Dr Gerloch retired in 1999 from a career as an academic and research scientist in the field of quantum chemistry at the University of Cambridge. He is an emeritus fellow of Trinity Hall. He and his wife, Gwyneth, have since lived in Canberra, Australia. In retirement, Malcolm has enjoyed garden design, house renovation, and learning to cook in several cuisines. In 2004, he constructed a dual-manual Flemish harpsichord for Gwyneth to play and to thank her for introducing him (so late in life) to the non-scientific literature of the nineteenth and twentieth century European and twentieth century American writers. At 79, Malcolm began writing both children's and adult short stories, as well as the present account of retirement in Oz.