The Driest Continent

Queensland is to start putting recycled water in the drinking water supply from late next year - or at least the south east part of the state. There was going to be a plebiscite on the issue in March, but the Premier yesterday announced that the drought was so bad that there was no point in debating the issue, it was going to go ahead.

Now, even though the country is going through a one in a thousand year drought apparently, and the dam levels around Brisbane are almost nudging under the 20% mark, there is the makings of a real debate about this all. The vox pop polls they have been having in the rest of the country makes it seem that Queensland will become less of a tourist destination, that we will be drinking toilet water, that the property prices will fall as less people want to move here, and most tellingly, none of the other states are contemplating following The Smart State's initiative - at least publicly.

Federally, the Prime Minister and Water Minister, are more supportive of the concept.

I have to say, the reaction by the recycled water naysayers surprises me. Driest continent in the world, one in a thousand year drought - whether it is being caused by climate change, El Nino or whatever is beside the point frankly - I am surprised that there is even a debate about the issue.

The filtration process they recycle the water with makes it cleaner than normal tap water, as the referendum organisers in Toowoomba tried to tell everyone there, and really, how clean is normal dam or river water anyways. Think of all that dirt that they have to get out of there anyways - has anyone seen the crystal clear Brisbane River lately? - and remember, all the fish and stuff in the water do their business in it anyways.

It's not as if anyone will be pissing directly into mouths - well, outside a few select clubs in Fortitude Valley, at least.

Getting it clean again, there is talk between Canberra and the state capitals of depoliticising water issues. Of there either being federal responsibility for it, as proposed by the Libs, or a cooperative approach, as put forward by presidential candidate Rudd, aka the Labor Party.

Depoliticising water, as if that will happen. You have the government saying yes we will invest ten billion dollars into water policy restructuring and infrastructure and the like, but unless the states give over responsibility - which doesn't look like it's a goer at this stage - there won't be any money at all. As for the opposition, federal like, well, cooperation would be a good idea, but it is all still nice and fluffy and all, and you aren't in power yet.

This water thing is going to get a lot worse before it gets better, and Brisbane won't be the only city in the country recycling water I would suggest in the next five year timeframe.

Paul

Notes on a Nation

Went and enjoyed myself for Australia Day yesterday - well, for half the day at least, until I got hot and bothered and sunburnt and decided to retreat home. Also, South Bank was far too packed to get any food, take away or otherwise, and headed over to the city to recharge my batteries.

On the train in, was sitting near three kids and their uncle, of Lebanese or Arab descent. The kids were so excited about being on a train - obviously they don't do it much - and I thought back to my childhood in Upper Hutt, where a trip into the Big Smoke of Wellington was met with much awe and wonder. To go back to those more simple times would sometimes be nice.

It was nice to see excited children - I think they were going into one of the Australia Day things - and they and their uncle had the usual broad Australian accents, but still, one of the kids asked whether they were Australian. The uncle replied, of course, you have Australian citizenship. But they weren't of the stereotypical white northern European mold, but it was nice to see them excited about the national day nonetheless.

Of course, flowed into my thoughts of being an uncle taking the kid or kids out for a nice day out - my brother's current girlfriend is pregnant, due sometime in September apparently. Which will make an addition to his daughter, coming up two years old next month, who is with his ex in Hamilton, back home. Brother and current girlfriend are going over for the kid's birthday, and it would be interesting being a fly on the wall with a couple of the conversations there.

Anyways, back to yesterday. Started off by going to Roma Street Parklands, where the 'official' Australia Day events were staged. The army and air force marching, to an artillery band, the band dressed in white with those peaked colonial hats from the 19th century. Speeches by indigenous leaders, both from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, more speeches by the Lord Mayor, in full regalia, the Premier, the Governor, who inspected the troops as well.

The heat was intense, it says it was 30 degrees from the weather bureau information, but I am sure it was hotter than that, sweat was streaming off me in short sleeved shirt and shorts, goodness knows what it would have felt like for the troops in full uniform. One of the girls must have collapsed or something, because she was led away by a medic quick smart. They were out in the sun for at least three quarters of an hour, just before midday.

A 21 gun salute, with artillery pieces instead of just rifles, was very impressive, as well as an F-111 flyover. And then it was over, the troops marched off, and were invited back to the VIP tent to sup with the Governor and assorted others - the Premier and Mayor had gone by that stage. Saw on the news last night that in City Hall they did a citizenship ceremony with 650 people. Hmm, with those types of numbers, makes it sound like one of those mass Korean weddings.

Stuck around for a short bit, was thinking of wandering around the gardens, but it was just too damned hot. Saw people, families and friends just relaxing picnicking, and caught a moment where one of the soldiers came over to the rope - which had kept the general public out - beer in hand, and have some time with his family and probable girlfriend. I'm sure they were very proud of how he had marched, and it was a sweet moment to observe basically.

Hadn't managed to convince my family to come out with me, they observing the holiday by going to the local home hardware store instead, but yeah, would have liked to have just had some people to share a picnic with or something, Roma Street was nice and quiet and relaxed.

As opposed to South Bank, which was busy and noisy and packed. By the stage, I had the first inklings that I was sunburnt, so my humour was starting to fade anyways. Tried to get some sunscreen on at one of the info booths, but it wasn't giving me any, and I wasn't about to stand around to ask anyone, as it seemed that if you even looked an assistant's way, you were plastered with fake tattoos of the flag. If you read what I wrote yesterday, you will know how I feel about hyper patriotism.

Wandered around for a bit, there was a good school band at the piazza, from Ferny Grove State High School I think, very nice mood piece of music, wouldn't be out of place on Kid A or Amnesiac, and then they did a piece with boomboom click clack boom on the drums - full of energy, was very enjoyable.

All the cafes and takeaway places were packed to the rafters, and it was hot hot hot, and all the shade was taken, so after observing a few more picnickers and people kicking soccer balls around, playing cricket and using the barbeques - yum, sausages on the barbie, what a divine smell - I hopped on the Citycat that had just pulled up and went over to the city.

Hungry Jack's for lunch, the whole top floor almost entirely taken up with people speaking Chinese, and JB's for a bit of a shop later, I was on the bus home. I had thought of taking in the fireworks at 7.30 but with the heat and sunburn and all, I had left town at 3 instead.

Came home to see Australia batting already in the one dayer against England, a day nighter where they didn't even need to turn the lights on - what a pummelling. Poor England.

