Whew! Yes, it’s another “whew!” mudlark. The last few months have been very busy and there’s little sign of things letting up.

I’d started this year wondering why I was trying to find work as a writer and looking at other jobs. I did manage some interesting work with UQ’s Architecture Department on raising urban creeks, and I’m still hoping this might lead to other things. But by May, more work started coming in and piling up. Ross has had no time to wonder about anything. He has been making, designing, entering, writing, and making like a whirlwind. We did take a few days out to deliver some commissions to Sydney, visit Jim, and see a small bit of the Sydney Writers’ Festival; we had to drive back via the inland route because of the floods along the coast.

Just a short mudlark to recognise the year of the Ox (this year beginning on Australia Day, 26 Jan) – a hardworking year deserving of the number one place, but never quite getting there. The Ox is strong, a born leader who works well manually, but remains a little introverted and misunderstood. While patient and industrious, the Ox can also be bigoted and grumpy. Mostly though the Ox is reliable and responsible, never shirking the hard work. And in 2009, we all have hard-working plans.