I think I've been composing silly rhymes forever. It's in my genes. I can remember as a child, sitting with my family in front of a log fire where we often composed together, short, slightly wacky poems. These sessions frequently started as a result of one or other of us needing help with a school poetry project. I must say, it was a lot of fun and some were rather good. I think one was written for my brother about the school bus, based on the man from Snowy river. My first published poem was in the School Magazine written at the ripe old age of 13 was about a cannibal. I was very proud. Much later in life, a bad job and boredom started me off again, and soon these rhymes began to collect in a pile in my desk. Inspiration may hit me on a train, bus or a waiting room. These rhymes were originally really only written for my own amusement. The cartoons followed later. I was diagnosed with Early Parkinsons disease 9 years ago. Naturally this was a shock but I have since adjusted to the idea and although this has put some restrictions on my physical abilities, it has not curbed my active imagination. Samantha McCulloch.