Paul

I Love A Sunburnt Country

As usual in Australia, and especially around Australia Day, there has been much talk about what it means to be Australian, what it means to be un-Australian, and the like. This week, that sort of discussion was sparked mostly by the Sydney Big Day Out organisers suggesting that music fans leave any Australian flags at home.

The Big Day Out, for those of you who may not know, is a series of annual music festival type concerts that tour around Australia and New Zealand (well, Auckland) this time of year. The bands that I can remember off the top of my head this time around are Violent Femmes and Lily Allen. There are others, but I am slipping into the age bracket where I think all music out this decade isn't as good as it used to be.

Anyways, the organisers suggested that Aussie flags be left at home, because last year there was some friction at the Sydney event because it was just a few weeks after the 'bash a Leb' Cronulla riots, with their Aussie Aussie Oy Oy undertone. No suggestions regarding the flags have been sent out to any of the other venues this year, but Sydney, as usual, is in a special category.

Within twenty four hours of the story breaking, it had become a flag ban, the Prime Minister and NSW Premier (who both have elections to face this year by the way) railed against the peculiar political views of the organisers, and the NSW Opposition Leader, who seems a bit of a dill anyway, suggested there be a ban on any bans of the Australian flag in Australia. And that the fines for desecrating the flag were too small, especially compared to indigenous sites, and that RSL clubs - returned servicemen - should be accosted the same protections as war memorials. Much hilarity from that statement and accompanying article.

To be called un-Australian in this country is the worst insult anyone can be given - well, in the media and political circles at least. There has been overtime offered at work today, and one of the girls in there is doing it, but quickly said to me 'please don't call me un-Australian' - not my concern at all, actually, so no need to worry with me. My parents hate the phrase, because it is just so woolly - sure, Australian values are bandied around on the news every couple of weeks or so, but aren't they respect for law, give a fair go, and all the other ones that would usually just be called good human behaviour? Universal values rather than just solely one country's domain?

But let's just ramp up the patriotism - the my country, right or wrong kind of attitude. On the TV this morning, on Sunrise, the question of the day was tell us your barbeque secrets. Not to go into the inanity of the question for starters, but one reply came back to put the sausages, bacon and eggs into a wok. Oh, the howls of protest from Kochie, aka David Koch, former financial reporter and now Channel Seven's biggest rah rah patriotism guy.

A wok is so un-Australian, so that idea would obviously be thrown out, ASIO called to track down the email address and throw the writer out of the country. Exaggeration of course - he would only be sent to a detention centre, and 'accidentally' sent to the Philippines for two years, until an ABC or SBS reporter found him in clear view.

I may go into the federal cabinet reshuffle in a later post, or I may not, but the name change of the Department of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) to Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIC). Yes, DIC. Because citizenship is obviously what all the immigrants crave as soon as they step off the planes, and if they want to celebrate their multicultural diversity, well, they can just stay in those Kenyan refugee camps rather than insult the eyes of the fine upstanding citizens of, for instance, Tamworth.

I would go into Queensland Premier Beattie's backflip number 5,212,310 - about first taking off Aboriginal/Indigenous Affairs off the departmental lists and then putting it back on - but I feel this post is more than long enough already. It would be a full time job chronicling his decisions and backtracks anyways, and I'm not working in journalism, nor giving up my day job to do it.

Paul

State of the Union

United States politics. It is a theme that I try to avoid writing about too much, but it just seeps in every so often, then becomes a flood, then seeps away again for a while. I am not a fan of the current White House occupant or administration, and not a fan of the Iraq quagmire - emphatically so in both regards. But, because I can't do much to change things in Washington, or Iraq, I try to keep my frustration to myself. Sometimes it is best to vent though.

Iraq is just a nightmare, for both the locals and the US and allied forces. Car and suicide bombings hitting Baghdad every day, with two or three mass casualty incidents a week it seems. Imagine if in Sydney, a similar sized city, you had various factions killing 100 people a day. And the war has turned into so much background noise for 90% of the population.

Let alone the US casualties there, past three thousand fatalities and rising fast. As if twenty thousand new troops can do much more than the 150,000 that are there already - although if they are going to live native with the Iraqi army as the plan is indicated, they will be just so many more targets for either side, Shia or Sunni to take potshots at.

Can anyone apart from Bush see a free, stable Iraq, capable of defending itself anytime soon? Well, apart from Cheney as well. They have downgraded the expectations of the democratic part of things, and the transformative nature of having Iraq in the middle of the Arab world.

And, even as Afghanistan moves toward the spring campaigning season with NATO fighting hard to even keep things quiet over winter, the US is looking to bully Iran, by moving a second aircraft carrier battle group into the Persian Gulf, and bellicose rhetoric.

Here's a thought, Bush will reintroduce the draft a day before he hands power over in 2009. Because where they hope to get the troops from for a volunteer army in these sorts of war conditions, I don't know. If the US ever gets out of Iraq, the Army and Marines will take a long time to recover. And especially the Army Reserve.

Eh, vent vent vent - I was going to mention a couple of the domestic policies, and the fact that Congress is as unhappy about where things are going as the general US public, and that Bush is the most unpopular Prez since RM Nixon. But I have vented enough already.

Something more close to home tomorrow - perhaps the local flag and citizenship debate?

Paul

Homework

I have some homework to do over the next couple of weeks. If you didn't know, I am going to a therapist - a psychologist type therapist - because my GP said I likely had an anxiety attack at the start of last month at work. I couldn't speak to the customer, couldn't move my hands or the rest of the body, blacked out and started convulsing. Off to hospital, off the to GP, off to the shrink.

I have a history of seizures, but the one last month was different inasmuch as after I came to, my muscles and head felt normal - with the usual grand mal seizure trick, my body and head feel like they have been through a tight wringer, body aches and headaches all around.

Anyways, I went to the shrink yesterday - I was bumped forward a couple of weeks, and the evening before, at 6pm, I got the call to ask whether I wanted to bring it forward. Confirming that I was on a 'mental health plan' as I was getting on a packed bus was probably not a good look though - although I could have been a doctor discussing a patient. Nah, I don't look like a doctor at all I am pretty sure.

Yesterday in the session, I spoke about my relationships with my family, what feelings I have for my birth family - I am adopted you see, and haven't been in contact with the birth lot since they rang out of the blue on my seventeenth birthday - and how I was at school, a B to B+ student making the effort for A grades I think I was. When I put the effort in that is, when I didn't put effort in, or didn't care, well. Then onto the suicide attempts at age seventeen...

