Looks like a fishy year ahead - The Canberra Times

Gang-gang

Jason Tener caught a 14kg carp at Lake Tuggeranong in 2011. Photo: Gary Schafer

Even if you have no idea what zodiac sign you are, or whether Saturn is rising, or that 2014 is the Chinese year of the snake, who doesn't sneak a peek this time of year at some astrological predictions for the 12 months ahead? You're kicking back at the beach and have convinced yourself that you're buying Woman's Day solely for the academic pursuit of the crossword puzzle - but look, Brad Pitt hates Tom Cruise and there's no chance that Simone will take Warnie back, and did Miley Cyrus really do that - and there's usually a couple of pages of astrological assertions to read in between swims.

According to the website of one of Australia's leading astrologers, Milton Black, as a Sagittarius I'm set for an ''exciting and spectacular'' time in 2014. I will meet interesting people who will stimulate my intellect and expose me to new and exciting ideas. And, oddly enough, if I am devoted to writing, I will have a very fruitful year. Could be an interesting one.

But enough about me. After having celebrated 12 months of Canberra's birthday, who doesn't know that our fine city is a Pisces - ''impressionable, receptive, intuitive and subtle with a creative imagination'', according to Black. And, when you think about it, our city is all that.

Is Canberra ready for a year of sudden and unexpected and positive surprises?

Perhaps Harvey Weinstein will turn up unannounced, riding into town on Skywhale. Perhaps the ACT government will get the bailout package from the Commonwealth. Perhaps the Raiders and the Brumbies will bring home trophies in an effort to keep us all calm.

What other things would we like 2014 to hold in store for Canberra? We all know that the year after a big birthday is a bit of a let down.

There's lots of talk in Black's predictions about recognition for intellectual activity, about literary and scientific prizes and working towards big ideals that could demand much sacrifice and hard work. Is it time for the unassuming intellects of Canberra to take centre stage? Are there secrets brewing in the basements of our tertiary institutions? I've read so much good fiction by Canberra writers this year - Christie Thompson's Snake Bite, Scott Baker's The Rule of Knowledge, Jenny Bond's Perfect North and Felicity Volk's Lightning - that perhaps a literary award is on its way.

Perhaps not only will sporting and outdoor pursuits keep our stress levels down, but Black predicts a winning streak in these areas. The Canberra Raiders haven't won a NRL premiership since 1994 and the Brumbies are looking at a decade without a Super Rugby title. There's a nice symmetry there with all those fours. And given that a March 12 birthday translates to a personal year number of four, it might all fall into place. Go team.

And if Canberra is a Pisces, what better symbol to adopt for 2014 than a big useless carp? Skywhale be gone.

*Milton Black didn't predict that Ian Warden would be ill for a few days.

Let's try that again

And if it's the time of year for predictions, it's also the time of year for some reviews. Good to see Canberra making the lead story in this collection of television news bloopers from around the world. In August WIN news presenter Kerryn Johnston warned us all that she was going to sound like a drunk.

It wasn't long after the ACT bulletin had been moved to Wollongong and we were a little unforgiving but given the company she's in in this collection it seems being drunk is the least of a newsreader's worries.