Changing Times

I don't really believe in fate, destiny, kismet, etc, but as someone said to me recently, sometimes things have a way of falling into place nicely.

I'm happy to announce that I have been appointed the new entertainment reporter for Fairfax digital paper brisbanetimes.com.au.

The move comes after nearly seven years with 4BC/4BH radio, which became part of the Fairfax group in 2007. It means that I am staying in 'the family' as it were, which is great because my radio newsroom colleagues are pretty special people (even if they are obsessed with Big Brother and Carly Rae Jephson).

The opportunity came as a surprise, and given my interest in the arts, is a great fit. I look forward to features and other longer-form writing that the print form allows, and developing my knowledge and skills in a new area. Plus the new colleagues are fairly incredible too (even if they are obsessed with soccer and The Bold and the Beautiful).

Having said that, I will miss the state political beat that I have been walking for two years now (and on-and-off for two years before that). But the challenge ahead of me is irresistible, and anyway, you can never truly escape politics!

The timing is quite remarkable; I had already booked five weeks of leave, starting this Saturday, when I jet off to China with The Wah for two weeks.

I'll return for a week in October, just in time to host what promises to be a blockbuster show - the Theatresports Grand Championships. Produced by ImproMafia, it will feature teams from Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and of course Brisbane, battling it out to see who can be the most captivating and entertaining on stage.

Saturday 6 October. One show only.

As an aside, I have in fact been pondering potential conflicts of interest within my new role. After all, ImproMafia and the Brisbane Arts Theatre are great loves of mine. However, I've always fully disclosed my role with these companies. I also think a conflict of interest is more pertinent when you  actually MAKE money: ImproMafia is not-for-profit; the community-based BAT scrapes by with only its income from box office sales (no government or corporate support). I'm always keen to promote these companies; but I'm always keen to promote the live arts in general. Hopefully what my own experiences will give me is some insight and contacts within the sector.

After that, I head to Burma of all places, travelling with my parents and ever-impressive Gran.  In fact, the old girl and I will be sharing a cabin during part of the trip downriver from Mandalay. It'll be just like that time she was in the WRNS in World War Two (with less vomiting, hopefully).

After those adventures are done and dusted, I will start with brisbanetimes.com.au in late October.

It really is shaping up to be a lovely spring.

Thanks to everyone who reads girlclumsy.com - I can't wait to share even more tales of clumsiness with you.