I fully admit that not only had I not heard of Devla before but I got the book because there was a reference to cycling in the title. I loved it from the first page Ms Murphy has a real way with words, her humour just shines through, I bet she is a tough cookie but boy would I love to sit down and chat with her. The book describes the pain and the joy of growing up in Ireland as an only child and her love of the countryside and cycling. And not just cycling, her joy of books and reading is almost tangable (I too knew the feeling, as a young boy when I "discovered" a new Biggles book to devour). Later she writes about travels abroad but beneath it all is her love for her family and her writing. First published in 1997, this is a book for everyone, a well crafted autobiography, which will be loved by cyclists, bibliophiles and those wanting to read a fresh version of life in Ireland pre and post war (the "emergency"). All I want now is to get hold of her other books, dont you just love it when you discover a new writer?