Australia's National Prison Newspaper

Australia's National
Prison Newspaper

Welcome to About Time

About Time is the national newspaper for Australian prisons and detention facilities

Your browser window currently does not have enough height, or is zoomed in too far to view our website content correctly. Once the window reaches the minimum required height or zoom percentage, the content will display automatically.

Alternatively, you can learn more via the links below.

Donations via GiveNow

Email

Instagram

LinkedIn

ISSUE NO. 7

AUGUST 2024

Donate Here

Creative

This Miserable Existence

By

Darren

Darren writes from NSW.

'Rock Bottom' by Tony, available for purchase from Boom Gate Gallery

Font Size
Font Size
Line Height
Line Height
Dyslexia Friendly
Black & White
Hide Images
Night Mode

Hi Team,

Recently I was in the holding cells of the Sydney Downing Centre Courts waiting for a decision from my jury who were deliberating for the 4th day.

I had a copy of About Time Issue 1 to read, so, with plenty of time to fill, I decided to try one of the Creative Writing Exercises – Suggestion 1 – all the action takes place in one defined space, indoors or outdoors. I chose an outdoor bus shelter (see below).
On the 5th day of deliberations, I’m pleased to tell you the jury returned Not Guilty verdicts for 5 out of 6 serious counts and Guilty on 1 alternate count of Common Assault. I was bailed immediately as I had already served more than enough time for that type of charge. Cheers to everyone in Sector 4, Y1/B Pod at Nowra.

Regards,

Darren

Icy fingers clawed the nape of the old man’s neck as swirling wind whipped up dust and debris into Jack’s tired weathered face. Eyes stinging and watery, rubbed red and raw from repeated assaults of city detritus, Jack pulled the collar of his threadbare Vinnie’s coat tight against the onslaught. He huddled as best he could into a corner of the open-fronted bus shelter. It provided little by means of any real protection from the storm, nevertheless it proved a vast improvement on the rotting park bench from which he’d awakened on that awful Godforsaken day. Incessant gnawing hunger, his throat painfully parched, Jack found himself fondly reminiscing on the warm bed and full belly of a recent stint in jail. “Better that than this miserable existence?” he pondered. What petty crime might reward him with shelter and three meals a day to see him through the Winter? ’twas a consummation devoutly to be wished.

Icy fingers clawed the nape of the old man’s neck as swirling wind whipped up dust and debris into Jack’s tired weathered face. Eyes stinging and watery, rubbed red and raw from repeated assaults of city detritus, Jack pulled the collar of his threadbare Vinnie’s coat tight against the onslaught. He huddled as best he could into a corner of the open-fronted bus shelter. It provided little by means of any real protection from the storm, nevertheless it proved a vast improvement on the rotting park bench from which he’d awakened on that awful Godforsaken day. Incessant gnawing hunger, his throat painfully parched, Jack found himself fondly reminiscing on the warm bed and full belly of a recent stint in jail. “Better that than this miserable existence?” he pondered. What petty crime might reward him with shelter and three meals a day to see him through the Winter? ’twas a consummation devoutly to be wished.

Leave a Comment

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
0 Comments
Author Name
Comment Time

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere. uis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

Crochet

By Rachel

Here's just a few of my crochet art projects – this is what you can achieve if you learn how to crochet!

Creative

ISSUE NO. 8

2 MIN READ

Heartache and Pain

By Robert

Tears on my pillow, pain in my heart. The day they put me in prison, my whole world fell apart.

Creative

ISSUE NO. 8

2 MIN READ

Calls Behind Concrete Walls

By Leslie

Lights on, doors slam, go running to the phone. Dial the number hit the hash, and wonder if they're home. Spend the first minute saying hello, fight to say a word. Tell them that you love them and hope that you are heard.

Creative

ISSUE NO. 8

3 MIN READ

About Time

By Storm

It's about time, I outline, the walls we're within. No doubts fly, no routes fine, the way I'm living.

Creative

ISSUE NO. 8

3 MIN READ

Get the full paper in print each month.

6-Month Subscription:

Physical copy of About Time delivered to your home or organisation each month for six months. Paid upfront.

Subscribe for $70

12-Month Subscription:

Physical copy of About Time delivered to your home or organisation each month for twelve months. Paid upfront.

Subscribe for $125

Newsletter

Be the first to learn about our monthly stories, plus new initiatives and live events

You've successfully registered!
Something went wrong when we tried to register your details. Please try again.

Support Australia's first national prison newspaper

A place for news and education, expression and hope.

Help us get About Time off the ground. All donations are tax deductible and will be vital in providing an essential resource for people in prison and their loved ones.

It's
About Time.

A place for news and education, expression and hope.

Help us get About Time off the ground. All donations are tax deductible and will be vital in providing an essential resource for people in prison and their loved ones.

Donate Here

Newsletter

Be the first to learn about our monthly stories, plus new initiatives and live events

You've successfully registered!
Something went wrong when we tried to register your details. Please try again.