Derek Lewis wishes to share a photo...

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Greg Fretten - an Update

After a number of years of non contact I finally realised the reason may be that we changed our provider and email address!

The reason for my forgetfulness is either too much Bundaberg OP Rum or old age. Probably old age.

As time has passed nothing too much has changed. We still live on the Gold Coast at the same address and continue to be reminded of what a wonderful place it is.

My daughter has approx. 4 weeks till she graduates with a Master of Pharmacy to go with her Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science and my son is hopefully on the same track although he has recently discovered the 3 main pleasures in life, women (sex), alcohol and Jupiter's Casino.

Last year we sold our wholesale bakery to continue other interests, but unfortunately we hadn't worked out what they were! As a result we haven't done too much since then. The house is almost painted!

We have been doing some casual teaching to make ends meet, which has reaffirmed that resigning from teaching in 1986 was the right decision. The money is good, but at what cost. Needless to say we are now looking to buy another business.

Last year we did travel to Truk Lagoon (Chuuk) in Micronesia to do some WW11 wreck diving. This was a dream that I had and the experience was more fulfilling than the dream. Also last December the family went to Espiritu Santo (Vanuatu) to dive on the "President Coolidge"wreck and complete our Advanced Open Water Divers qualification.

Could you please amend our email address as: gregnsue[AT]onthenet.com.au

Hoping all continue in good health.

Regards
Greg Fretten & Family

Stephen Edgar, poet

Found and bought this book recently. (Heinemann, 1995)

The bio inside says:

'Stephen Edgar was born in in Sydney in 1951. After working in London for three years, he moved in 1974 to Hobart where he has lived since. For most of the past twenty years he has worked in libraries, though other jobs included psychiatric nursing and insurance; he is now a freelance editor and proofreader. Between 1989 and 1994 he was poetry editor of the literary quarterly Island.

From 'The Secret Life of Books'

They have their stratagems too, though they can't move.
They know their parts.
Like invalids long reconciled
To stillness, they do their work through others.
They have turned the world
To their own account by the twisting of hearts.

---

From 'Reflexions in the Face of Newton's Clock'

Each visit the shed's tilt is more pronounced,
The rust that binds the wires is more encrusted,
Each time the lapsing fence more thickly flounced
With blackberries, the sag
Of the cottage ceiling less to be trusted.
the clichés start to nag,
Setting up their din
Like starlings' tuneless infestation in
The bush, its widening range.
The years, these are the years, so you begin:
Time passes and things change.

---

Extracts from Edgar's work are used without permission, because I admire them.
Come and get me.

David Gaunt may be able to tell us more about what Stephen Edgar is up to these days.

SDG