i think this past twelve months or so have been, on a personal level, about as difficult as any i can remember. hmmm. this weekend i have to get my 2003/2004 taxes in shape. i’m way behind, and i always get in a state about doing them, though they usually work out fine. i’ll owe money, but i should have it. i looked at the tax account yesterday and was going ‘oh f***k’, when i remembered i’d been making quarterly payments for the pay five quarters, so things are actually not too bad.

other than that, i have to finish work on the introduction to terry dowling’s new collection, basic black. it’s due out this year from the good folk over at cemetery dance, and should be very cool. i was writing the intro last night and realised that i’ve been reading his stuff for fifteen years, have been first reader on a handful of it, and a commissioning editor for some great work from him. nice. i think it’s time for him to write a new story suite, though: a science fiction one, based around his passion for mars. he should do it.

i’m also going to get my office in shape, if i can. i need to assemble one of those ikea bookcases (i was given one back in january that’s still in the box), and do some shuffling and changing. i also need to get the new computers bought and in the house. i’m determined to get it all finalised this financial year, and jeremy’s said he’ll help, which is good.

today i buy my ticket to melbourne for continuum. it’s in july, and should be good fun. it looks like i’ll be flying over with robin, which is neat.

what else? i’m enjoying jay lake’s rocket science very much, but struggling to find time to read it, like the new teenage fanclub cd a lot, and want an ipod. bumped into a guy in the lift coming up to the office who had a 60gb ipod photo. mmm. nice. maybe this year.