Modern Guru
I delightedly shared your Modern Guru [February 18] with my husband on a purposeful night away from technology and our house – which he seems to think always needs a vacuum or washing up done. With only river sand to scour with and a magnificent incoming storm, he still managed to present me with pristine pots, as I dragged him into the tent for a bit of post-washing-up attention.
Tracie McMahon
Blue Mountains, NSW
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Infidelity
Kate Legge’s story on infidelity was stunning [February 18]. She is a gifted poet. I read it, then my partner read it, then we read it again. It really is a phenomenal work. As we prepare for the wedding of my partner’s son in September, we both reflected on Kate’s words and stayed up far too late two nights in a row exploring all the pathways her words opened up for us. Brilliant.
Sonia Rendigs
Camberwell, VIC
Kate Legge states there are “countless excuses for why we go a-roving” but interestingly fails to mention one: being very, very, very attracted to someone.
Jen Gladstones
Heidelberg, VIC
I just want to pass on a glowing appreciation of the writing by Kate Legge – a more than brilliant story.
Emeritus Professor Stuart B. Hill
Western Sydney University, NSW
The Agitator
What a horrible individual is Avi Yemini [February 18]. I’ll stop now; he’s not worth the oxygen.
S.M.
Clovelly, NSW
Good Weekend devotes five pages to “The Agitator”, while relegating his criminal record of domestic violence and stalking to a mere half-paragraph. Whatever happened to judging a man by his actions?
A.B.
Docklands, VIC
Foreign Correspondence
As always, it was a pleasure reading Foreign Correspondence on the weekend [February 18]. Amelia Lester’s account on life approaching her 40th birthday was full of her usual sharp and witty observations, but I was downcast to read her closing paragraph – that it would be her last column. I’ve so enjoyed her amusing and on-point insights of a young family living overseas; always my first read on a Saturday morning. Best wishes and I hope we meet again, Amelia.
Wendy O’Brien
Nelson Bay, NSW
As a fellow early-1980s baby, I will miss Amelia Lester’s weekly musings. From playground fun to the world’s happiest countries, her column has offered an antidote to bigger global concerns such as war in Europe, the rising cost of living and the increasing threat of the climate crisis. Like Amelia, at 40 I feel a “frisson of excitement” and freedom to focus less on what others think and more on what really matters: capturing the joys of life.
Amy Hiller
Kew, VIC
As an Aussie who raised our family in the US, I have loved reading Amelia Lester’s experiences and views as she raised a family in Japan then Washington DC. But Foreign Correspondence has ended now, so thanks and farewell.
Barbara Fraser
Burwood, VIC
I thought I would be reading Amelia Lester’s column forever. I so looked forward to her little observations, bringing her 40-year-old life into mine.
Jenny Slattery
Hampton, VIC
Dicey Topics
I just wanted to let you know that I love reading Benjamin Law’s Dicey Topics each week in Good Weekend.
Narelle Collins
South Morang, VIC
Online comments
Finding Samuel
I had a similar experience to the one described in “Finding Samuel” [February 18]. A number of years ago when I came across the body of a young man who had hanged himself near my local ferry stop. It was in a dark corner among some beautiful fig trees. I could easily have walked past and not noticed, but the shape near the base of the tree was out-of-place, and it drew my eye. I, too, called out to him, but it was obvious he was beyond assistance. I didn’t have a mobile phone at the time and went to the ferry that had just come in and asked them to dial 000. I showed them where the body was and waited, not wanting to draw attention to him among the commuters arriving to catch the ferry. I then waited till they confirmed an ambulance was on its way and supplied my contact details. I made my way to work. It was a very surreal experience. I knew nothing of him and despite looking in papers there was no mention of who he was and why he had decided to take his life. The police visited my house 2 days later – ostensibly to check on my welfare, but they offered no other support or insight. I still walk past that place at least once a day, and it always leaves me feeling mournful and wondering what could have been done differently that would have not left him thinking that that was the only reasonable way out.
Kristian Hanlon
A very interesting and well-written piece. It just goes to show how any death can affect us and that your gut feelings about your connection with that person are probably correct.
Man in the Moon
A beautiful and compelling piece of writing that brought tears to my eyes. Thank you.
libbytopp
Wow, what a piece and what an experience. Thank you for caring; thank you for sharing. No-one gets out of life alive, perhaps you were part of helping Samuel do what he needed.
pippid5
What an interesting and poignant article. I’m glad your writer came to terms with our fragile humanity. It reminds me of when, walking the dogs, I found a body in the front yard of a house under construction. The man was unresponsive – shaking or yelling produced no reaction. I called 000, but was not asked to attempt resuscitation; within minutes four police cars arrived. Eventually, an officer was able to rouse the body. I was relieved to find out that the immobility was the result of excessive Soju consumption and not foul play.
Martlark
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