It was indeed a great delight when Studio publishing invited me to be the featured poet in the mid-year issue of this well-known journal. I was really thrilled at the opportunity to help produce this collection of my poetry of the last two decades, and greatly impressed by Paul Grover's astute and thoughtful selection of poems from six of my published poetry books, ranging from the 2009 In Due Season' to 2019's Marking Time. Even more delighted when he asked me to put together a selection of 'other' poems, written over the years, including more recent work. Many of these poems have appeared in journals, magazines and anthologies, but others have not been published before. The outcome is Marking Seasons, a seven section book of 165 pages, with six sections drawn from published books, and the seventh titled 'New and Selected Poems' - it's a broad-ranging collection both in time and content.

To make the selection for this last section was in many ways a labour of love. A real chance to re-visit almost twenty years of writing, with about 1500 poems to explore, many of which I'd almost forgotten (and some I'd prefer to forget!). But what a chance to look over the years and the different forms of poetry that I'd tried! Writing the introduction to the book was another opportunity to find out what I thought about the whole enterprise of poetry writing - as I've often said 'I don't know what I think until I see what I've written ...'

I was vastly impressed by Studio's professionalism and speed of action, as well as Paul's whole approach and sympathetic attitude to my work. From his first approach to me at the end of April to the finished book arriving in mid-July, this whole process has been nothing but a pleasure. It's been a rare chance to gather my work of the last two decades and put it in a public arena. So far - another delight  - the response has been enthusiastic. I won't be having the customary book launch, but I'm hoping many of my regular readers will either contact me to purchase or buy the book from the 'order onlne' last section in this website.

Three months later …

 Once again, three months have passed. It almost feels like a quarterly journal when I get round to bringing up to date this ‘news and events’ page on my website. A sort of parallel to the quarterly magazine, Chatline, I edit for my church, or (though this one is more frequent) the monthly eight-page newsletter, Probe, I produce for my Probus Club, or the monthly writing for Literati, or the three poetry groups we attend and write for each month. How quickly these dates come!  Small wonder that, given all these regular obligations, the web page languishes neglected.

It has, as foreseen, been a very busy time. The Adelaide launch of Finding Emma was a great night, with 150 attending, including some old friends from past years, and enthusiastic speeches from West Torrens Mayor, Michael Coxon, and the SA Consul for Germany, Matthew Williams. Embarrassingly laudatory, true – but hey, great to hear their words. This was followed by a number of radio interviews and a very pleasing page on my books and background in SA Weekend, the Saturday magazine of The Advertiser. It surprised and delighted me how many people called or emailed their congratulations on these publications. Even more, I’ve been pleased by the comments of readers about the new book.

            Albury events were also a great pleasure, with a chilly night at the Jindera Pioneer Museum warmed for the fifty people there by gas heaters in the courtyard, and Albury Mayor, Kylie King, as a polished book launcher. As was Paul Grover, editor of Studio journal, at the author event a few days later in Albury’s new and impressive LibraryMuseum Centre. Good to have excellent publicity there too with interviews on the ABC Breakfast Show and in several regional newspapers and magazines. A wonderful chance, also, to catch up with relatives and friends of former years – especially the ones who made the trek from interstate.

            All this book launch excitement over, it’s time for the usual home events – a number of guest speaker occasions booked in coming months and several short holidays, one to Goolwa with a group of close friends, another a nostalgic few days in the country cottage in Inman Valley where David and I had had our first weekend away at the start of our relationship – so many years ago. Our next venture will be two weeks in Queensland (ah, warmth!) to see my first great-grandchild, born in February in Brisbane, then time with son Nick and Janee on their farm. Possibly the last trip there, as it’s up for sale and they plan a move to the coast. I guess we can handle that!

            Plus that there’s a new book on the way – an unexpected but very pleasing invitation – more of that when the project has been firmed up.  But exciting!

 Four months on …

 End of September, that was my previous entry – no wonder I feel ashamed of being so slack. But what a four months it has been.

The long-anticipated, much-planned trip to Scandinavia fell into a mighty hole when I was diagnosed with pneumonia two weeks before departure. First my own doctor, then the chest specialist he referred me to, were adamant. Definitely no travel. Not only was that a source of great sadness; all those plans, the places we’d booked, the return to Tromso, the glass igloos in Finland, the people like my dear friend Lotte in Germany we’d arranged to spend time with … not only these gone – but, because it was too late to cancel these bookings and get any return, it was a massive financial loss. We are still now, four months later, doing battle with RAA Travel Insurance to recoup these losses.

            So a very different December from the one we’d planned!

            To comfort ourselves, we arranged a two week trip to Tasmania. At least, we consoled ourselves, it was ‘overseas’! Well, we did take our car with us on the boat, and set off on the Spirit of Tasmania for a time that proved both really interesting and very enjoyable. Best of all, I resumed my old travel practice of writing a poem a day. So rewarding, to be writing again – it added an extra dimension as we explored the ancient forests of the north west, the mighty rivers and mountains of the centre, the convict remains in Sarah Island and Port Arthur, the quirky fascinations of the MONA gallery, gold-panning as part of the Western Railway experience, the delights of whiskey distilleries like Hellyers … so much to do.

           But back to Melbourne for a planned five days with friends and relatives, only to find on the first morning there that, to our shocked dismay, we were testing positive for Covid. After avoiding it for four years and with five vaccinations, this did come as a nasty surprise. No Melbourne time and another set of plans foiled. Straight back into the car and home for two weeks isolation in Adelaide. Beginning to feel jinxed, but at least we’d had the Tasmanian holiday.

            Now it’s into full-scale planning for the launch of the new book. Melbourne artist Stacey Zass has created a lovely cover design for the front, and it’s all falling into place for the launches of Finding Emma. The first, with West Torrens Mayor Michael Coxon as host, and Matthew Williams, SA Consul for Germany as guest speaker, will be on March 20, and next week invitations should be sent out. In April, another launch at the Jindera Pioneer Museum, with Albury Mayor Kylie Cook as the speaker, and then two days later an Author Event at the Albury LibraryMuseum. By then Emma will be well and truly out in the world – it will be interesting to see how she is received. Fingers crossed. I’m hoping to see many people, friends old and new, at these events. It’s all both exciting – and also a bit apprehension-creating. I’m really hoping this book gets a favourable response …