Category: Diary

Our holidays are over, both Rae and I face the dreaded return to work tomorrow. Still, we went out with a bang. Lying under the stars, drinking a very nice drop of red, watching Ferris Bueller in the Botanic Gardens then spending the evening sleeping on the beach is as good a way to say goodbye to relaxing times as you can get.

Tomorrow 2004 starts in earnest; back to work and my web business officially reopens for business. Deep breath now, and here we go.

Let’s take a trip back some time to the early ’80s. Tony is sitting in his room, most probably reading a Dr Who novel freshly purchased from Angus and Robertson. Suddenly his peace is shattered by a shiny silver Sony tape player in the next bedroom and a little girl with a booming voice belting out the soundtrack to Annie, tackling all parts with equal aplomb. Little was he to know that this little girl, his sister none the less, would never stop singing from this day forth.

Fast forward 20 years.

His little sister now makes a living from teaching other little kids to sing. She’s also playing Miss Hanigan in a local theatre companies production of Annie and for Christmas she thinks it would be a good idea to give Tony’s daughter the soundtrack to Annie.

Tony is now stuck in his room, watching Dr Who DVDs, while a young lady (who apparently shows promise in the vocal department) sits in her room, belting out the soundtrack to Annie, tackling all parts with equal aplomb.

Everything old is once more new again.

I somehow managed to fluke a tax return this year so rather than run out and spend it on Lego (not that’s not a tempting option) I invested it back in to my business – I purchased a new Samsung SyncMaster 171N 17″ LCD Monitor.

And it’s great. I’ve reclaimed more desk space to clutter, my nose is no longer pressed against the screen and it looks really cool. Rae will inhereit my old 17″ CRT monitor and her old 15″ will, um, I have no idea what I’ll do with that. Anyone in the market for a 15″ Compaq monitor?

On another note I also picked up a shaving gizmo to tidy up the mess my beard had become. I do love toys.

UPDATE

How cool! I just found out that my monitor swivels and I can use it in portrait mode.

We have an issue.

Part of my haul for Christmas was a magnificent DVD Box set of Dr Who – The Three Doctors complete with a Corgi die cast model of the third doctor’s car, Bessie.

Only thing is it’s (dead…) wrapped in plastic. I don’t want to open it but Rae insists I do, she’s now carrying a pair of scissors around with her, just waiting for my guard to drop.

Hang on, what’s that sound?

RAE! RAE! Step away from the box!

I survived the following : 72 hours without email (barely), a 33.3k dial up connection, too much food (again), too much drink (again), hot Shepparton summer days (had forgotten how hot they can be, as I always do), laying under a tree for an entire afternoon, sitting around reading and chatting to family, hearing more stories from dad (I find I can’t get enough of them as I grow older) and a nasty cold.

Now I’m home. The cats are in, there’s Pepsi in the fridge, my gal is here next to me and our own bed awaits. All is well.

Early morning.
Excited child.
Loads of presents.
Too much food.
Too much to drink.
Getting sun burnt testing out Phee’s toys.
High Society on DVD.
Snooze in the afternoon.
Some family today, some tomorrow.

Merry Christmas one and all. I’m going to sleep now, see you in a few days.

Christmas Eve and I just got my first present.

Rae, the wonder woman, has found me a copy of the Star Wars Christmas Special, complete with ads from the 1970’s. I am in heaven. I had such vague memories of this crime against science fiction and it’s terrifying how spot on most of them are.

I couldn’t have asked for anything more.

It’s here, I’m happy. My passport to 17 Tiger games for 2004 arrived today, as did Rob’s. Now all we have to do is wait. March can’t arrive quickly enough.

And, if you’re a supporter and not a member – go sign up.

The dance of the demonic candy canes, now terrorising small children in a drive way near us.

What does it say about you when the owners of your favourite coffee haunt are going to the trouble of giving you a set of keys so you can still go and make a proper coffee even though the caf? is shut and they are half a state away on holiday?

I kid you not.