SWEDEN

The five days I spent in Sweden during April 2013 were five of the greatest days of my life. I adored so many things about Sweden - birch trees, roe deer, melting snow, bobsledding, cranes returning from the north, the drumming of woodpeckers, Stockholm's mind-blowing architecture, Uppsala Cathedral, Uppsala's rune stones, Nils Oscar ale, herrings, rye bread, blueberry soup, cool modern trains, tramping across frozen lakes and swamps etc. I was very fortunate to stay with friends (respect Nat and Rob) in a small town called Vreta, not far from Uppsala, a university town north-west of Stockholm. The following posts will feature photographs from those five days. I hope you like them. LJ, January 5 2014.   

KOSCUISZKO

I tramped to the summit of Mt Koscuiszko on New Year's Day. Sublime stuff. A tremendous way to start off the new year. LJ, January 2 2014.

TED HUGHES

When finishing my nature poems, I was reading Ted Hughes' classic Birthday Letters, which I picked up for $1 at Campbelltown Library a few months ago. I'd never sat down with it before. My god, the man could write. Such a fierce imagination. Every time I finished reading a series of his poems I felt I should pack in the business of crafting verse. I'll never be that good. LJ, December 22

A DISPATCH FROM THE LAND OF GLOW WORMS, GREATER GLIDERS AND SOOTY OWLS

I just sent my nature poems through to my publisher. Exciting and surreal!

LJ, 17 December 2013.

DANNY GEALE

Danny Geale came to school today to hand out sport awards at an assembly. He trains at a gym around the corner. Danny spoke about setting goals and doing what the other bloke doesn't do to achieve them. I asked him how best to put wraps on my hands. He was softly spoken, polite, seemingly humble.

LJ, 11.12.13 (get excited, Maths geeks)

RULES OF REVIEWING BOOKS

The other night, Jennifer Byrne, on her ABC book show, described Shaun Tan's new thing Rules of Summer as a 'delightful' children's book. What rubbish! I don't think Jennifer spent much time inside the book. If she had, she'd have realised it's bizarre, non-sensical, gothic, unnerving, surreal and gorgeous. 'Delightful' doesn't do the book justice. It is a highly original volume for every age and all ages. It will challenge you. Read it this summer, without fail, otherwise you might turn into a crow or a squashed snail or the last olive on a plate or a tornado.

LJ, 5 December 2013.

CANBERRA

Top day in Canberra last Saturday -  Electric Shadows Bookshop, National Carillon, Parliament of Australia, Canberra Centre, Australian National Botanic Gardens (where I was tripping over eastern water dragons!), Lake Burley Griffin and Wilbur's at Hackett for dinner (great veggie stacks).

Canberra polarises people. Many people think it's soulless. I've always admired our nation's capital. I try to get down there a few times a year. There's always something to check out.

LJ, December 3 2013.