Everyone will have a subjective view on the best article they have written or read in a given year.
I had trouble remembering all of my posts from 2008, but spent a few minutes browsing through the WordPress index to recollect.
Because I cover a range of topics it’s hard to single one out, so here are some that still amuse or resonate (with me at least):
Soapbox:
Stop poaching doctors from poor countries
Our government does not want us pointing out the bleeding obvious that most GPs in Australia are now from overseas. We obviously aren’t training enough doctors. The undesirable solution? Pay overseas doctors more than they can earn in their home countries that need them more, like Bangladesh and India.
Karma:
Hoon problem
It still makes me feel good that seconds after observing a hoon speeding along a residential street in Kalgoorlie a police car appeared from nowhere and chased him.
Clever idea:
Reward good drivers
I suggested that instead of penalising bad drivers (speeders, etc) governments should reward good drivers with lower vehicle registration charges while hiking fees for the bad guys. I can’t see a flaw with the idea.
Making the world a better place:
Lawnmower warning story
I sleep better at night knowing that fewer people in Mount Gambier are at risk of igniting a lawnmower in their bedroom thanks to the safety warning we published in The Border Watch.
Personal:
Tributes to Peter Gorey
Dad’s passing in June had the biggest personal impact on me this year.
Wacky:
Bog snorkelling
I had several contenders for wacky post of the year, but bog snorkelling has a quirky charm.
Tackling the big issues:
Subway price variation
I blew the whistle on Subway charging $5.45 for a six-inch tuna sub in Kalgoorlie while it cost just $3.95 in Melbourne. The freight excuse is rubbish when you think how much dearer the rent must be in metro areas.
I hope you enjoyed your visits here this year. Best wishes for 2009.
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I tried to comment before but I had a really hard to read word verification. And then my comment just disappeared.
Anyway….
I liked reading your eulogy for your dad. I’m glad to know he had a happy life despite his early trauma/tragedy.
We have something in common. My sister was in a coma too. She was hit by a car.
Anyway, I hope your 2009 has gone well so far…..
I do enjoy all my visits to your blog. I’m glad to have “met” you. It’s one of my highlights of 2008.
Twitter: mgorey
says:
I should be (and am) honored to receive such a nice comment.
Bloggers reveal much about themselves online and we can probably ascertain someone’s personality to a large extent, but most of us hold some things back, like having a pet that pees in the house
I worry that people browsing here might think I’m a better person than I really am.
PS: I always refresh the captcha words if I can’t read them.
Loved your blogging.
Your Dad sounds like he was the best regular Dad. I am sorry you miss him so.
Grief is very personal and we all do it differently, its what makes us unique in special ways.
I just love the humour. We often forget to laugh at the funny bits, especially if we are having a crap day.
Having a pet that pees inside has to be good for the soul
(pets can be human). Its always a good move to blame it on the dog when a family member drops a silent one too!
Twitter: mgorey
says:
Ebony, thanks for your comments here.
I enjoy your forum posts and letters. “Supermarket shopping is like bad sex with the lights on” was a classic.
If you ever want to start your own blog, contact me and I’ll help you get under way.
Your blog’s quite a polished work, Michael. I think it reflects the fact that you’re an experienced professional writer and, as a newspaper editor, know how to cater to a wide variety of tastes. I don’t like trying to choose a particular post, but the category I like best are the ones that give an insight into daily life in the hinterland, particularly the humorous ones.