The launch of Hair, a sociological study of the cultural uses that hair has ben put to over the years, overflowed downstairs and onto the wharf. Held on the last day of the Sydney Writers' Fextival at Pier 4/5, organisers had failed to anticipate the level of interest among supporters of the editors and contributors.

We almost left. By the time we got in things were in full swing. We'd listened to the speeches from a PA box outside, next to the gently lapping waters of Darling Harbour. Inside, the noise level was enough to challenge a jet engine at full throttle. We mingled, looked, waited for drinks, signed up to buy a copy of the book, and left after a discrete interval.