The guy asked a series of questions trying to drill down to why I came up as highly anxious in the GP questionnaire - do I regularly feel suddenly out of breath, heart rate changing suddenly, to the do you get anxious about the possibility of anxiety attacks. I meandered through the questionnaire I think, but when he came right out and asked me what I feel makes me anxious it was straight off the top of my head.

Failure, rejection, relationships. In that exact order.

I don't feel a failure at the moment, but have the feeling if things start going wrong, they could go wrong spectacularly - the shrink put in the right word of what I was grasping around for, vulnerability. Yes, that's how I feel.

A general feeling of flatness has pervaded me for a while - he tried to get me to quantify how long it had been that I had been feeling this way. In a general sense, perhaps since before going to Canada, late 2002/2003? Of course, there have been ups, and there have been downs in that time, but overall, the feeling of flatness. Perhaps buttoning myself down the last two years on the finances thing as well has assisted that feeling.

I 'allot' myself times to be happy and such - trips, holidays and the like - whereas in Brisbane itself, I just make it up as best I can - perhaps.

He brought the whiteboard out to play, and did a graph of my unhappiness, with 1993, 2001 and 2003 the big dips. Homework for next appointment is to write out how 2001 and 2003 went wrong, think of the worst possible moments, write down how I felt, what I did, how I remember it, and rank about twenty emotions out of 1 to 100 as to how I was feeling at the time.

Fingers crossed, I will stick with making progress with this one.

Paul

Traffic Report

I was having a bit of a brain vague morning today at work, no surprises there, when for some reason I put together the thoughts of the traffic reports I hear in the morning, the road toll, and a person who used to work with my mother.

Hearing about all the three and four car accidents this morning, along with the past week of people being trapped in wreckage for an hour and a half or a truck trying to push itself into a tunnel too short for it - it got me thinking. How many of those accidents we blithely zone out when listening to radio or watching TV occur in deaths or major injuries? Or even minor physical injuries but prolonged mental ones?

I have never been in the situation of seeing or participating in a major traffic accident - it helps when you don't have a license and don't drive a car - and the most I have seen myself is when a car pranged into our front fence when I was a young teenager. The car was dented, there was glass all over the place, but no blood from memory.

While I was still in New Zealand and my family was over here in Oz, my mother, sister and my brother's girlfriend of the time aquaplaned through a standing puddle on the road, flipped two times and the car landed right side up. Was a semi-rural road in Brisbane's northern fringes - well, Caboolture, to be exact - and they didn't even hit a tree. Bruising, shock, some scarring, but no major injuries at all. Physically speaking of course, my mother has hardly ever driven since.

And then you get my mother's former workmate, from a few jobs ago now - he was just minding his own business, jogging next to the motorway, when a car flipped over and fell on him. Medically induced coma for a couple of days, a few broken bones - and some changes in his head. Where he used to be quiet as a mouse, after the accident he was loud and said inappropriate things all the time - such as sexual based stuff, if I remember what I was told correctly. Saying this to workmates who came to visit him in hospital. And he probably hasn't got right in the head since then, well, it must be about twelve years ago now. Or indeed, the rest of his life.

When you read about 300 road deaths in a year, and three times as many injuries, and hear about those constant accidents on the roads every morning, screwing up the traffic you have to get through to get to work, you forget every individual tragedy, it just becomes more statistics to ignore.

Was reading a book the other week, American Gods by Neil Gaiman, in which it is said that the highways and cars have modern gods that are kept happy by far more human sacrifices than the old gods used to get. Which is very true, surely there are hundreds of thousands that die on the roads around the world every year.

I could divert the topic a bit and say all the cars are contributing to global warming, but that could be a topic for another day. And I don't really know where I was leading with this, apart from the fact that listening to the traffic reports this morning, I stopped and actually had a good think about them and their possible consequences.

I have only mentioned injuries on the road in as much as that is more my experience than road deaths. Which are a whole other set of tragedies.

Paul

Tipping Point

In the New Year's resolution type sense, I have thought the last three weeks or so how to go about improving my life, my mood, fitter healthier like - thankyou for that phrase, Radiohead.

Since I may or may not have an anxiety issue, I have started unloading to a shrink, which is a good first step, but I think a good second step may be to change the radio station I wake up to with the morning alarm. For the last I don't know how long, I have had it at ABC News Radio, but I am thinking I may change to something light and fluffy on commercial radio instead.

I mean, I like being informed and all that, but little old me can't do much to engineer change in this big wide world - I have finally come to realise this - and I am sick to the back teeth of hearing about the latest fighting in Iraq or how one of their hangings caused a decapitation. As the first thing I hear in the morning, I mean - I will still read or listen about things, but not that first thought in the morning please.

Hell, I was even thinking of going completely crazy and ditching my Economist reading ways - they kind of look at me funny at work when I bring out my reading material and the others in the workplace usually go with New Idea, New Weekly and all that bubbly stuff. Maybe I will go back to lad's mag FHM, or perhaps Ralph or something. But not Zoo, never Zoo - give me more credit than that.

And with the debt almost paid off, I am almost back in the world of net creditor in my life. And can make some life decisions that I have been putting off the last two years.

2007, it may be all change all the time around here.

Paul

This Blog Is Taking A Short Nap

I am trying out the new google based blogger for a bit - new blog, because this one wouldn't migrate for some reason, is Brisbane Male Thirty, pretty much what you get is written in the title.

The interface does seem to be easier, though that doesn't excuse the 'you can migrate your old one over now' messages that I continually got over on this one. Not sure whether I will migrate the info from this blog over to the new one, or just keep them separate at this stage.

Normal transmission will resume shortly, your call is important to us.

Pauly

Welcome

The first post of a new blog, how exciting. For introductions the title should say it all, apart from the fact that I am a New Zealander living in Australia, so don't bother even asking who I support in the rugby. I have kept a diary on and off since 1994, and a blog on and off since 2001 or so.

I was going to call this site Viva Briz Vegas, but that would probably have promised a bit more excitement than my life actually entails. I was also going to add a nice bright welcoming picture to this post, but the picture was about a meg in size, so will do the bright and cheery thing later I think.

If anyone wants to see what I have been writing about recently, the last blog site is either to the side or at the bottom of the page - I may migrate the posts across, I may not. I tried migrating the entire blog across to the new improved shiny google based blogger rather than the old, but it kept failing to bring it across. Got very annoyed when it said it would work when it wouldn't, but so far on this side of the fence, it is a lot shinier with features and stuff, so I may stay here rather than go back - we will see.

