So, then: 'tis better to give than receive? Ebay, under some warped logic about the balance in the universe is now banning sellers from responding to any negative feedback left by buyers. It says this will lead to a better marketplace and more confidence from buyers. Which is nice. EXCEPT the last time I checked buyers AND sellers were needed to make a marketplace viable and while I do agree that sellers have responsibilities too, I've seen just as much bad-faith and time-wasting from buyers.

If a seller doesn't send money, places false bids or misrepresents their actions, I want them held just as accountable, which under this new system, it seems they aren't.

I mean, guys, c'mon, I'm all for streamlining a system and stopping hissy-fits, but using Ebay logic it suggests that we should abolish courtrooms simply because it irks the defendants and ties up judges' time.

That being said, hypocrite that I am, look to the far left for what I've currently got for sale...

However there is the possibility of another imminent trip. IF budgets and schedules allow I may take a short trip to Iowa at the end of June to catch up with my longterm partner-in-crime Jill McDole. Jill was one of the first people I met through my work with Highlander and we go back over a decade. However, despite e-mails, threats, abuse, Field of Dreams taunts, flirtation and erswthwile blogging, it's been an age since we hung out together and I made a promise to rectify that this year by visting after she recuperates from some surgery. It'll be another shoestring sojourn, but I keep my promises and this is one I'm more than glad to.

In the next few weeks I may have another Cinema Days event to attend - if the film line-up lines-up a little better than is curently the case -and I'm hoping Mark (Millar) will be down in London for Wanted press in the enxt few weeks. Ye Gods, we all need to get drunk with a comics genius once in a while!

Speaking of which, best wishes to Paul Cornell and wife Caroline who were involved in a serious car accident last week. Thankfully they're both okay - with just bruises, scrapes and scratches - but as you can read at his blog ( http://paulcornell.blogspot.com/ ) it was a very close-call. Paul's work on Doctor Who, Primeval, Wisdom and Captain Britain is some of the best genre work around at the moment, so a speedy recovery is a neccesity for all our sakes. You can also read an interview with Paul in the current Impact (see left)

I used to be very optimistic, nowadays I'm a bit jaded. But I still believe in hoping for the best as well as planning for the worst. You give someone or soemthing A chance to live up or down to your expectations. I'm less inclined for second chances nowadays.

2) How many real friends do you have?
Less than I had a few years ago. Whether that's my fault of other people's is open to debate. But I tend to think I now have better, balanced friendships. You have to be able to talk honestly and expect criticism and praise on a level playing field. In short, like any relationship, friendship needs effort and accountability from both sides. I'm very happy with the ones I have now.

I'm doing what I love, I'm just not getting paid what I should be for doing it. Sometimes there's a lot of hard work involved for not much return. My rule of thumb is: 'credit where it's due...'

I'm Leeds born and bred, but I think I'd rather be in Los Angeles or Sydney, Australia. I ahve more friends there than in Leeds! My visits to both those areas show more opportunities and a better way of life. England seems tired and frustrated. I just need a way 'in' as emigration isn't as easy as it once was.

Twice, I think, though it's one of those things you often only appreciate in hindsight. There are times when I wished I HAD been in love and times when I wish I HADN'T. But I've been very lucky with the people I've met, liked and respected over the years and I'm on good terms with most of them.

I danced with someone at midnight in the middle of a forest with 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' playing in the background. Not a successful or happy realtionship in the longterm. but a very powerful moment in and of itself.

If I'm being honest, no. Can't remember the last time I truly was. Content and hopeful on a good day - I guess there are worse fates. Not cynical enough to stop reaching for it, though.

8) What annoys you the most?
Lies: I hate people who deliberately mislead and the people who tell you what they think you WANT to hear or don't tell you what they should. I'd rather be/hurt because of the truth than a lie, though I expect people to be constructive not destructive just for the sake of it. I hate people who don't keep their word - if I commit to something, I don't do it lightly and I do everything in my power to keep my word. It's the very least a person can and should do.

I've straightened out a lot of the financial issues that have tripped me up in the last couple of years and learned a few valuable lessons. Equally, I'm looking forward to being in a new place before the autumn/fall. I've done some more work on the novel - not enough, but determined to continue. I must also get a lot bit fitter. In some ways it feels like I've been treading water recently and I need to push off into the flow again.

10) Is there a God
If there is, she has a strange sense of humour, a full dose of irony and a flair for the dramatic. Wait, I think I know her. Is she a redhead?

I think I've proved myself in both writing, design, photography and general PR/marketing abilities. I'd like to think I'm known for being trust-worthy, being happy to 'muck-in' even when I don't have to, being reasonably quick in the humour department and I think I give a good massage.

I seem to get on well with just about every cat I've ever met. Dogs take more work.

Jaffa cakes.

Regularly: BSG, Lost, House, Doctor Who, Bones, NCIS.

Other than here... Millarworld , Highlander Forums and surfing the news/entertainment sites.

You say that like I have to choose.

