Spotted the Chrysler PT Cruiser Police Car in Collins Street yesterday. Some kind of initiative to help the police reach out to youth. Despite my joking on seeing it (“That’ll get the glue-sniffers and vandals’ attention! Hey kids! Stop spraypainting and check out our cool car!”) hopefully it does have a positive effect. It is ... [More]
Categories
Growing up
You know your kids are growing up when… When waving goodbye in the schoolyard, the youngest waves enthusiastically, but the eldest does a deliberately low-key waist-level wave back. “Yeah, yeah, see ya dad.” Your youngest explains to you how to use the animation features of Powerpoint. Your eldest decides that a warning on a web ... [More]
Categories
A dog’s tale
I found myself on Sunday morning at Altona Beach, doing the dog-walking thang with Marita and Maisie. All very merry (even better once I shed the excess of clothing I’d managed to bring — memo to self: beach not generally cold in October). Marita had a short distraction to deal with, and I found myself ... [More]
Categories
Today in the city
Today in the city I encountered a lost tourist looking for Flinders Street Station (“it’s that big building with the dome”), a Korean student looking for the Block Arcade (“follow me, I’m walking right past it”), and unless I’m much mistaken I passed Katy “Jo Grant” Manning in Degraves Street.
Categories
Election
So, let me get this straight… You can start an illegal war based on flawed evidence that most people didn’t believe, then refuse to apologise for it (even when your allies admit their mistakes). You can pretend the war hasn’t impacted our safety, while security specialists are warning otherwise. You can form alliances with a ... [More]
Categories
Here is my morning hair
Here is my… morning hair. Brave enough to post yours? Link in the comments or trackbacks. Previous pictures in this series
Categories
Forgive me Spurlock
Forgive me Spurlock, for I have sinned. It has been two years since my last McDonalds meal. But last Friday I suddenly had a craving for a Filet O’Fish, and succumbed to the evil arches. 1 x Filet O’Fish Value Meal please, eat-in. The eat-in muzak has improved a bit, but the food was as ... [More]
Categories
Winter’s last gasp?
Elizabeth Street last night about 6:30. Pedestrians with their umbrellas at the ready. A gap in the rain, but still threatening. Taxis lined up outside Melbourne Central offering a comfortable but pricey way home. Hopefully winter’s last gasp. (Remember that Del Amitri song… “every third car is a cab”. Thankfully things aren’t quite so bleak ... [More]
Categories
Remember when…
Remember when John Safran placed a fatwa on Rove? Last night Rove’s offices burnt down. I wonder if John just choked on his cornflakes. (For those who didn’t see the segment, the evidence was clearly stated as faked. Although we saw the fatwa declared, by the end of the segment it was shown being withdrawn ... [More]
The marks on the road were a rather obvious reminder of last night’s apparently spectacular tram mishap outside Glenhuntly Station. Two scores in the road, about ooh 4 foot 8 and a half inches apart, veering away from the tracks at the catch points, across most of the railway crossing, then back onto the tracks. ... [More]
Dear Mr Wrong Number Man, My name is Daniel Bowen. I said as much when I answered the phone. My name is not Ricky Bowden. Never has been. I don’t know what you’re talking about. Good luck in dialling the right number next time.
Categories
How I didn’t buy a house
In order to tell you the weekend’s real estate story, it is necessary to talk about money, and large amounts of it. I earn money. By some people’s standards, it’s a big stack, way more than one might think I deserve for sitting at a keyboard all day, but that’s the way it is, and ... [More]