From your blog : "Furthermore, Mercury is generally too close to the horizon at sunrise, (and sunset) to be seen in a suburban environment. Only Venus, with a smallish Jupiter, (mistaken for Mercury until my telescope told me otherwise), on the far side of the solar system, were visible."
Actually Mercury was well placed forming a close triangle with Jupiter and Venus and easily seen from Sydney Observatory in the center of the city.
Looks like you'd better go consult your astrology charts again - or speak to an amateur astronomer.
How can I put it - don't give up your day job...