Carlene initially went down to Bendigo to give daughter Lora a chance to earn some extra Christmas money, while her children were looked after by Carlene. "I'd like [husband] Adam to slow down, someone to look after my kids, a chance to have some time alone in a motel, perhaps with a spa...." Lora told Carlene before she set off. Sometimes you can have your wishes filled, in the most unexpected of ways.... Sadly, Adam was involved in an accident at the farm where he works, with a quad bike landing on top of him. (He sustained near life-threatening injuries: all of his ribs were fractured, he had two punctured lungs and a broken clavicle.) Thanks to some quick work by Adam himself (who rang his Boss before collapsing), his Boss getting Adam to the Ambulance that had been notified and then the Paramedics stabilising him before being flown by chopper to a Melbourne Hospital, he was able to be saved. But it was touch and go for a while. So, Lora's wishes came true: she spent some anxious nights in a nearby motel while Adam lay in Hospital, her children were well looked after by Carlene, and Adam has now been forced to slow down...after spending some time in the Intensive Care Unit, he has now been given the okay to return home and faces months to recuperate....
One little secret that I have have kept from readers of this Blog, and from people in general, is that in late August, I headed down to Melbourne to meet up with Andrez Bergen and Frantz Kantor. We were planning on discussing the viability of getting Andrez and Frantz' character Magpie published into a stand-alone comic to market via Diamond Distributors. Given Diamond were unwilling to support an anthology title like Oi Oi Oi! ("They just don't sell.") we thought about marketing Magpie, given that superhero comics do sell. From Oi Oi Oi! to the world! Pretty much like Lora, in Life, you cannot make plans....
Out of respect for Andrez' family, I said nothing about the events of (or before) the weekend, It was a most distressing time. Now that Andrez has just recently shared the events publicly (on Facebook), I thought it reasonable to now share here. And I shall allow Andrez to share it in his words....
"So...the day after I went to Mum's I collapsed.
"She called an ambulance' which took me to Frankston Hospital. I was then transferred to Alfred Hospital suffering from a cardiac arrest induced by the infection, which then led to a stroke and an operation on my head. I call this my lobotomy scar.
"So I'm not dead (not yet) and I owe my life to the fabulous medical staff here. Not to mention regular visits by Brian, Dad, Mum and others. I'm now at Caulfield Hospital for rehabilitation to rebellious atrophied muscles over the next two months. Exercise? Good Lord! https://www.alfredhealth.org.au/caulfield "
I'd like to publicly wish Andrez (Andrew) a speedy recovery, and wish him all the best in getting back on track ...and back in front of his typewriter/computer where I am sure he feels he belongs....
For me personally, although I was unhurt, it was such a distressing time, that I immediately put my magazine's publishing on hold. I suppose it would be fair to say that I have had a fair amount of time to reflect on what is important in Life over these past few months. I feel less inclined to go mad, bull at a gate to ensure that Oi Oi Oi! comes out strictly every three months (which is what I have done over the past two years). I still plan on putting out a mega issue of Oi Oi Oi! and I am still (slowly) working on Bold Ben Hall and I am also busily working on other areas relating to comics, but I am also conscious of others that I love around me who may need more of my time. So, while this has been a distressing time, I am learning to (better?) prioritise my time between them and my beloved comics...

The 2016 Cartoonist of The Year will be announced at the 32nd Stanley Awards at a gala dinner at the Novotel in Parramatta tonight. The nominees are:
- Christopher Downes (The Mercury)
- Anton Emdin (Spectator, MAD, GQ, Penthouse, People)
- Mark Knight (The Herald Sun)
- Bill Leak (The Australian)
- Glen Le Lievre (The Sydney Morning Herald, Crikey)
- Cathy Wilcox (The Sydney Morning Herald)
The prestigious Australian Cartooning Hall Of Fame and the Jim Russell Award for significant contribution to Australian cartooning will also be awarded and announced...
CONGRATULATIONS to all the Nominees! I'll announce all the winners here, when I know and am able to do so....