No doubt I will quickly turn the subjects of posts into my normal tortured self absorbed self, but for now, we will try to stay happy and on course and all.

Paul

What's The Story Morning Glory

I'm at a funny time of things in my internet life. I'm a bit, as they constantly say at work, over it as it were. I don't have that exciting a life to blog about, I am at one of those stages where it is a struggle to get motivated to write something on here.

I'm trying to leave behind the general leftish ranting in reaction to news pieces from the States, Iraq or Canberra - or elsewhere for that matter. I know I am not going to be hired for a prominent international newspaper or website for my opinion pieces, so when I do go off at Bush or Howard for whatever they are doing this week, it just feels like another whinge about things I cannot affect. Pissing into the wind may be an appropriate phrase - no one is going to care what this little visited corner of the interwebs is going on about.

And will Google please stop trying to get me to 'upgrade' my blog? I tried it once already and it didn't take this along with it, and the messages say we are now ready for you to switch over, like are you fuck. Scuse my French. I keep trying, they keep rejecting this blog going across with me - maybe it's because I took my links off the template perhaps? Maybe I will just give in and do a link from this place to any new thing I do set up. Wasn't it better when Google were the little new kids on the block?

Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps - wasn't that a song?

And although I do love love love Flickr, photographs being a passion of mine, when trying to put some of my pics into relevant groups today, I just got sick of the amount of choices there were, and the fiddliness of getting pics into groups. Choice is overwhelming online, especially since earlier in the week I also signed up to that del_icio.us 'social networking' thing - if only the computer could read my mind and categorise the photos and websites from there, it would be most helpful. And don't even get me started on YouTube.

Broadband would help of course. Either I would do the stuff I wanted to quicker, and be able to listen to the hockey radio coverage clearly, rather than break break break, or I would do more stuff LOL. That's always the threat with broadband, but it would be so cheap for the lessening of all that frustration.

Or maybe it is simply too hot lately to put up with things. Isn't supposed to get below thirty in Briz Vegas all week, and, although we have had a mild summer thus far, and it has been much hotter in other parts of the country, well, above thirty is too hot for me. Wellington never got above 27 most summers. Yeah, get out the violins, I'm rambling.

I could talk about my work week and the huge amounts of negativity and cynicism rolling around the place, and the fact that the most negative and cynical of the people there are the ones that wander around the place, spending half an hour out of their desks at times, but that would just get me even more wound up LOL.

Was going to see Borat tonight, the movie has been out for so long that there are no afternoon sessions anymore, but decided to wait until tomorrow instead. Maybe will head into town, perhaps the Gallery of Modern Art or something, just to do the getting out of the house thing. Downloaded the Australia Day South Bank programme for next weekend's Something To Do, and the weekend after that am in NZ for that flying visit to the grandparents. Weekend after that, I may go and see the Brisbane International Car Show.

Would also like to go see Walking With Dinosaurs, but am betting that will go by the by as well. Trying to get my parents, read for that father, enthused in much is very difficult. Or maybe I should just ask for activity buddies across the internet? Nah, that never works, especially when emphasising activities only, blah blah.

Going through my email, the latest Borders e-newsletter has Nicole Ritchie writing a book. The apocalypse is almost upon us, obviously - with not one, but the choice of two covers 'for a limited time' - Oh Mi God, craptacular. Also advertising An Inconvenient Truth out next week - maybe I will get it to persuade the climate change unbelievers in the house to convert LOL.

Yes, my blog has gotten boring enough to review emails - I am going with the excuse that I was in shock that Nicole Ritchie could write or some thought similar. Her book is about a nothing type girl adopted by a rock superstar and the wild parties that ensue. Hmm, not going to comment on that at all.

Will see how blog inspired I am tomorrow
Paul

Therapy 3.0

Title today is because I went to the third therapist in my life on Monday. Version 1.0 was the child and family psychiatrist who I'm sure I tormented a bit during the suicide watch year, 1993 - being the typical teenage pain in the backside, adults don't understand me schtick. Second attempt was for about four or five appointments after coming back from Train Wreck Canada, but I wasn't working then, and didn't want to spend too much of my parents' money.

Therapy 3.0 has started because of the fainting spell or seizure or whatever you want to call it last month, and because the doc suggested it may have been anxiety. Am willing to get some help regards the anxiety stress and all the rest, and had a good session the other day. I just totally opened up about everything, which, even with my best friends and family, I am somewhat loth to do nowadays - if loth is the right word, and the right spelling.

From the whole falling over at work embarrassment, to my avoidance of commitment in any current relationship, to suicide watch 1993, to the whole Canada thing, which, to be honest, I try to blank out, to being teased as a short, bespectacled foreigner at high school, to the fact that I have never 'dated' anyone locally. And only the briefest touch against the whole adoption thing, and no mention at all of what my mother suggested as an issue, That Internet Thing.

The psych seemed nice enough, probably my age or perhaps a bit older or younger, and prodded me occasionally with questions to make me think of issues from a different viewpoint - not too often because I was off and away with venting central. He said I wasn't as mixed up as I liked to think I am, and also that I have put a lot of thought into what I think my issues are - failure, rejection - always thinking, never doing, as I have been accused - and for the past twenty years in some regards - and that short term we could work on coping mechanisms for anxiety, longer term we could work on that self esteem of mine.

He will need another session to fully flesh out an assessment, and give some recommendations, but that is okay with me - next one is February 12, but they will give me a call if someone else cancels. Which would be nice.

Went to the movies in the first time like forever after the therapy thing on Monday - went and saw Babel, which a day later (remember, Golden Globes are on Yankee time) won best dramatic picture. Good film, I enjoyed it, Brad Pitt looked old - going into the elder statesmen roles, a la Pacino and de Niro perhaps - although the whole Japanese connection was a tad weaker than the other three stories in it.

And have booked travel back home to see the grandparents - grandfather has been going downhill fast the last few months, if anyone can recall I have mentioned it before. Just a short, sharp visit 2 to 5 Feb, not too long to bore or overwhelm or anything - in on the Friday night, out on the Monday morning, although with the international connections will be almost a full four day thing.

More later
Paul

Reality Redux

So, the holiday logs are over, and back to real life real time fast breaking blogging - yeah right. But at least with references to yesterday and tomorrow and stuff, you know that I actually mean those days. Back in Brisbane, and the big thing of this week has been my sister moving down to Melbourne.