Depends on how much. Look after my family. Travel a lot. Have a home in the US or Australia. Fund a convention. Definitely fly First Class :)

God, I hope it's your Forties as I still FEEL young. My Twenties were only okay; my Thirties much better. You're only as old as the person you feel. Not felt many people lately.

This evening Carmel took me out for a departure meal and I managed to scoff a steak by the quayside near the Bridge - a pretty impressive structure at night (the bridge, not me). The city is somewhat magical after the sun's gone down, the shadows and neon hiding a multitude of proable sins that just aren't obvious in the bright light of day. Managed to take some long exposure that came out pretty well.

Currently finishing the last bits of packing. As always, finding lonely socks here and there that I was convinced I'd already sorted. Will give the room a once-over when I DO leave just to make sure nothing is left behind (tempted to leave the video camera that I got from eBay a few weeks ago as it's failed in ever annoying/expanding degrees miserably. A wasted £60).

When I get home there's a ton of stuff to kick-start: design-work, updating the portfolio, looking for a new house, starting a serious get fit regime and also the possibility of another trip, this time to help Jill recover in Iowa. Fingers everso crossed.

In short this year is turning out to not only be speeding through, but also up-to-the-brim with travel and opportunities. I hope to waste neither.

And yes, the insightful '40' thoughts is on its way soon.

Just got back into Sydney after three days up in Cairns (pronounced like Cannes is spelt). The weather was pretty off throughout my whole stay, with only a little rain as I arrived back at port on Tuesday evening - and then only a sprinkle, though it was clear that just a few miles inland must have had a mini deluge from the clouds we saw.

Tuesday itself was mostly spent on Green Island. I'd decided that if I couldn't have a big international get-together for my 40th then I'd enjoy my own company and just spend some rare time in relax mode. I'd been to Green Island before, but this time I took a whole day trip rather than a 1/2 day and spent some major time on the beach just reading and sun-bathing. The island itself is quite small and I actually walked compeltely around its coastline in about 45 minutes, taking some shots of the wonderfully twisted trees and landscape. Also took a ride out in a glass-bottom boat and watched the fishes and the seagulls fight over the food thrown to them. A little like Leeds on a Friday night...


Back in Cairns itself it was interesting to find myself remembering things I hadn't even realised I'd forgotten. The town's grid-like set-up can easily get you turnaround on yourself, but my innate inner geek remembered exactly where the old book and comic store was and the classic The Woolshed pub, which I'd been told to frequent on my last visit there. I'd also forgotten about the Kamikaze Parrots and the Bats of Doom (which, let's face it, would've made a much better Indiana Jones title). The parrots - or member of the parakeet family - use the fading moments of twilight to barrel along the main Cairns boulevard like bomber pilots through Pearl Harbor. In small groups they speed through the square, sometimes mere feet above the ground and how they actually avoid impaling pedestrians I'll never know. I physically felt one skim by me. It's only fun until someone loses an eye, dammit! Equally only a few moments later, the bats come out. These ain't your grandaddy's variety - these are literally bigger than the seagulls. I think they could pick off a few pedestrians as well.

The days and nights were hot and so were the women (though this was a prime incentive to get decide to get myself in shape - it's all well and good ogling the numerous attractive ladies, but when you're stood next to surfer guys a good ten years younger than you are...peh... no chance). Didn't help when the guy in the bunk ABOVE, smuggled in a girl to our single-sex dormitory (four beds in total) and attempted to have *quiet* sex with them about 2 ft above my head.

I'd have commented, but I'm British, the guy was French and I think the girl was deaf and drunk. There's a TV show or a metaphor in there somewhere.

A round-up of 40s thoughts coming soon.

Saw Iron Man again and everyone I know is loving it. Stayed to see the Samuel L Jackson cameo after the credits - bizarre that they didn't show that bit to us at the press junket.

Took another stroll around Sydney's shops yesterday. It was Free Comic Day (Comic Day is innocent, I tell you!) so I found myself dropping in at Kings Comics in the heart of the city as well as a quick lookaround for some shorts (I noted I'd only brought one pair, so not finding any I wanted, I've bought some nice, but cheap jeans that I may just cut off at the knee as a back-up pair).

Carmel drove us down to Coogee Beach (about 15mins away) for some Chish and Fips (that's the name of the cafe) and as the day faded into night I got some nice shots. I've also managed to get some nice ones of the sunset from just outside Carmel's apartment - how come we never get sunsets like this back home?

With Carmel's netwok fixed, I just managed to download Doctor Who (I can't miss my regular fix) and thought it was so-so.

The current plan is to fly up to Cairns tomorrow morning(Monday) and stay until Thursday. That means I can spend my full birthday up there and I hope to head off to Green Island for a day trip. (I'd planned Fitzroy island but it appears to be 'closed'). Either way, lots of photographic opportunities.

Won't be taking my laptop, but may have access at one of the plentiful Internet cafes.

Steps taken: not a bloody clue, but more than Leeds and better views.