Welcome 2008
Welcome to 2008 and thanks for reading the SLF, I’m sure as you woke up on Jan 1 you felt a ripple of optimism as the New Year dawned. I am certainly bullish about the on coming year and for what its worth I have compiled some of my predictions.

Here they are:
This ones for my old mate “Jack” and I think I did predict it last year and it didn’t happen, but this year the Muddy and Avon will run.
The seasons will return to normal and all the planets will line up for the cropping guys, good prices, plenty of timely rain and big yields.
Land baron “Guru Norm” will be challenged for the wealthiest person in the district by Boofhead “Twiggy” Hendy after he wins a division 1 Tattslotto mega draw around mid year. (Ed - You better get a ticket Boof).
Chris “Entanglement” Webb’s bowls will improve dramatically this year so much so that he will take out a major title at Rup (Ed - I hope he’s still playing).
Big “Herbie” Duxson will score a magnificent century in the second half of the cricket season. (Ed – Come on Herbie….)
Someone – I don’t know who – will score a hole-in-one at the Royal this year. (Ed – Chopper make sure you take the cheque book to golf this year)
Funny man Stewart “Smacka” MacPherson will get gravel rash on one of his knees!!! (Ed – Something is happening)
Wimmera Celebrity Nigel “Winebar” Slee will get through his February wedding OK.
John “Be My” Guest will consider using the broomstick putter after a bout of the yips hits him in the second half of the golfing season.
Leigh “Blue Can” Foster will turn green after something big happens (something big and something good) in the Marnoo Pub around ram sale time. (Ed – Then we can call him Green Can)
Derek “The Mayor” Cameron will hand over the Mayoral duties to his brother “Larry” Cameron. (Ed – Good job Mayor)

Is that Boonie?
I am in Tassie at the moment and I was walking down the street of Hobart and I thought I spotted – from a distance - the great man “Boonie” himself (my eyes were a little blurry after some new years cheer), It turned out to be leading St Arnaud businessman Damian “The Major” Drum, I was robbed.

To much Grass
Take it from me you have to be very careful what you say to the media these days, I think a leading Wallaloo farmer might get a ribbing or two from his mates after he quoted he was “Embarrassed with feed” in a leading rural newspaper a week or two ago. This is in direct relation to another leading farmer who farms locally and over St Arnaud way when he quoted the he was “Embarrassed with grain” a year or two ago.
Quote, Unquote
Dan “Rabobank” Douglas was another native to grace the rural papers in the last couple of weeks.

Drinking Beer
I’m sure all you “Consumers” out there would agree that it’s been a tough Christmas and New Year period with the way the weekends have just come before the big events and I’m sure that even the handiest consumers will be looking forward to a couple of AFD’s come the turn of the New Year.

That’s all folks