Couple of news stories to report...

* Ariane Koek has decided to resign as the Director of the Arvon Foundation, with effect from 31 December 2008, to further her writing career. We wish her every success.

* John Irvine reports that you never know when an opportunity for a commission or publication can spring up: "Folks, one must take opportunity and wring its rotten neck when it raises it's ugly head... recently I booked a rental car over the internet for a short holiday we're planning in Australia early next year. The Australian manager (who has, I have discovered, a very advanced sense of the ridiculous) made contact and asked, after reading some poetry on my website, if I'd write a 'ridiculous' poem for them. The company is called Vroom Vroom Vroom, a name that hooked me straight off. Great people to deal with there too, I can tell you... their website address is www.vroomvroomvroom.co.nz and is well worth a visit. Well, I did write something and you can read it if you go to the Home page above, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on my name. These good folks have even given me my own web page and links to everywhere that matters. You can even purchase one of my books by following a link(s) from this location! How wonderful is that... There are opportunities in all sorts of unlikely nooks and crannies, so keep an eye out. In a nice, hand-blown glass jar for preference."