For her final weekend - last weekend I am meaning - she had made the choice to go to Currumbin Sanctuary. The rest of my family still have not been to Australia Zoo, in all the time we have been in Oz, but eh, it was the sister's choice. We hadn't been there as a family since about 1987 or 88 - I had gone on a school camp there in 89, but still, it is pretty much a generation since we have been. Wow, it is scary to say that it has been a generational change like that...

Anyways, saw some birds, snakes, kangaroos, koalas and other animals - kept us entertained for most of the day, and only $30. Overcharged for the burgers for lunch, but that always happens - the only disappointment was not seeing a Tassie devil, I guess they were sleeping or something. No camel rides either, like the last time we were there, but yes, it was just a nice family day out - and with my sister in the driving seat of where to go and what to see, it was a bit of a change from me always seeming to organise everything on tourist days out.

Then yesterday it was fly out of Queensland day, and, even though it was a mid morning flight, and therefore an early morning wake up call, on a weekend and everything, I decided to head down to see her off. I thought about it, and whenever I have visited or come to Brisbane, she has usually come out to see me in as well - hardly ever talked to me, it is fair to say, but she was usually present.

I realised as we were parking that my parents have never been on a domestic flight in Oz, and therefore have not needed to go to the domestic terminal - even when we went to Sydney in 1990, we took the train instead of flying. And I had to remind them that they could go through security to see my sis off at the actual gate, they were initially thinking they would say goodbye before the security checks. And my sister asked if there were going to be any hugs and that there better not be, she got one from Mum but no one else - geez our parents are so lucky to have three such non huggable children LOL.

As Dad said later as we hit the shopping centre, one down and one to go. Well, whatever happens this year I will not be living with the parents at the end of it, unless things go stupendously pear shaped with my life. And then this place would feel almost empty I am sure.

Other news from the past couple of weeks - the weather has been fucking weird the last few weeks. Not only was there that huge iceberg in the Canadian Arctic that broke off in the middle of their freaking winter, but the (European) Alps didn't get any snow until after Christmas, and even then there isn't too much of the stuff.

The eastern seaboard of the USA over Xmas and New Year was positively balmy - the cherry blossoms are out in DC about three or four months early, and parts of Victoria, in this part of the world, had a white Christmas - this partially in the same areas which have had the worst bushfires down there. Nuts.

But still the skeptics, including my parents, still aren't convinced on a possible massive climate change - oh, but it's global warming, why are some places getting colder? Is it man made or is it just a natural pattern? I tried to explain the severity of it all to V the other day, if we get less snow there will be less water - or put another way, can Australia imagine the consequences if this drought sticks around another five to ten years? And then I had to stop because I was starting to feel dizzy, stress related or something perhaps.

Wally Lewis, former rugby league player who works for Nine News and had a seizure on air a couple of days after I had my last one in fact, is back at work. Well, he is working as a sports reporter rather than a live presenter for the time being, reduced duties I guess, but I heard on the radio some comments that he and his wife gave the night that he 'returned'. The wife was saying that he wasn't the man she married anymore, and he was saying himself that looking back into the past there are times where he has forgotten entire days. Makes it sound like epilepsy is a hell of a lot worse than I have experienced it - maybe it is the seizures that are making me grumpy lately LOL.

Although I do still prefer to say I have seizures rather than the E for epilepsy word.

Now that I have my MP3 player which is also an FM radio, I can actually listen to the news on the way home on the bus or train. Which is nice - apart from when you hear about murder suicides. A father killed his two kids and himself while the mother was out shopping in Perth - they had emigrated from Afghanistan back in the 90s - and a real estate receptionist got shot at work in Logan, just south of Brisbane, after arguing with a tenant who was looking likely to be evicted. The tenant she had been arguing with then topped himself.

Why those stories should come to the top of my mind in amongst all the mayhem of crime in Australia, I don't know, but I think Andy Warhol would need to amend his saying about fifteen minutes - nowadays it seems to be that everyone is known for only fifteen seconds before being forgotten. Though don't even think of getting me started on the inanity that is Paris Hilton.

Pauly

Xmas Hols Ten

As the trip comes to an end, am on the Tas to Melb leg of the trip - have a window seat but have two giraffes of teenage boys trying to look through me to the window, is all Bass Strait blue at the moment though.

On 2 January, which would have been Tuesday, which was supposed to be my climbing Mt Thomas day but V's workmate who was due to take me up had family stuff that came up that was OK, just will do it next time I guess.

Instead went driving up to Devil's Gullet - Tasmania always seems to have the hellish names of any Australian state, doesn't it. We were told it was a bit of unsealed road to get up the top, which turned out to be 14 kays - the last 4 kays of which was also to be on the look out for falling rocks. Since it was my idea to go I was very quiet on the way up, averaging 25 to 30 kays an hour, just turning the Abba tape up louder while V gritted her teeth, drove the claws into the steering wheel tighter, and was looking for any excuse, any, to turn around. I didn't want to give her a reason with one of my trademarked smart comments. Was very quiet on the way up.

Then a 500 metre bush walk up the top seemed to be 500 metres vertically, and it seemed to take forever. Glorious views though, but going up in winter could be a mistaken idea - could see across to Cradle Mtn, about 65 kays away - was the slightest bit hazy though.

It wasn't until the way down that I mentioned the caution falling rocks sign, but yes, V had seen them on the way up. Averaged about 40 to 45 kays on the way down, which was good - the recommended speed was between 60 and 100 though, and I don't think even the 4WDs would have attempted that - would be a good rally track but. Oh, and the car was covered in dust.

Back to Devonport and I was wanting a pub lunch, but didn't get in until 3pm, so Maccas it was again. Bought a Tassie statewide UBD book and then dropped off the cheap cargo pants I had been thinking of wearing when bush walking, back to KMart and then headed back to home base.

Had a home cooked meal of steak, potato, pumpkin and carrots - V said there should be some green and not two orange vegetables but whatever, and then watched Walk The Line on DVD - V liked it, although it is a yee ha country story. Although I had caught a cold that morning, and the combination of watching a movie until midnight, some medication and a nice hot bath, I couldn't get to sleep until 1.30.

And we had to be up at 7 to drop a couple of V's friends at the airport. 10 o'clock flight, but they wanted to be there before 9, so we left Mt Thomas just a tad after 8 - for a holiday a 7 ayem start is too early.

