My Blog Posts

It’s taken over two years but finally we have a nickname for the youngest member of the team. Unlike JFGP and his Mum this one took a little bit of bedding down. May I introduce you to MIGO Todd. This one isn’t an acronym so if you hover your cursor over the word there is no magic explanation. It’s just what he says. Usually when you are holding something he wants. Sometimes it even relates to food as you can see in the accompanying photograph.

It was five years ago today that I plighted my troth to my beloved. Its been a blast. Here’s to many more honey. The good news is that this year we are dining at Chez Maurice et Linda and there won’t be a pureed pumpkin in sight.

Well folks, we’ve finally organised our trip back to the UK for later in the year. Not content with forgetting my birthday a couple of years ago SWMBO has timed our travel so that I get to spend my birthday this year on a plane. On my own. If I wasn’t paranoid I would definitely think that she had it in for me. The advance party (SWMBO, JFGP and the one without a nickname) will be arriving in blighty at the end of September. They will be staying for a month. I’ll be there the day after my birthday (having spent some quality celebration time with the nice people at Virgin Atlantic) and we will all be returning to Sydney together at the end of October.

Is a Lego Millenium Falcon. I didn’t realise it but I’ve wanted one of these since I was 9. I promise not to duplicate the video though, I’ll leave that up to the young people.

It isn’t my birthday for another four months but I’ve already decided what my family can buy me for a present. Did I mention that Danny Baker is now broadcasting via that there internetweb? The show is so good I’ve had to buy SWMBO her own iPod so that she can listen to it on the bus to work. It really is that good and you dear reader should get subscribed right now. And if you are married to me you should be buying me one of these, if only to encourage the Candy Man to play more Steely Dan.

Following the links on my last post I note that the worlds best over produced West Coast rock duo are on a massive world tour this year. They are even gracing us with their presence down under. Even better they are playing a gig in Sydney. However, I have had a long standing aversion to stadium gigs ever since I saw Prince in a hanger just outside Birmingham. If even he couldn’t get a vibe going in one of those oversized tin sheds what chance has anyone else got? My other reservation is that recent work by the Dan hasn’t been quite up to the standard of their 70’s and early 80’s output (something about dialling down on the nose powder perhaps?) and I’m wondering if it will be worth it. I have a sneaking suspicion though that I will be plonking down my credit card for a couple of tickets really rather soon. Anyone fancy joining me?

We were out and about at Balmoral Beach on Saturday morning. During some of the worst weather seen in these parts for some years. The swell was so bad that people (well, lunatics) were surfing off Rocky Point Island which is adjacent to the beach. Of course the smaller members of the party were oblivious to conditions when there were parts of the local flora available to clamber all over. Meanwhile the adults were searching for the smallest bit of shelter to get out of the bitterly cold wind.

The pilot for Biffovision is being repeated on BBC Three at midnight on Monday the 4th of July. If you are reading this from blighty do take a look. The clips I’ve linked to look absolutely … interesting.

Many thanks to those of you who called our home to wish SWMBO a happy birthday today. Sadly we didn’t get to hear your messages because she doesn’t know the difference between ’erase all messages’ and ’erase last message’ on our answering machine. I live in the hope that one of these days she will master something that was invented after 1950.

Should I be buying a beerbelly to save me money at cricket and rugby games?

I’d like to apologise to you, dear readers, for not writing more here recently. I’ve started a new job, you would be surprised how much time is taken up looking after a couple of young ratbags, etc. The real reason is that I’ve been spending my online time not tending this blog, but playing Conquer Club. But my addiction may be ending. This weekend I actually managed to win a game. Call me king of the world.

Some photographic proof that I am taking care of the children. This is the results of Olly’s second haircut (and the first one that didn’t get cut short by his screaming). SWMBO would like me to apologise for the side parting, but what can I say, our local barber is a traditionalist. On the positive side he has a large jar full of lollipops and these are largely to thank for the youngest member of the team enduring a sit in the barber’s chair.

We took the opportunity of a public holiday on Wednesday for a day out. We took the boys, along with Emma and Elli, to Sydney Wildlife World to look at the animals and stroke some koalas. The weather was suitably Australian and luckily we remembered to pack rain wear for everyone. Of course the smaller members of the team love this kind of weather because it presents plenty of opportunities for jumping in puddles.

We just got back from a rather nice holiday in Jervis Bay. We took Aunties Ju-Ju and Nor-Nor as well as cousins Phoebe and Maddie. The weather was gorgeous and we made it to the beach every day. I even took the shark biscuit for a spin. I did spend most of my time in the kitchen though, when I wasn’t snoozing. Sadly I’m banned from publishing any photos of the last two on “that there internet” so you’ll have to make do with a snap of the littlest ankle biter in a rare quiet moment. He was either waiting for us to put Shrek on the DVD player or about to demand another game of Snakes and Ladders.

One of the things I missed on our return from the mother country to the penal colony is the quality of the radio. A particular favourite of SWMBO and I is the master of the microphone and genius broadcaster Mr Danny Baker. The Candyman’s breakfast show on BBC Radio London was the listening highlight of my day when we were living in Balham. Well, this morning I got a chance to hear his dulcet tones again on my way to work on the North Shore train line and trudging up the Pacific Highway to the office. Because Mr Baker is podcasting. Get you and your podcatcher of choice lined up and pointed at that link (its also available on iTunes) for the most entertaining hour or so you will spend with your personal MP3 player this week. There is only one show up at the moment but it is comedy gold. Here’s hoping that there will be more episodes popping up soon.

This is not me. Honest. I gave up smoking seven years ago.

For those that care, I just took delivery of the latest Marillion album. Six days early. Its called Somewhere Else and impressions so far are favourable. It has already made it to my iPod and will be accompanying me to work on public transport for the next couple of weeks. I’m not driving because the car has been commandeered by SWMBO to chauffeur our overseas visitors around. Ju-ju, Bee-bee and Mad-mad would like to say hello to all of my readers and have promised that they will stop vomiting any day now.

I’ve just discovered that Chris Difford is recording a new album. As his last solo outing is in my (current) top 5 albums of all time list I’m rather looking forward to his new collection of songs. To make the anticipation all the more delightful it appears that Boo Hewerdine has been co-writing with Mr Difford for this album. For those of you in blissful ignorance Mr Hewerdine is one of the finest songwriters knocking around. If you get a chance take a listen to one or more of his solo albums, or his previous work with The Bible.

I started my new job this week. Details are on my other blog here. That will have to do for now. I’m too tired after a week of information overload.

I have been remiss. A bad parent even. JFGP started pre-school nearly a month ago and I haven’t mentioned it here. To make up here is a photo I took of number one son on the morning of his first day at Ivanhoe Park Pre-School. Complete with TtTE backpack chock full of healthy snacks and a cheesy grin. Please feel free to leave a suitable gushing comment below …