Reflections of a Grumpy Optimist. From the honesty of midlife crises, to the self-aware irony of a family man, businessman and occasional occupant of an analyst's chair: several decades of musings and amusings are collected here. Shrewd and tender observation of family relationships; insightful forensic examination of universal obsessions: love, lust, cars and football, and a wry sideswipe at the business of media and public relations. Sometime contributor of poetic musings to the Daily Telegraph, long-time gentle setter of spin, and veteran liver of life, Stuart Hulse distills the wisdom of middle-age into a cocktail of verses for all ages. "These are the poems of Everyman. In exposing so much of his life, Stuart makes so much of ours only too recognisable." Peter Hughes