Random views and observations from Michael Gorey in Ballarat, Australia
Gorey Things is the personal website of Michael Gorey, a writer based in Ballarat in
regional Victoria, Australia. Michael writes about Australian history, politics and
opinion, travel, books, food, technology and life in regional Australia. Articles cover
topics including colonial history, genealogy, sport, culture and current affairs.
Whether you are interested in the gold rush era, Victorian-era figures, walks and
hiking trails, or simply curious opinions on life, cuisine and the world, there is something
here for you.
27 MAY 2026 Prosciutto and bacon-wrapped dates, stuffed with goat's cream cheese and walnut, and glazed with honey are an absolute flavour bomb! I was looking for a simple recipe to quickly make a savoury dish for a work bake-off tomorrow. After searching online and consulting AI chef, I came up with a shortlist of three, and ...
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27 MAY 2026 I enjoyed my visit to Malawi in 1990. I booked a 10-day fly-drive holiday from Harare, flew into Lilongwe and picked up a battered old car. I stayed the first night at a goo...
Read article → 26 MAY 2026 I miss many things about life in the 70s and the 80s, but the cartridge pen isn't one of them. Why they were still being given to children in 1975 is a mystery. When I was ...
Read article → 24 MAY 2026 I brought out the winter bedding today and happily discovered that my new cotton sheet has phone pockets on both sides! I've never seen such a marvel before. I'm not an adv...
Read article → 23 MAY 2026 My comprehensive car insurance premium recently rose by 17 per cent, pushing it to $1025 for a vehicle valued at $13,000. This increase came even after I used a broker and ...
Read article → 23 MAY 2026 According to a maternal DNA test (mtDNA), I'm descended from a Viking woman. My haplogroup is J1c3f, who lived 4600 years ago. A haplogroup is a genetic cohort of people ...
Read article → 22 MAY 2026 Alfred Deakin was Australia's second Prime Minister after Federation and he could have been our greatest if his life hadn't been cut short. In writing this, my thanks go ...
Read article → 21 MAY 2026 There is a distinct satisfaction in moving away from one-size-fits-all platforms to build your own space on the internet. For years, WordPress has been the default engine fo...
Read article → 21 MAY 2026 I have recently found myself immersed in the world of Cicely, Alaska, through the SBS airing of Northern Exposure . The series, which initially follows New York City physic...
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