Philip R. Rush

Although I thought many times this summer about reading this book I just never got around to it probably because in the summer there is so much to do outside. This morning, the last day of October, the book called out to me and I read it while eating my breakfast looking out at the leaden grey skies and trees with bare branches. The book reminded me that this is just another phase and spring will come again. (Of course, in Tasmania where the author lives the gardens are probably looking pretty lovely. His poem "Spring" on p. 68 is about this time of year in the southern hemisphere.)

I think my favourite was "Peace and Quiet" in which the author talks about his attempts to sit in his garden and enjoy it. At breakfast he is harrassed by a magpie, in the afternoon March Flies stung and bit him as he tried to read his book and after supper his cup of coffee, biscuits and cake were spoiled by mosquitoes. That is pretty much my experience in trying to sit quietly outdoors although I've never had a magpie attack my bald pate.… (altro)