Editor's Note: The days of our lives

You wouldn’t know it from my ageless photo below but a lot has changed in the McEldowney House of Porter since last time  we spoke.

For instance the man previously known as Scottish-extracted Husband-In-Training (SHIT), while technically still a SHIT, has finally done the deed and graduated to the prestigious title of Scottish-extracted Husband-In-Tow.

Fittingly, the pathetic creature many of you knew as Dog has also stepped up his game, becoming so adept at digging himself out of literal and metaphorical holes we have renamed him Shifty Old Dog (or SOD for short).

While I would love to inform long-term readers  that the behaviour of the two men in my life has improved considerably with the passing sands of time, the truth of the matter is that aside from each now sprouting more hair out their respective ears than they do their heads, SHIT and SOD have barely changed a jot. And I’m not entirely sure I’d know what to do if they did.

But while we’re on the subject of change – or not as the case may be – there are some changes going on at Ragtrader HQ that I’d also like to inform you about.

The first is that we will shortly welcome on board a new journalist in the form of UTS communications graduate Erin O’Loughlin. A dab hand at the witty one-liner, Erin joins another recent recruit in the form of former Drapers and Melbourne Weekly Magazine and City Weekly fashion writer Melinda Oliver in rounding out the talented Ragtrader editorial team.

The second change is that this issue marks my last in the hot seat with my colleague –  and good mate – Assia Benmedjdoub stepping in to fill my rather diminutive shoes. No stranger to fashion, 10-inch heels or for that matter a good glass of Marlborough’s finest, Assia has worked at the magazine for the past three years and I for one can’t wait to see her flourish at the helm.

On a personal note, I would like to thank you for your support and patience in trying to educate a former newspaper hack about the complexities of such a dynamic yet challenging industry. I have no doubt you will continue to treat Assia with the warmth, kindness and fairness you have always shown me.

So having brought SHIT and SOD out of retirement I am now planning to make a rod for my own back by joining them. Fingers crossed I survive the journey!