Our mission yesterday: to take the bicycles to the new house. Why? Because it’s a tradition (well, we’ve done it once before, in 2003). Because it was good exercise. To avoid the hassle of moving them in the truck on moving day. And because it was a nice day… so why not? I’d taken yesterday ... [More]
Year: 2005
Measurements
I got into something of a lather over the weekend, when I noted that my washing machine appeared to be about 65cm wide, wider than the space for the washing machine in the new house, which is about 60cm wide. This caused something of a panic, since if it couldn’t fit in that space, it ... [More]
Torchwood
According to The Independent, next year there’ll be a spin-off series from Doctor Who, called Torchwood. It’ll be more adult, described as “The X-Files meets This Life” and will star John Barrowman as “Captain” Jack Harkness, part of a team investigating alien activity on Earth. BBC announcement BBC has registered torchwood.org.uk Three Dollars — It ... [More]
Real estate agents earn a fair amount when they get a sale. Often they’ll give a gift of some kind when the sale is complete. When I picked up the keys on Thursday, they gave me a gift, just a token of their appreciation, they said. I wasn’t expecting anything. What was it? Not a ... [More]
The household ecosystem
As of 2pm yesterday, I own a house. Well, apart from the bit the bank owns, which is most of it. Yesterday on my internet banking, a cute little house icon appeared in my list of accounts, with a scarily high number for the balance figure. The new phone number will be connected today (so ... [More]
Million dollar parma
Chicken parma, Metropolitan Hotel, North Melbourne — How could one resist a meal touted as “Fat arse chook parma”? I certainly couldn’t. And yes, it was huge. A fellow diner commented that no part of a chicken is that big, and the waiter agreed. Perhaps it was really turkey parma, or ostrich parma? It was ... [More]
Ant attack!
Yesterday morning I awoke, stumbled into the livingroom and turned on the heater to take the edge off the cold. Wandered out to get the newspaper, unwrapped it, sat down on the floor to have a quick look at it. Glanced over to the heater. Crawling with ants. Ants carrying small white things. Were they ... [More]
I’ve been pretty lax in checking the oil level in the car recently, despite the humungous amount of money such slackness cost me a couple of years ago when it directly led to the whole engine needing replacing, which cost $3000. But as I had noticed one of the tyres needed inflating, I decided to ... [More]
Drink, Mr Davros?
“Excuse me Mr Davros, would you like a drink?” “Oooh, lovely, yes please.” “Ah, that hit the spot. I don’t suppose you’d have any biscuits?” (From behind the scenes footage on the Doctor Who: Revelation of the Daleks DVD)
The Midas touch
Over the past few years, the banks have stood accused of piling on bank fees, reducing branches and staff, and generally treating their customers with contempt. While this has been happening, they’ve focussed on their most profitable customers, rewarding them with shiny cards, priority phone lines, and something close to obsequiousness. Having got a home ... [More]
Here are my shoes
Here are my shoes (well, most of them)… I hate buying shoes. There are few activities I hate more. It might be because I’ve had a very hit-and-miss history when buying. Roughly in order of purchase: MISS — ancient brown semi-casual shoes [1]. Subject to endless gags from lovely girlfriend (aka fashion consultant) and just ... [More]
Anniversary
Two years ago I stood outside the Nova cinema in Carlton, slightly nervously marking time. Then she arrived, and we went on our first date.