I've just finished the first draft of a new book (Girl Underground), so now I can take a short breather, read some novels (my brain can only cope with other people's fiction when I'm not writing my own), and contemplate the year ahead.

I'm keen to get started with my reading and contemplating, so I'm not going to waffle on at length this month. I'm just going to quickly mention the things I've already decided to do this year.

1. Write a story about micro-organisms.

2. Have another quiz.

3. Move house.

4. Read 100 books.

5. Visit lots of schools.

In last month's G'day I gave contact details for the people who organise my school visits. To fill up the rest of this month's space (I'm really keen to get started on those books), here they are again.

My school visits in Sydney and New South Wales are handled by Lateral Learning (phone 02 9960 4844, email bookings@laterallearning.com) and in Melbourne and the rest of Australia by Booked Out (phone 03 9533 6717, email bookings@bookedout.com.au). They'll happily give you any further information you need.

If your school is in Britain, my visits there are looked after by Speaking Of Books (email jan@speakingofbooks.co.uk). For the rest of the world, you'd better contact me direct via the Visitor's Page on this site because we'll have a few important things to discuss like airfares and travel shots and whether you're prepared to have them for me.

I do charge a fee for school visits, but not too many of the schools I've been to in the past have had to sell all their library books at the school fete to meet the cost.

Until next time, oo-roo, a safe and book-filled 2004, and I hope to meet up with you soon in your school or your reading or perhaps, even better, both.

9 January 2004