No, not like that although there are days . . .

Anyway, I am trying to get my head around the shire's tourism industry.

First there was HRTA, then DD, then DMR RTB, and soon there will be an RTA to be known as TH.

And when TH is up and running, HRTA will be no longer, but the LTAs in Clunes, Creswick and Trentham will remain - and there will be yet another LTA formed for Hepburn and Daylesford - maybe from the DDBG?

And the LTAs, which come from the CTDA, the CDDA and the TRATA, will each offer up a representative to TH - along with someone from the DMR RTB and the HSC. Oh, did I mention we come under a combined region which includes the HSC, MRSC, MSC, HCC, MSC and MS.

Confused? Join the club. And is it just me or does the shire's tourism industry seem a little fragmented?

***

WENT to The Farmers Arms Hotel in Daylesford to watch the AFL grand final.

Managed to get the last bar stool and had a lovely afternoon drinking chardy, eating party pies and sausage rolls and yelling ``go the Sainters''.

Also got chatting to a group of women from Sydney. They had seen ``the'' advert and decided their first trip to Daylesford was well overdue. Mid 30s, the perfect demographic, loved the ad. Who knew? (I guess Tourism Victoria and Mojo.)

***

FINALLY, I have a confession to make. No, I am not gay. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

I am returning to the Big Smoke. Well, the Big Puff, Ballarat.

Still living in Glenlyon but taking up the offer of a newly created position at The Courier writing for its custom publications - lots of glossy magazines.

It's a great step for me and probably time for someone new at The Advocate - after all, one doesn't want to become too skeptical and bitchy. Mmmm. Too late. Anyway, we have a new journalist starting next Monday, and after a couple of weeks of introductions, I will be on my merry

way.

But, wait, there's more. I have been asked to continue with this column. (Collective sigh from all tiers of government - and that nasty Clunes reader.)

So, I will still be around, sort of, and offering up weekly my views on the latest news.

But I will definitely miss The Advocate, its readers and the people who have made up my life for the past 18 months - you know who you are.

Sometimes it's been hard work, mostly it's been fun, but all the time it's been a pleasure and a privilege to take part in such a passionate community. See you 'round.