About

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I’m an author who lives and works in the Dandenong Ranges, on the eastern edge of Melbourne Australia.

I’ve watched more movies than you’ve had hot dinners and I enjoy writing about education, with a particular emphasis on home schooling and helping parents with children who are at school. (Update — I don’t do this much anymore)

I’ve recently discovered that ( been at it for a number of years now) I can write fiction and I’m not bad at children’s stories.

I’ve been taking photos since the early 1950s.

I contribute articles to The Foothills on education and dog psychology (I’m the bloke you see walking with the two fluffy white dogs). (The Foothills gig is no more and one of the fluffy white dogs died in 2019, miss you, Honey)

I’m currently trying to remain sane as well as writing a biography of Gavin Smith and SOUPEES.

I love Italian food and walks in the rain.

I take one day at a time but occasionally I’m attacked by several days at once.

I think that we should all live in peace, but I also think that is unlikely.

Several people would like me to live somewhere else, but I really like it here.

My amazing wife and I have lived in the hills for a little over thirty-six years. (forty-four years)

My favourite colour is green and so is my favourite car.

I’m amazed that I have lived this long, and I hope that you enjoy reading the things that I write.

But that’s not all………………….

I started my working life as a Primary School Teacher in the early 1970s.

Since then I have been a stained glass craftsman, furniture restorer, restorer of Player Pianos and music rolls, author (two books  eighteen books so far another on the way Two more on the way), photographer, basketball trading card manufacturer, basketball coach, basketball player, basketball referee, part-time shop assistant, newspaper columnist, homeschool dad, husband, father, grandfather, and a few other bits and pieces, and not in this order.

I have been arm-wrestling depression and anxiety for the better part of twenty years (thirty years) and I only just worked out that I’m not going to beat either of them, but I do seem to be winning.

I’m fascinated by people, but I prefer dogs.

I’m amazed that anyone does anything.

I’ve learned that being still is not ‘doing nothing’.

I’ve gotten to a point in my life that I have to write.

I’ve learned that small visiting dogs will eat your reading glasses if you don’t keep an eye on them.

All dogs talk, you just have to learn how to listen.

I’m not frightened of dying, but sometimes life scares the hell out of me.

I love the colour green especially when it is painted on a Jaguar saloon car. (which I can no longer afford to keep on the road)

I love driving but most of the time I like to be here. It’s raining at the moment and that’s OK.

I love travelling on trains and I like money. I respect what it can do and it amazes me that so many people handle it badly. Money is just a tool and I would like to have a small continuous stream of it.

I like being paid to write but at the moment this does not happen nearly enough. (Unfortunately, this is still true)

I think that birds are cool, but I don’t think that they spend any time thinking about me, even though I give them lots of stale bread, and the occasional pizza crust…….. ungrateful bastards!

I hardly ever wear a watch, which is kinda sad as I own a really nice one.

I got an earring a few years ago because I thought it might help to change my life; it did a bit but not as much as I thought it would…… I lost my really nice earring, I looked for it, but it was dark.

Me rambling on about education and home schooling…….. http://schoome.wordpress.com/

Me rambling on about Understanding Your Dog……………..http://barcaupthewrongtree.wordpress.com/

And more recently……. me just rambling on……. http://terryrbarca.wordpress.com/

Me adding extra stories to the Sam and Scarlett adventures that started with THE LONG WEEKEND.

https://thelongweekendd.wordpress.com/

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My first Fiction Novella

Schoome

My first book. Published in 2010.

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 Short Story anthology Book 1

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Shorty Story anthology Book 2

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 Short Spooky Stories

TRUST final cover (1)

Rufus cover 3 large

Short Stories for those who are young at heart

Red Wheelbarrow cover # 3 (1)

Short Story anthology Book 3

Version 2

Mystery Novella

sometimes I just cannot stay awakeGlamorous lifestyle.

IMG_0127These creatures keep me sane.

UPDATE:

Since I started this blog in 2013 a few rather nice things have happened to do with writing, so I thought I would include a few of the pieces that have been published.

Let’s face it, if you have read this far down the page you are a glutton for punishment so it serves you right.

I’ve been published a few times.

 

NON FICTION.

 

Schoome: An Adventure in Home Schooling 2010 [Book]

Spider’s Trading Web [Book.. unpublished]

Otherways in 2011 [article]

The Foothills magazine 2012—2014

The Milkbar Magazine 2013

Theunfair faxmachine in 2013 [The Spotted Librarian]

Grassroots 2013, 2014

The Age 2012 [short article on Home Schooling]

FICTION.

 

The Foothills Magazine 2012, 2013, 2014

Positive Words Magazine 2014

Creative Frontiers 2014

The Community Storyboard 2013 [7 stories], 2014.

The Paperbook Collective 2014

Toasted Cheese 2014

The Tophat Raven 2014

Southerly [The Long Paddock… online edition]

 

 

I have self-published two Non-Fiction books.

I have published one (four) novella [fiction] and there is a second [and a third] one well under way; all three books have the same central characters… Sam and Scarlett.