But from the airport we went to Evandale, an historic town, which wasn't as pretty as I had hoped and we got stung big time for morning tea - 2 sausage rolls, 2 party pies, 2 drinks for $16. The bakery if anyone wants to know, and they weren't big sausage rolls either, or very nice tasting - V said they were the worst she had tasted in ages. So the rest of the time in town we didn't even ask or look at prices and didn't buy anything for fear of being stung cost wise again. And apparently at the bakery there is a difference in cost between eat in and takeaway, so for some manky salad, a smattering of sauce, cutlery and a napkin we paid an extra dollar each or something - not quite sure because it was V who had the price menu.

Went out to Clarendon House in the countryside, an example of an early 19th Century estate home - no pictures allowed inside, but should have, there was only one disinterested volunteer glooming around - she did look like she would give a good telling off, but there was only one of her across three floors and about twenty rooms - you'd have to be unlucky to a) get caught and b) have the woman interested enough to confiscate the camera - all this in hindsight of course - no photography allowed signs scare me sufficiently for about half an hour or so.

Then out to Longford, another historical town - had a good pork roast pub lunch at the Queens Arms Hotel, and won $40 on the pub gaming machines, after putting in $5, it was up to $49.80 but didn't quite break the $50 barrier. Wandered around Launnie for an hour or so, headed back home, started watching Sweet Home Alabama, but between the cold and last night of the holiday emotion it didn't get finished.

Had a lovely ploughman's lunch at the local deli - four types of cheese, chutney, pickled onion and wonderful butter and bread - and picked up some Tassie sausages, before going home, watching some cricket (don't ask) and then heading out the airport...

Xmas Hols Nine

New Year's Eve, it was going to be a quiet one, we got up and out for lunch at about 12.30 - half distracted by Cleopatra on the TV, went to the local bakery, picked up a pie and sausage roll and then down by the river to eat it. Chased by the obligatory ducks for a bit, and a bit of chasing ducks back.

Then kind of found ourselves at a loose end wondering where to go that we hadn't been before - there isn't much locally that hasn't been done the last four trips and this one. After a bit of umming and ahhing, it was off to Lake Barrington, where they have a rowing course. Went to the racing course and the boating ramp entrance which were a few kays apart so two rides down into the deep valley where the lake is.

Dark dark water, and you could feel the drop in temperature even - was an overcast, cloudy day, which made the atmosphere of the place even better, in a teen slasher flick type way LOL. Was very nice and peaceful and quiet.

Then headed up to Tazmazia, the largest maze in the world apparently - takes a minimum of one hour to get around the place and I was sure we had two hours still left - silly me though, it was only one hour. Didn't get around the whole thing, and got out with three minutes to spare - the woman said she would have shut up shop with us still inside - only because it was New Year's Eve and she obviously had a hot date or something. Every time it was mentioned thereafter, V had to add bitch to any comment she made.

Had tea at the local pub which was barely inhabited - we were the only two in the Dining Room, and there weren't many more in the casual dining area. Fireworks in Launceston, Devonport AND Burnie this year, so maybe the local pubs, of which there are four for a town of less than 2500, lost a bit of custom.

I think V wanted to go out and see some fireworks and last until midnight at least, but I'm not a big New Yearer and went to bed about 10.30 - turned the TV off while V was out in the kitchen and that led to a bit of an argument, but the less said the better.

New Year's Day, yesterday, itself was very quiet. Had bacon and eggs for brunch, stuck around home most of the day, watched bits and pieces of Lawrence of Arabia, headed out to lay flowers on V's parents grave, and headed into her work for watering the plants there - was online for about three quarters of an hour reading NY Times, Washington Post and the Guardian about that Saddam thing. Yes, give me the internet and it's Iraq Iraq Iraq LOL.

Had tea at V's sister's place - more cold meat, more Xmas pudding - the kids all hugged me goodbye because they might not see Uncle Paul again before I fly out Thursday.

Oh, and the PM wants to install 25 nuclear power plants in the country in the next few years, and Channel Nine, or WIN as they call it down here, did a show called Goodbye Warney last night - what on earth would Nine have left if the cricket went?

Xmas Hols Eight

Was going to be another day of laziness yesterday, but by about 11am we were thinking about heading out - and Devonport was the lucky choice of destination. We headed up, and first port of call was Harvey Normal, to see about getting photos developed - went to the local photo shop earlier in the trip, I am sure their network was on dial up, it was that slow to upload the pics, and then the next day they rang to say they had a network fault and had lost my photo info - lucky I don't delete things until I have them in my hot little hands.

Anyways, Harvey Normal had photos for 29c a go, and the photo assistant said even with 400 pics, it should only still be an hour for developing - and said she would talk to the boss to get a discount, 3c a shot discount, that paid for the CD thing, and got to talking with the assistant quite a bit, she had 1200 pics from her last month long holiday, the place was recovering from the Xmas and Santa photo rush, as was Santa's knee - good to have someone both helpful AND enthusiastic in a chain store - Traci was very helpful, and thinking of writing one of those thank you emails to the company - LOL, that I never get around to either, but will try in this case.

V said she could see me in a photo processing type job.

Then onto K Mart, where I got some nice jeans and cheap cargo pants - because V thinks I will ruin the good jeans I brought down if I go bush walking later in the trip as planned. Then downtown for lunch - I was thinking pub lunch but then I thought cost, and V was feeling like Maccas anyway, so Big Mac and cheeseburger later, did a bit of window shopping.

Then across the river to East Devonport to the best bakery in Tasmania, All Things Nice - we won't talk about the waterfront park I decided to take pics at, apparently it was the wrong one.

On the way home - to home base rather - heard that Saddam Hussein had been executed. My first thought was as if that will solve anything - celebrations in Dearborn Michigan, Shepparton and Auburn in Sydney - the Aussie ones looked a bit put on for the camera, John Howard and Dubya sounding tough and as if another death will lead to victory and makes Iraq a stronger democracy blah blah fair trial like whatever blah blah.

And then second thought is that I hear this type of major news in strange places - the invasion in Saskatoon, the execution in Devonport. Will I hear of the victory or withdrawal of troops in Masterton or Toowoomba or Norwich? And looking at the news this morning, doesn't look like much has changed, 77 dead in Kufa and Baghdad overnight, mainly by car bombings. The civil war has not got much to do with Saddam or Saddam's legacy anymore.

With Pinochet dying the other week, it's not so much having trials against former dictators I'm against as the friggin death penalty. Oh, by the way, when is David Hicks having his trial? And Bush says he needs more time to figure out his Iraq strategy, fuck, isn't almost four years and almost 3000 American soldiers dead enough time, blood and don't mention the treasure, aka cost of it all.

