Alright, let’s do one of those 2020 threads. Going back for the photos actually reminded me of some moments that were genuinely good that were, uh, subsumed by later events. Started the year in my new place in Sydney. That plant dead now.
In January, I flew to Japan to interview this little dude. Coronavirus was a thing, of course, but not yet our thing. How silly we were.
Wrote some of my next book right here which was incredibly fucken indulgent but, hindsight, so glad I did.
Toured the Fukushima exclusion zone in Japan for some book research. Haunting. Lives just left in a single moment. We’re in early February now.
Wrote this in my notes folder about 1am after waking up for some reason. Forgot about it until the next day when I looked.
Came home to the finished portrait an artist, Dany Weus, had done for the Archibald. We were not selected but also, lol.
Then I got to catch up with my little mate Hamish in our matching shirts Mum made from a tea towel.
Later, Hamish has a little meltdown because he loves me so much and I dared go home.
Which reminded me of this
Then I flew to Perth and ran into homegrown boy / my friend @Rabe9 and he brought me into the culture.
Also, @bencjenkins was there
Then I flew home and had, from memory, a day before I flew to New York. For context, I had never travelled for fun at any point in my 20s. Now I was doing it TWICE in two months. This wouldn’t do anything bad to civilisation right!?
Saw the biggest dinosaur of my life at the American Museum of Natural History. It was in three rooms.
And just generally had an amazing time. Again, everyone was talking about THE VIRUS but it had not made its fateful strike here yet. I was barely ahead of it.
Wrote some more of my big book here, with this amazing view, and was then upgraded to Business on the way home. Last of the truly good vibes!
A day after I returned home I was driving to Canberra to cover George Pell’s leave for appeal in the High Court of Australia.
First ever Zoom with my idiot friends.
Actually for the most part April thru June is REDACTED. But I did watch Tiger King, lose my mind and buy a tracksuit and grow a topknot.
Started cooking. A LOT. Turns out I can do it if I finally have all the equipment, time, energy, mental fallow, cultural knowledge and palate.
Then I finally got to see my little buddy again. And then meet his new brother! My heart doubled in size!
Then Hamish traumatised his parents and uncle and me just moments after this photo was taken. There was a medical emergency and I was so upset I couldn’t talk about it for weeks. No longer want children!
July through December: misc. mental breakdowns. More detail to follow, however.
Some more homecore fashion from July onward.
I parked in this exact spot about 15 times.
Turned into that conspiracy theory guy meme.
And took my friend @bkjabour to the beach so she could swim while I pretended to be a dad pushing the park and nodding at all the other dads.
Then I FINALLY, in late September, finished writing this 83,000 word manuscript which had haunted my every waking hour since January. But, alas, not the end.
And had this piece, Thirst, published in Island Magazine under the exquisite handling of @annaspargoryan https://islandmag.com/currentissue 
Finally bought one of those home lighting setups about five months after I needed it the most.
And then this baby was published. I was a little unsure, but the kind of feedback I’ve been getting helps me remember how important it is to see our lives and peculiarities of thought and behaviour on the page. Thanks everyone.
Watched my pals GROWING UP SO FAST
Bought some totally weird capes and shit from Sydney Opera at a costume sale. Will find reasons to wear them.
I promise this will be over soon. I am tired and want dinner.
And then went into surgery the very next day. @bkjabour picked me up, thank my stars. Fucken horrific.
Ah, almost forgot! Was announced as editor of @BlackIncBooks latest anthology Growing Up in Country Australia. Super excited about the stories we can tell with this. Submissions are open now and close January 22. Please write for us! Paid. https://www.blackincbooks.com.au/news/growing-country-australia-call-submissions
Then finally got to make a break for Queensland to see my mum after precisely a year. Had to file my second last feature for the year on the side of the road.
Met Spicy. We love Spicy.
Filed my last @SatPaper piece for the year and finished some 8500 edits on my now 90,000 word manuscript in this very pleasant spot at home but, frankly, what a fucken week and a bit.
Reunited with my family at the end of an amazing, horrible, silly, intense and busy year just as things get worse again down south. I realise, despite it all, how lucky I am.
You can follow @SquigglyRick.
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