Hello, I haven’t died.

It’s just that over summer (remember, you northern hemisphere people, while you freeze, we bake) the hot news is just not worth reporting: slept, gardened, slept, saw friends, slept, met politicians, slept, cooked, slept, went to the gym, slept, walked on the beach, slept, wrote speeches for 2005, slept, gave a few talks, slept, read books slept, yawn, yawn, y-a-w-n.

In fact I have been DYING to write to this column for ages, but the two most exciting pieces of news have to remain a total secret for at least another week or two. Oooh! Aaah!

All I can say is ‘watch this space!’

In the meantime, Hunwick’s Egg, my latest (29th ) book, came out today and is apparently walking out of the stores. How did people KNOW it would be in the shops today? I hardly knew myself. Chris Bantick, a Melbourne columnist thinks it’s my best book so far which is scarily fabulous. I must say I do adore it. I always adore my latest book. I mean, I just would, wouldn’t I?

Next week I’ll be in Sydney doing publicity events at Taronga Park Zoo—on Monday morning—and elsewhere after that. Look for my scrawny neck on morning television!

After that I’m coming home for a day before Malcolm and I go to Tasmania for a four day break for my 59th birthday on March 5th. We’ll be walking in the old growth forests on Cradle Mountain, before they’re all chopped down. I expect to experience a sense of total grief as I gaze at these magnificent, centuries old trees. Cutting down old growth forests is murder of the natural world and the politicians who allow it to happen are criminals. Well, that’s what I think, anyway, in case you were wondering.

My website is currently being redesigned to give it a more edgy 2005 look. I’ve updated all the information on it so when it goes live in a couple of weeks it should look divine. Bear with me until then.

And hang in there for my secrets!

Love,
Mem Fox xxx