Certainly, Dennis Jones and Associates going under really took the wind out of my sails... and my sales! It was so unexpected and totally soul-destroying for a while. And, at time of writing, I have still not found an alternative book distributor.
A great part of the reasoning for that is that my wife Carlene returned from her almost-annual southern sojourn unwell. Last year, she ended up in (Bendigo) Hospital just before her 1st November return, and this year on her arrival (in late August) I drove her straight to the Redcliffe Hospital where she had to be admitted. Earlier in the year, we had purchased a motorhome, and had made plans to take our first trip together in attending the Rotary Cartoon Awards....
Indeed, my stance in our debates in the Committee of late have become more of the minority, and I don't know if that is because I am out of touch with modern thinking and I am no longer genuinely representing the rank and file of members' viewpoints. I did want us to canvas views of the membership about the nature of the Annual Stanley Awards Night, but my motion was vetoed and I am beginning to feel increasingly isolated in my opinions. Even Inkspot is being subjected to decisions that I am having difficulty accepting. But maybe if I can't stand the heat, I ought to get out of the kitchen? Well, that's one saying. There's also another that I subscribe to: "I pray for the strength to change what I can, the inability to accept what I cannot, and the incapacity to tell the difference!" Perhaps it's about time I started working on the next issue...if I can find the time.