that is.

The birds had ripped the wattle from the tree. I couldn’t just leave it there.

Reading a wartime love story researched & written by my colleague Alix (...and apparently also cutting up onions...) wm.awm.gov.au/read/colin-s...

Wow! Combatant grief & military mourning: 6RAR in the aftermath of Long Tan, 1966–1969 by Kristen Alexander (ie me) & Kate Ariotti has had 80 views in 4 days! I am so pleased. Not that I'm biased or anything but I think it's an important article & should be read. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

It’s wet and grey and miserable outside. But inside, it’s a perfect day for writing. And I have finished another chapter.

🛩️Call for Papers for "Print the Legend"🛩️is now open Held online 27–28 February 2026 CfP closes 31 October 2025. Inspired by “When the legend becomes fact, print the legend” we invite scholars, practitioners & enthusiasts to explore the intersection of fact & fiction in aviation history. 1/6

Apricot tree in full bloom. With a bit of luck we will get some fruit. Don’t tell the birds!

Ever wondered what happened post Battle of Long Tan from the perspectives of the dead & battalion survivors? Check out @historyaustralia.bsky.social open access article by me & Kate Ariotti, Combatant grief & military mourning: 6RAR in the aftermath of Long Tan www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

It is hard to believe that it's 85 years since the Battle of Britain, and the death of Aussie Ace Pat Hughes. I have written about Pat's life and death on occasion. Here is my favourite photo of him, taking time out. And here is my favourite story. Vale Pat. www.smh.com.au/national/dea...

Such joy! UK researcher has sent through six RAF casualty files. They deal with death, so I shouldn't be joyful, but it is stuff (the technical term) I need to know. More importantly, I need to discern their meaning.

Visitors are nigh and the mess has miraculously all been cleared away! The boxes in the corner will be moved to either shop or storage unit 'in due course'. And after the visitors leave ... I sure he will make another mess.

Cake! 🍰

The house around the corner from us has two Devine magnolias!

Photo cataloguing continues. I've done 200 of about, I don't know, a million? Slight exaggeration, I think there are about 800, some duplicates. But it does feel like a million. The caption that came with the photo: "S/Ldr Caldwell a/c 112 Squadron RAF DAF 1942. Canopy shredded by shell strike”

Come and study with us! It'll be fun! Applications are open for the Australian War Memorial Summer Scholars program, to be held in Canberra next Jan-Feb. Apply here: www.awm.gov.au/get-involved...

The magnolia's are opening! Not mine, of course, but in the neighbourhood.

David in slobby work clothes surveying his mess. He promises me it will all be boxed and shelved before the end of the week (visitors!). I promised him I will finish sorting my photocopied newspaper articles so the coffee table will be sparkle-arkle. I'm putting them in chrono order: a big task.

First day of spring! The wind was cold but the sky was blue. The book was ace and the muffin scrummy. Lots of lovely blossoms including opening some magnolia buds (not in these pics though). If I am very lucky, those cherry blossoms will turn into cherries.

Canberra. Last day of winter. Last night of winter. Fly in my bedroom.

David's taking over the lounge room again & visitors are due next weekend. Mind you, I can't really complain at the moment given the mess I've made of the coffee table! He's promised me that his piles of books will be sorted and either catalogued, shelved, or boxed ASAP. Not so sure about my mess.

I do so value our weekly coffee chats. And banana bread! Sundays are always so busy for us. So it is good to relax at the beginning of the day because it won't happen during the day! Did get some time to dive into my new book! #histbookchat

I've been captioning photos. Sorting through an archive 20+ years old, transferred from CD about a decade ago. I realised I'd lost some, probably after computer deaths. I searched and found the old CDs, fired up my OLD laptop which had a CD drive, and found them! Now I have many more to catalogue.