U$S 1,000.00! The local government finally decided to take the risk and provide the necessary wherewithall to get my workshop back on its feet (just barely, but this summer I'll be back in mud, oh joy!). Collected the cash (100 fifty peso bills, took a taxi to the bank and deposited immediately, not taking any chances on getting assaulted for the loot - an infrequent but not unheard of occurrence in these yere parts) and signed three receipts promising to use the money for ceramics production.

So much red tape... it's taken almost two years to come through. Two years in which the workshop became an empty shell whose only useful, used contents were the gardening tools, a step ladder, and housecleaning stuff. It was struck by lightning in March 2007, and the electric installation went phut - have to get an electrician in to see how it can be rehabilitated...

Two years in which I've lost count of visits to public officials, interviews, forms filled out, updated cost estimates presented, projects written up... My thousand dollars has probably cost the taxpayer - myself included - more than double that amount in red tape. Well, look on the positive side: I get to work with clay again, and providing me with the necessary funds justifies the existence of a bunch of public employees who would otherwise have nothing to do.

I hope to be able to get to work again next month. Have to get the electrician in, and also the gas man to check out the kiln connection, and, of course, order and get my supplies from Buenos Aires. Wet down and mix clay, wedge (have to get somebody in to do this, can't do it myself any more), and see what - if anything - I can rescue from the dried-out glazes in glass jars.

But it's been a good year, and it's coming to an unexpectedly positive end: Sufficient English and etiquette pupils to keep the wolf from the door, a good translation job in February/March that kept me going comfortably through May (even to the point of buying my first good overcoat in 40 years!). Then there was all the hard work with the Pilas project, and that's now pretty well launched: The owners know their dogs are registered and can get in touch with me to find suitable mates at breeding time, and official breed recognition will probably materialize towards the end of 2009.

So, I'm grateful. Grateful for a year that was more productive than I expected, but especially grateful for the moral support provided through Eons. Being in touch with other mud workers, sharing their experiences and offering my own, has been enormously helpful in keeping up my enthusiasm for a vocation that I might have given up without this support.

My most special thanks go to Peggy, Linda, Gary and Ian; but also to Claycarole, Collieflower and all the other contributors to the Potters & Muses Group, who have been so instrumental in making this second mudless year a time for reflection on art, humanity and life.

THANK YOU, GOOD FRIENDS ALL!