Your top bushrangers

You get two posts today, because I can't really keep finding excuses not to tell you who is our favourite bushranger, however much joy it gives me, and I haven't done a 'where I will be teaching' post because there has been some confusion over some of my teaching. I have given up trying to get it resolved quickly and I'll get back to you with updates if they happen.

If I sound negative about anything today it's because it was supposed to be a mental health day and I have been working almost non-stop because every time I take a breath someone else has a crisis – the good news is that I got a full 15 minutes for lunch. I have done a vast amount of work, though not my teaching prep or my grapefruit substitute or a draft contract or my food history stuff, which are still to come. The extra good news is that I am teaching tomorrow morning and shopping afterwards and it doesn't matter how many crises people have, I shall be uncontactable till 2 pm. I have achieved vast, vast amounts of wonderful stuff today, as some of you can attest (please attest it, otherwise I shall – next time- say 'Go away' and finish watching Ghost in the Machine.)

So now, after much babble, here are your favourite bushrangers :insert sound of trumpets, if needed: - and yes, I have taken some strange liberties with interpretation of votes:

Alexander Pearce 1 (based on his name, not his gourmet tendencies), 1,1 (in-law voted, not family, which says something about Pearce)
Ben Hall 1 (potential descendent), 1 (fanboy, TV series, was cool), 1 (because he was emo – though I'm not sure that was a vote, I'm counting it as one because of the conversation that followed, especially this bit: "Oh woe is me, my marriage is failing, I shall turn to a life of crime, and not be very good at it so I lose the farm, and my wife leaves me - BUT it's not my fault! Frank seduced me to the dark side" ie not only was he emo, he was Darth Vader ), 1
Captain Midnite – 1 (because of Stow's book, even though they're different people), 1 (for Stow's book again)
Captain Starlight – 1 (because of Starlight by Muse)
Captain Thunderbolt – 1 (mainly for having a wine named after him)
Dan 'Mad Dog' Morgan – 1 (because he was born on the wrong side of the blanket then sent to a Catholic school – he never had a chance), 1 (because she went through a town connected to him once), 1, 1 (because of a restaurant)
Frank Gardiner – 2 (because he wasn't shot or hung, because he ran a bar in San Francisco), 1
Martin Cash – 1, 1 (claims Tasmanian bias), 1
Mary Ann Bugg – 1 (from me, and I don't have to give reasons), 1 (because she was a woman and woman need votes)
Matthew Brady – 1 (for the probably untrue tale that he posted a reward for the capture of Governor Arthur), 1
Moondyne Joe -1, 1 (a song about him)
William Westwood (Jackey Jackey) – 2, 1 (because he was gravitationally enhanced)

This means that second place is a tie between Alexander Pearce, Frank Gardiner, Jacky Jacky and Martin Cash

And first place goes to…

Ben Hall and Mad Dog Morgan.

We should celebrate this by singing The Streets of Forbes in an insane manner?

(no subject)

What am I teaching this semester?

My Wednesday 'Writing for Life' course, through Belconnen Community Services (though I teach in Tuggeranong, because it's for Southsiders - which is not very useful information for the majority of you, who have never even visited Canberra)

On 8 Tuesdays starting next week, a short evening course on Writing your Family's History - not much about genealogy, but quite a bit about research and writing skills and interpreting and conserving old photographs and interviewing. And more! (I tailor this class to student needs, so I never know what I will be teaching in weeks 2-8 until the end of the first session.)

From 12 February (though I still don't have quite enough enrolments for this - which is a pity because it is one of the really fun courses): Jewish Culture, Jewish Food. Food and music and the calendar and holy days and the different branches of Judaism and some Jewish history and what on earth kashruth is about and how to gamble with dredels and bunches of stuff about minority Jewish cultures. And lots more. Every time I have taught this class, students smile every single week and the classes always go overtime.

I'm teaching my yummy food history course from late April ("Our Edible Past") - it starts just before ANZAC Day. The important thing non-Australians and non-NZers need to know about ANZAC Day is that it is my birthday.

I'm also teaching some rather cool workshops through the ACT Writers' Centre.

It seems strange to write down my teaching and have half of it oddly not there. I'm going to hope that lots of people buy my novels so I can make up for missed income!