Weaselboy Gets Work

Four different jobs since the last newsletter, and I'm now officially a 'temp'.
Contracted through Drake Overload, the work has been reasonably constant and varied.
I have answered phones at the Secondary Schools Assessment Board; desktop-published a newsletter for Payneham Council; and printed class rolls, student results, arranged subjects for second semester at Regency TAFE, and worked on the computer support help desk at Adelaide City Council.
The money is good, and the ability to take a break between jobs to catch up on TAFE or bookbinding is a bonus.

The motorbike has been sick lately, and Matthew caught a taxi to the vets one Sunday night, so I don't feel very rich - but at least things are looking up.
I miss Kristie, but the jobs I've had so far have been fun. I actually received a little award for working at SSABSA, which was a nice surprise; and all the staff at Drake sent me a signed card for my birthday.

After a year of floating around Australia, my science-fiction story 'Pix' has found a publisher - in Western Australia.
Paperback Paper , a tabloid newspaper of stories and poems, ran as a pilot study last year. Although sales were low, enough interest was generated that a new edition, different in format and presentation, will be issued shortly under the title of Readers' World .
They said that they were impressed by my work, asked me to sign a contract basically stating that I was the real author of 'Pix', and encouraged me to send more manuscripts.
Six months' subscription is $23.70, but I'll see if I get a free copy before I invest. If anyone else is interested, let me know.

Big Birthday Bash

My birthday was a very happy one this year. I came home to find the kitchen decorated with streamers and balloons and gold stars cut out of cardboard. There were parcels and cards waiting to be opened; Smarties and lollies in glass bowls on the table; corn chips and dips and pumpkin bread; and there were angel cakes in the fridge. Kristie had outdone herself.
We rushed away to buy Bec's present (her birthday's the day after mine!) and arrived home just as they were about to knock on the door. Wrapped in haste, Bec still seemed thrilled with her sock puppet and other assorted treasures.
Party pies and sausage rolls; and Leona arrived with more angel cakes (do I just give off vibes or something?) Leona's birthday was earlier that week. It was a very 'birthday' birthday party.
Thank you to everyone for all the lovely gifts - it means to me that I'm worth a little time and a little thought.
And thank you to the Fogues, Rachel and especially Thayne and Meg who managed to track down our new SILENT telephone number without the use of sniffer dogs.
For those of you who Kristie and I haven't yet contacted, please jot this down - and if anyone asks for it you have to whisper...