Got home, had a home cooked meal of Atlantic salmon, and finished off watching Top Gun. OMG, up to date with my journal. Lucky I have plenty of reading material with me...

Xmas Hols Seven

Headed up to Shearwater to drop off the last of V's Christmas gifts, via one of the rustic rural roads around these parts. Very scenic.

Spent the time up at Shearwater basically watching the cricket - let's not talk about that - and saw where we could do the driving around the Tamar Valley, which was one of only two must dos I had on my agenda this trip - two things to do over eleven days, I thought I was holding myself back this time around LOL.

Then back to V's sisters for tea, aka more Xmas leftovers - the niece who headbutted me was saying chonk whenever I spoke to her, so lesson probably not learnt LOL. For the first time all trip OMG I didn't have my camera with me, but would have just been more photos of family members. With the meal, unlike at Xmas, all the salads and bread were on the table so for the first time in a long time I had a real 'big family aka Waltons' moment of passing everything up and down the table - didn't help the narrowness of the room, where I was sitting cut the table in two, people would not be able to get around me to the other side of the table.

Got home, watched Criminal Intent and went to bed.

Next day was a lazy start and then a drive up to Exeter through more rural back roads - less scenic than to Shearwater but still OK. Had a sausage roll at the Exeter bakery and a quick look through the information bureau before heading up to Beaconsfield. Yes, THAT Beaconsfield. The on the nation's media 24/7 for however many weeks Beaconsfield was top of the pops.

The gold mine museum was better than I expected, well worth the price of admission ($9), and also had a look over the actual mine shaft itself - supposedly it will be reopened shortly, which will be nice. The museum has been very busy since that whole episode though - was a good T shirt that I was considering buying, listing great cities of the world, London, Paris, Rome, New York, and Beaconsfield.

Then went up to Beauty Point, where there is a Platypus World and Seahorse Farm. There were platypus being fed and swiming around and that you could take photos of, as well as some echidnas wadding around, aww they are cute LOL. The seahorse thing wasn't quite as good because it was just a farm basically - although the seahorses were cute, it lacked a bit of oomph due to not being allowed to take photos.

Then had fish and chips at Beauty Point - the fish and chips store was a general food store and DVD rental place as well. With the backyard, or front yard, cricket happening in the residence next door, and the Bubble O Bill ice cream for dessert, it was like I had been transported back to Waihi or Mahia in the mid 80s. Seemed to be a few vintage cars from the 50s to 70s as well - very restful to spend time there. With the head of the Tamar River next door it did seem to have a beach resort feel to it, nice sunny day, a bit windy but.

Then drove back past Beaconsfield to go across to the east side of the Tamar over Batman Bridge - named after the person who left Launceston to found Melbourne in 1835, not any Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson connotations. Drove back home and had a quiet night in, just finished watching The Break Up.

Yesterday it was visit former workmate day - now a NSWelshwoman, who was donw for New Year - met the mother and sister while shopping Boxing Day and I already apparently got their approval before V's friend got into the state. Thumbs up as the text to V came back. And also the friend had a baby back in July so it was fuss over baby time for umm hours - I got about ten minutes kid on my knee time, but did the usual staying quiet and absorbing the conversation thing that I usually do when around new people and it seemed to impress well enough - I got a hug on departure. And the kid threw up on her aunt just as we left.

Headed to Grindelwald for lunch, a fake Swiss village about 12 kays from Launnie, basically doing the touristy thing around a mini putt and real golf course. Had potato strudel and German cheesecake for lunch, and wandered around a bit. Did the back road way back, and had pizza for dins - tried watching Top Gun but fell asleep even before Goose died...

Xmas Hols Six

Headed to the Fifties Diner for lunch - every other trip to Tas for some reason when we have through of going it has been closed. Glad we decided to visit this time because it is a good set up - lots of old gass station stuff, the usual American bumper plates, the diner booths and the milkshakes and burgers - decided to be a glutton and go the Super burger - beef, lettuce, tomato, cheese, egg, beetroot and sauce I think it was - had to cut it in two to get a handle on getting it in two hands without major spillage - even then it was sometimes a battle to keep it under control.

Only twice the price of a Big Mac or Whopper and probably about five times the actual food - hmm, that was supposed to sound better than it came out, like five times the calories LOL.

Xmas Hols Five

Found V again after five mins, but it was a long and quite stressful five mins - followed her around through Katies and Rockmans and Harris Scarfe, before being the packhorse back to the carpark, KFC for lunch and then off to more women's stores before I had a turn in Colorado and Roger David - bought two T-shirts in Colorado, $20 each, and there was a nice suede jacket in Roger David, $80 down from $200. fawn colour, but I got the frown from the company I was keeping, and well, let's just say that by the time I actually wear the thing my taste will have changed.

I'm sure I change tastes once every three months or so.

Then back through Best & Less and Target, where I got dropped off at the TV section to watch the Boxing Day test - and the less we speak of that disaster the better - and then waited about half an hour for the other shoppers to come out of Target.

Then drove off to K-Mart, where I should have gone and seen the monkeys. V said that I was moping around behind her at K-Mart all through, I was just tired of shopping by that stage and she wasn't being clear about what she wanted and needed until after she and I got out of the shop and then didn't talk to each other for about ten minutes, both eating our own supply of lollies. Sorted it out as per usual, but I stayed in the car at Spotlight.

Got home, had a lazy night in, watched half of The Break Up before someone kept falling asleep. Yesterday, 27 Dec, was supposed to be a lazy day and had a good sleep in, but after about half an hour luxuriating around, someone was asking me to plan the day.

It was supposed to be a solely Mt Thomas day, down by the riverside and have some lunch and do some cemetery photography. We went out to the cemetery first and got a burst of local history and some good photos down there - then heard back from one of V's friends we had the last Xmas pressie delivery for, so teed that up for the afternoon and headed to lunch.

Xmas Hols Four

Many Xmas cheer was had, and then after those mad ten minutes, it was like the aftermath to a battlefield, eerie silence and all the casualties of war, in this case, shreds of wrapping paper, scattered across the floor.

V and I left for a bit, to firstly collect flowers for the cemetery, to drop the nephew back home, to head out to the cemetery to place the flowers on various graves - primarily V's Mum and Dad - and then head back to home base for about 45 minutes of blobbing. Oh, and getting potato salad, and whipping the cream for dessert.