(I’ve also published several collections of short stories, two novels and two novelettes)

 

 Short stories are my strong suit. (This is still true and I try and publish (here on WordPress) a new short story every week (Saturday Australian time)

Enjoy my work. Then buy me a coffee?

Enjoy my work. Then buy me a coffee?

183 thoughts on “About”

  3. Hi Terry, Thanks for the like on my post about the best use of Myki Pass refunds. Small world, hey? Amazing to think you could have been my primary school teacher, if you taught in the nearby locality known by the aboriginal word for Red Earth. Take care.

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  4. Hello Terry, let me just say that you’ve truly made my day by your ‘likes’ on my posts and for the follow. It’s a great encouragement so thank you.
    I also enjoyed reading about you. I will definitely return to read more of your posts! Cheers.

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    • My pleasure……. I love your stuff. One of these days we should do a book together. I’m slowly compiling a collection of stories that I made up when my boys were young. I thought my grandchildren might get a kick out of them. Like I said, slowly, so by the time I get them all together you will be too famous and too busy to find the time. I would not mind,you deserve the success.
      Terry

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    • It interesting how small the WP world can be at times considering how many people inhabit it.
      If I remember [and I rarely do] sethsnap is where I found you ‘back in the day’. You wrote a good little story with plenty of angst.

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      • Two angst-ridden (I was gonna say degenerates but you might be a tower of integrity!) relics of the era when we had “Where no wrinklies fly”. Bloody amazing we’re still above ground, Terry! For which I am very grateful. Cheers, mate. D

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  7. Thanks ever so much for liking my post today on Tide Line Still Life, particularly since it led me to your fascinating and diverse site. Isn’t this small world a wonderful thing? Best, Maggie

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    • My pleasure Maggie, and yes, I’ve found this to be a small world also…….. millions of bloggers from all over the world and I keep bumping into familiar faces. Is the universe trying to tell us something?
      Terry

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  14. I don’t just ‘like’ your blog, I love it, love it. My daughter suffers depression and anxiety so I understand. She is gifted in creativity and boy oh boy so are you. I look forward to catching up on your previous entries and look forward to the future ones . I found yor blog through beautiful Nia.

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    • Thank you very much for those wonderful comments. I’m so pleased that you are having fun here.
      Thank you also for saying how you got here. I often wonder, and I’m often amazed at how people find each other on WP. One might think that there is a spooky force at work! Then on the other hand, maybe we find each other because we need to. I agree that Nia is a beautiful soul.
      Terry

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  15. Now why haven’t i come across your blog before? I follow a few blogs but none has the beautiful photography that you have along with the interesting prose.
    Thank you for visiting my blog.

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    • Thank you very much. I appreciate the recognition, and thank you for the excellent praise. I’m glad that you enjoy my blog. I have a lot of fun working on those stories and it is heartening to hear that you enjoy them so much.
      Terry

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  19. Pingback: Spitballs, Spray Guns and Stock Brokers–When Working On Wall Street Was Wacky | Books at Middlemay Farm

    • You need not worry about my expectations………. I love what you do, that’s why I spent so much time looking at your past work. Thank you for taking the time to comment and thank you for those excellent photos.
      Terry

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  23. Ah, you’re an Aussie – and from Victoria! So you’ll know that my story is true, with all locations real, and only the names of the characters (other than ME) kept hidden for their privacy, etc., etc. Of course, back in … erhmm … about 1968, I think, St Kilda Junction was very differently constructed from how it looks now. My flat block was up on the corner of Barkly Street and Alma Road, and the view was, like, direct. Stay chooned … 😀

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    • Yep, it’s amazing how that happens, isn’t it?
      Things have been reasonably mellow around here lately though, let’s hope it stays that way.
      Thanks for taking the time to comment.
      Terry

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  27. “‘I take one day at a time but occasionally I’m attacked by several days at once.” ROTFL!
    “I’m fascinated by people but I prefer dogs.” – Amen brother!
    “I have been arm wrestling depression and anxiety for the better part of twenty years and I only just worked out that I’m not going to beat either of them but I do seem to be winning.” – They moved in some time ago and I just let them eat my food, hang out, watch TV and leave when they please, it’s easier.

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    • Thank you for the visit………. I enjoyed your comments.
      It isn’t in my nature to be beaten down by anything so realising that I probably wasn’t going to win this fight didn’t go down well. I’m in the midst of a particularly bad episode at the moment so forgive me if I sound a little down.
      I’m pleased that you have come to a sort of accommodation with ‘yours’. You give me hope…… trouble is, I’m a stubborn son of a bitch.
      Thanks for cheering me up.
      Be well.
      Terry

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      • You’re welcome and don’t forget that the last episode you had before this one…well, you came out of that and the one before that one and so on, hence my attitude of waiting for them to leave, looking at my watch, tapping my feet and whistling patiently. They remind me of unwanted guests that if you actively tried to remove would probably cause more drama than just sleeping it out or putting on some mindless TV and chilling out until they go. Then when the heavy dark cloak lifts it’s like tip toeing next door and seeing the couch empty. Yay! Back to life! it works for me, as does being creatively busy, (and my pooch!) ‘cos I don’t do the drug solution.
        Routing for ya!

