Autobiography

Ian decided to write an ‘autobiography’ in 2009 (and finally got around to it in 2011).

The idea started after meeting up with an old school mate, Swami Kriyatma, to embark on a pilgrimage to see a mutual mate from those school days, who was dying.  A lot had changed for all three school mates in over 40 years – and some things hadn’t.  It seemed a good time to start making notes.

When Ian told daughter, Laura, that he was writing his autobiography, she said, ‘You’re too young for that!”  Ian appreciated the flattery but it was too late not to start.  With his diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis in 2010 and his heart attack in 2011, the time seemed right to reminisce, to look at how society and attitudes had changed in 57 years and tell his ‘story’, even if the eventual audience would only be his kids.  Parts of the story will appear in blog form under ‘The Journey‘. 

Here is the preface to the book, which has the working title, The Ibis Has Expletives.

This journey begins with an ending. 

February 2009.        

Jim was crook.

Cancer. 

With 111 years of inexperience between them and a quarter of a century since their last brief encounter, old school mates, Swami Kriyatma and ‘The Poet’, hit the road. 

The quest – to find a little place on the Queensland map called Westmar, then turn right, drive 28km further, and have lunch with Jim.

Planned serendipity.

That road led to this book.

The Poet’s story.

And some of the Swami’s.

So far.

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