Gone Bush

Book excerpt: Gone Bush has something for everyone, no matter what their taste like a smorgasbord. Even the voice and style varies subtly, with the season or subject. The narrative winds through a catalogue of misadventures, learning experiences and events with humour, whimsy, opinions, musings, social comment, even touches of fantasy and pathos, with asides on travels, memories, and explorations. It speaks to the interests of many, whether they are old or young, city dwellers or rural, manual or office worker; all can enjoy the humour, stretches of imagination, anecdotes and the evocations of places or the past, ensuring its appeal to a wide readership. Because life is episodic, so is Gone Bush. There is an immense variety of subject matter in Gone Bush. It is the story of fifteen years developing a few hectares in a valley out of Bellingen, New South Wales. The story ends with an evocation of Sydney c1945 and my visit to the property years after I had sold it.