Then onto round 2, aka Xmas dinner at the same place with different cast - oh, I got Xmas presents from the family, choccies, Milk Tray from one of V's sisters and brother in law, and a $20 book voucher, that will work on the mainland from 4 of the kids that call V an aunt, whatever you call a collection of both nieces and nephews.

More food, this time cold meat, salads and similar desserts to what we had at lunch. One of V's nieces gave me a headbutt, doing some silly thing of you give me more money than I give you, which escalated to plain extortion in exchange for a Glasgow kiss. It didn't really hurt, it more surprised me than anything, and I don't think she actually meant to connect - remember, this is an eight year old girl who likes me heaps - most of V's family seem to think much good about me.

When I got the headbutt, V was in hysterics for about five minutes straight. She couldn't shut up, and this after she had said I didn't seem to be in any hurry to protect her from flying babies or anything. Hmmph.

And also on the evening meal section of Xmas, the eldest girl of that family, eleven years old, seemed to follow me around a bit. I could understand where she was coming from in her socialising, being the eldest myself, trying to slot herself into the adult conversations, trying not to get too involved with the kids play - with her, I was trying to treat her as an adult, and not avoiding as I was mainly doing with the other kids.

Was talking to V about it later, how the kids seem to adore me, and the adults give me how best to describe it, due consideration - they seem to think I am a good guy or something. V said I totally undersell myself, and that it is totally understandable how I am treated down here - hmm, whatever, my fave saying of the trip so far LOL.

After dinner we waddled into the car and went around town to take photos of the Xmas lights out - there have been some good ones around town. Though there doesn't seem to be any official council sponsorship for it or anything - if you listen to the locals I have been around, the council does sweet FA altogether.

Then slept, setting the larm bright and early for the Launceston expedition for Boxing Day Sales 2006.

So was up at quarter to 8, earlier than the alarms had been set (8am), and then out and about to pick up the others at ten to nine. Had been offered by the girls at Pick Up Point One to play PS2 all day with them, and had seriously been considering it, and only made up my mind at the last minute to go into Launnie, I could play Playstation later i n the holiday.

Of course, a smaller car with five people in it, was squashed during the travel, though V and I were fine in the front LOL.

Got into town at 10, and rushed up to Myer to see one of V's workmate friends, to get the opinion on a half price nativity scene, and to figure out whether the blonde girl who had thake Mary and Baby Jesus off the thing would get away with it. Waited ten mins while the blonde was in the queue to pay before she was told she had to take the whole set, not just the best bits - and then it turned out that they would shop around for nativity scenes anyways.

Quickly looked through Myer menswear section, without buying anything, and then got lost in the cards and wrapping section - V had asked whether I was stressed at all on Xmas Day, but geteting lost for five mins in Myer on Boxing Day was the first stress moment there - I had a thing with crowds yesterday.

Xmas Hols Three

Screaming kid the aisle next to me, and next to me were a couple that stuck their head out the window as much as they could, and even though I'm not a Taswegian, the way they were saying there's no lights, lots of trees - they just came across as mainlander red necks on their first plane trip ever, let alone Tasmania.

Got in about five minutes earlier than scheduled, but the luggage took an extra fifteen than usual to come out. Felt like KFC for dinner, but got talked out of it because town (Launceston) would be so busy, on the turnoff to Mt Thomas the road to Launnie was clear as anything - I had been talked into going to the 24 hr pie place - the pepper steak was very nice, and went within three minutes of getting back into the car. Also bought a burger, but left that until we got home.

Drove around town, looking at the Xmas lights, while my camera was in the boot, before getting to home base. Stashed the pressies under the tree - apparently has never been up in that house before, too crowded in the past when the parents were around, and then not much holiday spirit since or something - living by oneself I mean, not because of any particular meaness or anything.

Looked up at the clock and it was 11.45 already - damned different time zones in the same country. Went to bed to await Xmas Day.

Woke up at 6 and went back to sleep, then woke up at 8 proper. Opened pressies, V felt very spoiled, and I did quite well - an MP3 player with FM radio, T shirt, shorts, deoderant and aftershave. Was a good Xmas morning under the Xmas tree, and had ham on toast, rang Mum and Dad to say Merry Xmas and started on potato salad - well we started the potato salad - and went to pick up the nephew.

Whose mother goes to work at her bottle store job on Xmas Day and doesn't wake up to open presents with the son at all. Very hmm and all. So in years past the mother has just dropped her son at V's to figure out Xmas Day with. The nephew got a digital camera for his main present, and he and I bonded while taking many a picture, while V was trying to organise us LOL.

Went around to Mt Thomas Xmas Central, at least for 2006, with 7 kids and various adults, the 7 kids including 2 toddlers, and at various times they were all screaming. Had a sit down meal, Xmas crackers and all, with five types of meat, turkey, chicken, lamb, pork and err another chicken, stuffing and veges all over the place - and then dessert - the best plum pudding in Tasmania apparently, along with custard and cream and ice cream and trifle which was YUM.

Then the chaos of the family gift giving, all the wrapping paper going flying in that mad ten minutes - the shy toddler at the start of the time, jumping into my arms after about half an hour and then shoving her baby doll in my face - 'show me, show me' she said afterwards to take photos.

Xmas Hols Two

Well, kept well enough immersed in my Economist on the flight down, avoiding the other people as much as possible - there was someone who had a seizure or black out and all the cabin crew congregated around him or her, put their trolleys away and even got the oxygen out - wasn't used though, and we didn't have to divert or get delayed or anything.

Also had the family in front of me asking every twenty minutes which part of the country we were over at the time, when 90% of the flight was cloud cover - the cabin crew were guesstimating as best they could. Twenty minutes later were were over the Victorian border or over King Island etc.

Xmas Hols One

Off to Tassie again, on a packed Xmas Ever flight, kids all around. Ah well, at least I was able to find the festive Economist on the umm fourth attempt at the airport newsagent.

Quiet day thus far, most exciting thing being the packing and pressie wrapping. At almost the last minute remembered to do the internet banking - oh damn, I forgot to get the grandparents' number for the hoped for phone call tomorrow.

And why can't people follow instructions, if you are seated towards the back of the plane, and there's a rear entry to the plane, and the instructions say to go to the back - never mind the thing that Jetbus is doing the normal airline thing of allocating seats - why oh why do there continue to be bogan morons coming through from the front by the dozens? Really annoying - as well as the babies and toddlers - who seem to always be fascinated by my glasses or something. I can fake smiling at the kids well enough, though.