It doesn't seem any time since l wrote about it being 100 years since World War I began, and that was four years back.

Even the school kids say how fast time goes, but when l was at school, almost 50 years ago, school holidays took forever to eventuate.

Harvest this year hasn't been much of an event and would have been even faster if it wasn't for the showery and cool weather which prevented a lot of night time work.

No urgent calls for fuel, extra chemical or other shop supplies, which usually happens during the silly season.

However, in spite of the drought-affected crops, cereal prices are good, and lamb and wool prices have more than held their own.

The state election certainly proved a surprising result.

I had expected a hung parliament and then one mob would need the loony left or dream-on greens to form government.

At least the new government now has a clear mandate to get on with it and hopefully they have learned from the past four years experience that it isn't a good idea to ignore western Victoria!

Both sides have promised to look into the inequitable and outdated local government rates model so hopefully they will be able to come up with something fairer and more sustainable.

Later in January l am travelling back to Myanmar which l haven't visited since 2012.

That country has undergone enormous change since then, so it will be interesting to see. Unfortunately, because of the short life expectancy of third world country citizens, most of my friends who were in their forties and fifties when l was there last, are no longer around.

But l know there will be new people still working in, and on, some of the earlier education and farm projects we helped with from 2008 on and I look forward to seeing where these projects are now.

Until next time, cheers.