Gillian Polack

I knew of her but from quite different things to the book you linked to. She was one of my ancestral feminists, in a way. I could never be what she was, however.

I fear it's Dadaist dekopon.

I wanted to get a video of this ghost crab but every time I got close to their hole they scuttled back in, so I tried getting clever with it. I made a little sandcastle and shoved my phone into it, hit record, and walked away. Crab was VERY suspicious of this addition to their environment.

We had a cloudy night.

If I'm up at 3.30 in the morning, and if it's high enough in the sky... I'll take you a picture or two.

I so love basalt columns. I have so many pictures of them in different places.

My favourite typo this morning is "Jewish asp." "Jewish past" is so much less interesting.

Food and Family (with household hints) Gillian Polack explores how Anglo-Australian Jewish recipes and family traditions helped sustain identity and counter antisemitism

Food and Family (with household hints)
open.substack.com/pub/judithma...

The word 'genocide' threw me, too. It always does. partly, it's the NF book: about lost history, which means dealing with much Judenhass. Also, I know the definition of 'genocide' has changed, but I still react to the old one. Family then and family on Oct 7 is a lot to handle silently.

I thought Alan read my posts on FB, to be honest. And I didn't expect him not to know about what was happening at this end of things.

That was what I was referring to. I read the restrictions and they should not have prevented people from talking about Gaza. The IHRA definition is very clear that criticism of Israel is fine and long as it doesn't become antisemitism.

it was not meant as deflection at all. But I don't see any use in talking about it when accusations come before asking each other "What do you mean?"

Dear Spellcheck
Would you please give me a reason for your insistence that 'Lebkuchen' should be replaced by 'Lecherous. This is not the first odd suggestion you've made about food. Do you find German food history difficult?

You see nothing to talk about, so I will no longer talk to you about these things. It's less exhausting for me, in any case. I'm tired of being called a Satan-worshipping pedo genocidaire and of being told that Jewish voices are not welcome.

No. it's giving you some context. If you don't want it, that's fine, I'll go silent again.

For the record, Continuuma nd Swancon do not do this. They're just as wonderful as ever. But I don't get paid for work I do there - I do it out of love, for my community - so they don't count as income unless I sell books.

Being chronically ill and Jewish mean that I didn't get beyond the "We appreciate you applying" stage, even when I win awards. Also, so many of my old left wing friends and colleagues do not speak to me any more.

I'm not welcome at most Writers' Festivals anyhow... I'm too Jewish.

But you have toothpaste.

🇦🇺 Writers 3/3

VIC
@gillianpolack.bsky.social
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@chiefwritesbook.bsky.social
@catog.bsky.social
@karden.bsky.social
@juliettewade.bsky.social
@sonjajkaye.bsky.social
@elementeds.bsky.social
@sfflanigan.bsky.social

🇸🇬 ✍️
@jolantru.bsky.social

🇨🇳
@dei2dei.bsky.social

I walked out on someone for literally saying this to me and meaning it. Mind you, he also wanted me to switch my brain off after 5 pm.

Avoiding too much hate (some is unavoidable) takes up an increasing amount of my time. you don't let the hate in - this is another good thing you do.

I envy that balance. I had it for a week and have lost it again. But it's so good to have you connecting people again - in a difficult world, it makes a difference.

Durian is like coriander - it's either adore or loathe. Me, I like coriander, but remember the Canberra shopping complex that was evacuated when someone mistook the smell of a ripe durian for a gas leak.

Next time we're in the same city, IOU much coffee or even dinner. You do the most wonderful work for all of us.

AU - I forgot top type AU!!

I'm in Canberra, Australia, but I'm a bit of a night owl, so I'm up for a surprising amount of the European day.

I so hope I'm not in a dark and chilled room this week. That would mean an electricity failure in mid-winter.

My brain lost much stuff when I had a quadruple bypass - the anaesthetic does this to some people. This means... I'm working on getting it back and it's happening and... it really annoys people. I do not conform to the stereotype of unwell older women. I am supposed to try and instead I am trying.

You're someone who understands the challenges. Coming from you, this comment means a lot.
I am still entirely obsessed with understanding the world. If I stop researching and thinking and explaining, then I've lost the heart of who I am.