Closed for Refurbishment
Rafferty’s Rules is currently undergoing a major overhaul and will be closed for the foreseeable future. I thank you for your patience.
Recent Posts
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Random Scene from a WIP (June 2021)
Taking in the man’s wide eyes and pale face, and adding it to the message she’d just received, Audrey felt her blood run cold. ‘Oh, please, no.’ She thought. ‘Please don’t let it be Sarah.’
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TRIGGER WARNING: Suicidal Ideation, Torture
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Disappointments of the Apocalypse
During week 12 of ‘Writing Apocalypse, we were asked to read Mary Karr’s Disappointments of the Apocalypse, then come up with our own ‘Disappointments of the Apocalypse’ poem.
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Window
The window was always closed.
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Writing Exercise Responses (June 2021)
These are my responses to the writing exercises from our tenth Writing Apocalypse lecture.
TRIGGER WARNING: Child death; car accident.
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The Crusades (Videos)
This three part series is hosted by Dr Thomas Asbridge. Episode one details the origin of the crusades and tracks the journey of the first crusaders as they attempt to recapture Jerusalem. Episode two covers the epic clash between Britain’s Richard the Lionheart, and the legendary sultan Saladin, unifier of Islam. The final episode concludes with the arrival of the Mongol hordes and the end of the crusades.
Platform: DailyMotion
Channel: Llayster
Episode 1 Run Time: 58:53
Episode 2 Run Time: 58:59
Episode 3 Run Time: 58:55 -
Random Paragraph (June 2021)
Your feet sting from the residue of bindies and the heat of the concrete stairs. You sweep the path as quietly as possible, hoping to avoid the attention of the Alsation next door.
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What Were the Crusades? (Fourth Edition) by Jonathan Riley-Smith: Dot Points
The best thing about this book is that it is succinct, engaging and easy to read, not dry or heavy at all.
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Another Writing Exercise Response (May 2021)
When I was a kid there were parks and forests. Suburbs with whole streets lined with trees.
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Dissonance by Adelaide McElhinney
Swaying leaves and lapping shores
herald shifting dreams
of memories imagined. -
Random Snippet May 2021
After all these years, I still miss her.
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Untitled (May 2021)
I got so caught up in my history assignment yesterday that I completely forgot about blogging. As an apology, I am posting twice today. This is my second post.
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Trigger Warning: Disturbing content involving sexual assault of a minor!
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When I was thirteen, my guardian – cos there’s no way I’m calling that asshole dad – decided it was time I earned my keep.
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Writing Exercise Response (May 2021)
I got so caught up in my history assignment yesterday that I completely forgot about blogging. As an apology, I’m going to post twice today.
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In the end, our destruction came from far away, beyond our lands, beyond even the beyond.
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The Merovingians (Video)
This video by Ryan M. Reeves (PhD Cambridge), Associate Professor of Historical Theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, briefly outlines the rise of the Merovingians, from Pepin the Short and Charles Martel until Charlemagne’s Carolingian Rennaissance.
Channel: Ryan Reeves
Run Time: 29:51 -
May his soul find peace
Out of respect for the death of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Rafferty’s Rules will be observing a period of mourning. No blog posts will be published during this time. Normal activities will resume on the first Monday in May.
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Lost World of the Maya (Video)
This video is a National Geographic documentary about ‘pre-classic’ Mayan civilisation and the 800-900s AD collapse. Fair warning for non-subscribers — this is packed with ads!
Channel: National Geographic
Run Time: 44.24 -
Writing Exercise Responses (April 2021)
I’m moving house tonight and won’t have internet access for a while, so I’m posting this week’s Fiction Friday a day early.
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You might think that day would be forgotten, lost in the cacophony of days since.
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He is alive, though death would be better, I think. -
Prions — What Are They? (Video)
This video gives a brief description of prions and explains why they can sometimes cause disease.
Creator: Hussain Biology
Run Time: 5.21 -
One Horse: A Study in Memory
Trigger Warning: Disturbing content
I wrote this as a story, but I’ve been told it’s poetry, so I’ll post it in both categories and let you decide.
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Something Is Killing Me: FFS
Fatal Familial Insomnia is a rare genetic condition which, as the name suggests, is invariably fatal. This documentary interviews three families who are afflicted with FFS, and documents the efforts which are underway in the search for a cure.
Run Time: 42:18
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More Writing Exercise Responses (March 2021)
My new Kindle arrived the other day.
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Australia emerged from the pandemic relatively unscathed, with less than five hundred deaths.
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It was like books with special features and we were stoked. -
12-21 by Dustin Thomason: Dot Points
The writing in this book is good, not great, and the characters and tropes are a trifle cliché, but I enjoyed this book nonetheless.
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Writing Exercise Responses (March 2021)
Lust turned to confusion, then terror, as loud tremors announced the first impact.
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He did not wish for more time, though the opportunity to cause more mayhem would be welcome.
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Heimdall watched, eyes hard, as Loki lay, wounded and broken, on the frozen ground. -
Philip Gourevitch Interview (Conversations With History)
Harry Kreisler interviews Philip Gourevitch, author of ‘We Wish To Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families’, on Writing, Reporting, and the Rwandan Genocide.
Run Time: 59:29
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Planning
“Johnson’s become a liability.”
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We Wish To Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families by Philip Gourevitch: Dot Points
This is a must read for anyone interested in history, international politics or human rights, and I would venture to recommend it, even to those with no interest in these subjects.
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Restless Revenant
Intrigued, she carefully cracked open the cover, mindful of the brittle pages, so absorbed with her find that she never noticed the gently blown dust forming patterns in the air, or the increasing chill causing her skin to goose bump.
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The Middle Ages in 3 1/2 Minutes
A cute little Medieval History video
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Error 500
We’re alive, but not living, not really. We’re stuck in some endless play and can’t find our way from the stage.
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History Time: 1000AD -A Tour of Europe
Medieval History Documentary
Featured Categories
Fiction Friday ›
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Random Scene from a WIP (June 2021)
June 25, 2021
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Window
June 18, 2021
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Writing Exercise Responses (June 2021)
June 11, 2021
Poems ›
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Disappointments of the Apocalypse
June 22, 2021
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Dissonance by Adelaide McElhinney
May 24, 2021
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One Horse: A Study in Memory
March 26, 2021
Top Tens ›
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Top Ten ‘Top Ten Tuesday’ Posts 2013-2015
July 2, 2019
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Top Ten Things I’ve Learned in My First Semester of University
June 18, 2019
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Top Ten Will Smith Movies
October 23, 2018
Baking ›
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Lemon Lamingtons
November 10, 2013
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Cake Balls
February 12, 2011
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Corn Meal Cookies
December 9, 2010
Desserts ›
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Banana Fritters
July 8, 2013
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5-Minute Chocolate Mud Cake
June 2, 2009
Meals ›
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Curried Cod
August 30, 2013
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Spicy Pasta Yasmina
February 10, 2013
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Onion Spaghetti
April 5, 2009
Salads ›
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Easy Tasty Side Salad
May 14, 2018
Snacks ›
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Coconut Ice
December 4, 2017
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Chocolate Crackles
November 18, 2015
Soups ›
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Creamy Carrot, Broccoli and Silverbeet Soup
June 20, 2013
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Bird’s Nest Soup
July 2, 2008
