essay (n.)
A short written composition in prose that discusses a subject or proposes an argument without claiming to be a complete or thorough exposition. A minor literary form, the essay is more relaxed than the formal academic dissertation.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to write. This should not be confused with me actually being a good writer, of course. The art of writing prose that successfully engages a reader, any reader, is something to be treasured and, speaking candidly, I’m not certain I am quite there yet. Nor do I feel I will ever be. But this hasn’t stopped me wanting to write.

In the past, my writing has been limited to a defined audience – a tech-minded audience when I was working that space; a wine-loving audience when I began compiling tasting notes and writing for wine blogs; political ramblings to all and sundry on my personal Facebook page (almost certainly boring my friends incessantly). And yet I’ve always wanted to branch out with my writing and not be defined by a particular audience or structure. To, in essence, write simply what I want to write on topics I want to discuss.

To (very loosely) achieve this aim, I have built this space in which you will find over time a collection of various essays of things I simply feel the desire to write about. Politics will almost certainly be the overriding theme, but sport will also feature heavily, as I suspect general musings on life (and death) will from time to time. There are no set boundaries, no topics that are taboo, and indeed no audience that this is intended for.

I want to write here without inhibition; without fear or thought of being taken out of context. To that end, it is easier to pretend an audience does not exist and I suspect it may not at any point. The very existence of this collection, despite it being there for public consumption at any moment, is purely for my own self-gratification. To stumble through ideas, put thoughts to (virtual) paper and play around with concepts however haphazardly. As the definition above articulates, this space will be a more relaxed viewpoint of one person then any sense of formal dissertation. It will almost certainly be without thorough exposition, although knowing me I suspect the writing will come across as more ‘definitive’ then relaxed banter down the pub with mates.

Expect some ramblings on the state of politics, especially in Australia, but also with sideways glances to the USA and UK whose electoral systems I’ve always held a certain fascination with. Expect one-eyed viewpoints on the state of play in the AFL, the English Premier League (specifically, Liverpool FC) and the occasional rant on American sports. Expert discussion of hiking through nature, of trail running and the occasional ultramarathon. Expect the odd discussion of life, health (both mental and physical), and in some cases death. Expect anything and everything.

I cannot guarantee each essay with be an expert discussion. More the point, I expect few will. I cannot guarantee that there will be much wisdom herein, or even much to gain from reading short of a deeper understanding of the rambling mind of the author.

With any luck, they’ll be good yarns, told well.