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  28. So delighted you popped by to introduce yourself at my blog, Terry. I can see I’ll enjoy wandering around the lanes of your writing and thinking, too, now that I’m here. Lots of topics of interest in common, come to think of it!

    Cheers,
    Kathryn

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  33. Thanks for visiting man with a pram in a tram. I must say I’m really impressed by your blog, you and I share many interests. I’m also very humbled by your honesty regards the black dog (not fair to dogs that saying), it takes courage to openly discuss the issue and I applaud you.

    How was the publishing saga? Especially self-publishing, sounds like moving from the toddler pool to the ocean to me.

    Look forward to more.

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    • Thanks for the comments………. the publishing saga was intense, but in the end reasonably straightforward. I went through Smashwords and they are very helpful, especially with distribution to the four main eBook sites.
      As with all things, the learning continues.
      Terry

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  34. Sorry! I don’t agree with you at all. Maroon is the only colour to paint an old Jag. Especially if it’s an old Mk 5 that my brother crashed about 40 years ago. Bastard. If I had any money now I would look for my old Citroen Light 15 that I used to drive when I lived in Olinda. But crying doesn’t help. If you like home schooling and new private Pentecostal schools DO NOT look at any of my education posts. And don’t say I didn’t warn you.

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    • Cannot say I wasn’t warned………. fair enough………. didn’t know Pentecostals had schools…. but I should have guessed……. you sound as though you are nearly as pissed off as I am……….. good to know……. only kidding…… glad that you felt the need to comment. I always enjoy reading people’s reactions.
      Terry

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    • black background is best for photography and larger font is best for reading longer stories.
      You don’t need to format anything, WP is automatic.
      Possibly the fault is with your browser. A switch to Chrome might solve your problem?

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  36. I saw your dogs and had to grab my wife and drag her over to the macbook. Our Annie could be a sister, if not separated by the Pacific Ocean and most of America. Look at my post “Writer’s blockbusters” and the pictures of our doggies are there. We are also a homeschool family. Our son had a hard time in school and we discovered he learned differently than other kids. The school was indifferent to the problem and offered no solution. So we removed him mid way through 7th grade. He is now a college graduate working his way up in the business world.

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    • Hi Barry. Been following you for ages……… don’t hear enough from you…… guess you must be busy also.
      All is well here and I hope it is with you also.
      Don’t forget to be awesome.
      Terry

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      • You certainly have been following me for ages. I just meant I noticed the developments on your site. You’ve always been very supportive. I remember how you used to look forward to the latest instalment of The Shopkeeper. I just wanted to say hi as it’s been a while. Busy here, yes. I’m working on my short-story collection. Glad you’re well. Talk soon. B

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    • Hi David,
      I was very pleased to see your name pop up in my ‘reader’. Over the years, I have noticed a bunch of the people who I followed have disappeared — being a writer, I imagined all sorts of things lol. It always interests me that people flash into your life (real life and internet) and flash out again — makes me a bit sad, but I don’t know why. Life goes on, I guess. It has to be said that life has not, and is not boring — I hope it is the same for you — don’t forget to be awesome!
      Terry

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      • I do love your final exhortation, Terry. Nice touch, mate. And thank you. Yeah, life has been somewhat less than kind on occasion over the past few years but that just provides material for a writer, eh? I’ve had a series of jobs that didn’t suit my personality (I’m a bit out there and my irreverence does not always sit well – ah, what the hell!). But, now I’ve landed a gig writing speeches and government correspondence for Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. It’s a gig I love and it’s wonderful to be back in the zone again. It shows now that I keep thinking of things I should write. You, being of a certain age, will possible appreciate this: my first job out of schools (Christian Brothers’ College St Kilda) was drafting correspondence for then Deputy Premier and Chief Secretary, Sir Arthur Rylah. Very much a junior, junior but . . . And now, for what is almost certainly the final job of my career, I have become a correspondence clerk again. It would appear that life is not only strange but quite circular! Noting your Dandenong Ranges location, I used to own a 5 ac. block at Cockatoo way, way back. Bought it by paying back rates in arrears to the then council. But left it behind when I moved to Queensland in ’75. Ah, so many adventures.

        Do you self-publish?

        Understand if you don’t have time spare to engage deeply. Cheers, David.

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        • self publish, yes…… but, did you ever get to meet Arthur Rylah’s teen age daughter? lol Life never stops being interesting. Could not be happier that you have landed a gig you enjoy… so much of life is doing stuff you have to do to get by…. always fun to do something you enjoy…. never too busy to chat (although there are sometimes long response gaps, lol. Terry

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    • Yes, I am. I wrote a book about my experiences, including how I came to discover that I am a medium. I’m also a psychic (the two things don’t always go together) and a pretty good clairvoyant, but I don’t use this ability very often.
      I spent six years working most weekends at spiritualist centres, but not so much these days. My book is called TRUST. There is a follow-up book on the way, which chronicles those years of platform work.
      It’s a very strange experience to realise that you have these abilities so late in life, but it explains a lot about my past.
      Terry

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