Spring Reflection

In the land of Oz it is now officially spring -- although the equinox is still 3 weeks away. The official sign of spring is the blooming of the jasmine, and the redolent scent fills the air with a welcoming sweetness that beckons us to walk in the outdoors and enjoy the first flush of warm weather, flowers and more daylight.

And greatest of all blessings this year has been excellent rains -- the best in five years they say, so the poor gardens of the city are looking a bit more refreshed after about 200mls of rain. There's more to come, say the weather shamans too.

The land is also gearing up for a federal election with a reasonable and clear cut choice for the first time in years -- even though some wags consider the opposition leader, Kevin Rudd, as "Howard Lite".

I bring in this last somewhat less than bucolic thought into my writes of spring (sorry) because we sincerely hope that the coming of the rains, the changing of the season from a quite harsh winter, will be the harbingers of a change of government -- one that can only be described as 'dry ', a la Thatcher -- to one of a rather more compassionate nature.

Notwithstanding all the turmoil of our times, I am grateful to be alive and living where I do. Let us hope and work toward making the planet undergo a spring of renewal for humans and life in all its forms. Let us pray that the earth is washed by the gentle rains of spring, rather than the torrent of blood that stains the ground with wasted lives.

P B White.

PS: My website is also upgraded. If you want to visit it, go to
http://www.uq.edu.au/~uqpwhite

And I am attaching a picture of me in one of my weekend incarnations :-)