Mystery (February)

[For Lenore Stephens] Drinking inside the snug with wandering Angus, the Innisfree side of Lough Gill. Watching blue bowerbirds scamper for green grapes, retreat. Compiling our personal anthology of eccentricities of Anglican clergy. Watching in the millennium on the rocket-riotous roof of Clifton Hill. Going with the wondrous girl on the magical ferry across the harbour of dreams. Hearing the loud commotions of school on first day in the February of the year. Listening to Anouar Brahem through dinner, still talking long after his little night music ends. Writing in provincial galleries while the girl fills her wondrous visual diary.

Suchlike (February)

 [For Lenore Stephens] A sullen mood may be alleviated by observing, reflecting, and suchlike passive activities. Observing, for example, the people you live with, their quiet conventions and suchlike behaviour. Staring mindlessly, not mindfully, at a vase of bottlebrushes, everlastings, and suchlike flowers. Inspecting, in a state where reading has become impossible, the spines of novels, history, and suchlike literature. Or the kitchen calendar, while eating another buttered toast, Sunday, February, and suchlike terminology. Or blank TVs and suchlike screens. In an effort at mobility, taking the train and looking grievously at rooftops, their antennae, evaporative coolers, and suchlike additions.

Robborama (February)

[For Robert Whalley] The greatest Sondheim musical Sondheim never released. Libretto stays in vault until February 2030. Contents much disputed by aficionados. Too long at seven hours? 100 songs, each one a winner? Soft porn? Flaky California? Plot: young man gets around, gets into hot water, hits the streets, hits the wall , gets down, meets up, gets laid, &c. Almost becomes a librarian (weird), hits paydirt, pays the price, smells the roses, moves overseas, becomes a priest (weird), &c. Vast chorus lines, solemn processions, magic tricks, deep depressions, stratospheric elations, zen moments, sheer poetry, champagne intervals, endless encores, &c