Anthony Malloy

Don’t tell us we can’t learn! Last year we took Phee to see Santa and spent a lovely hour standing in line, moving a centimetre every minute. It was hot, there were kids, there were pushy parents. Festive cheer all around.

This year (and we think Phee is only playing along to hedge her bets to make sure she gets something) we were in Myer as the doors opened. We headed straight to the 5th floor and were third in line. By the time we made it through the oversized Santa mouth (looking amazingly like Jack Nicholson from The Shining, “Heeeeeeeeeere’s Santa!”) the line was at least 20 deep behind us. Santa’s Not So Little Elf who was taking the photos commented we must have been before to know to get in so early. Apparently the wait can get up to 2 hours at peak time. As it was Santa was already reaching to turn on his fan as soon as we walked in.

We’d also received some vouchers for Myer recently so we’ve decided to get proper solid based, conducting pots and pans. We picked up a 20cm pot this morning and will get the matching 16cm when they are taken off the pallet some time during the week. Major reason we’ll go back is the young kid who served us. He knew what he was talking about, he went out of his way to help and offered us good advice. Totally opposite to the two attendants in the bridal registry, where it seems Myer only employ their snootiest, most indifferent staff members. Looks like you’ll be getting something not from Myer Michael, those two really gave us the shits.

And what’s a trip to town without a quick visit to JB Hi Fi. And what’s a visit to JB Hi Fi without finding hundreds of dollars worth of DVDs you can’t live without? We were lucky we escaped with only minor damage. I picked up Lord Of The Rings – Return Of The King and Rae got season 6 of Buffy, in the cool boxes to match the first five seasons, for only $40. Now all we need is to find season 7 in the boxes to complete the set. And the money to pay for them.

This weeks theme for Daniel’s ‘Here Is My’ is his Christmas tree.

Here’s the link to ours.

As a young lad growing up in the country the highlight of each year (after birthday and Christmas) was the two weeks we would spend in Melbourne every January. To this day January is my favourite time of year. These two weeks we’d spend at the beach, and if anyone knows Edithvale beach you’ll know the lifesaving pavilion. We stayed in the top story of the white house next to it.

Anyway, the highlight of these two weeks was the day we would spend in the city and the highlight of this day was going to see a show. Each year, whatever the top show was, we would go and see it. Oklahoma, Cats, Pirates of Penzance, Me and My Girl, Annie, we saw them all. Her Majestys, The State Theatre, The Princess Theatre, The Athenaeum, wonderful places. For a country kid it was all very impressive.

Now I wonder how mum and dad afforded it.

Phee loves her music and stage shows and we’d love to take her but we simply can’t afford it. Mama Mia is back for a repeat season and she would adore this show. Rae and I would like to see it again, it was a lot of fun, but at $300 for the three of us we will have to pass. There was an article on ticket pricing for the Delta Goodrem shows next year that made me shake my head.

“Goodrem’s tour promoter, Paul Dainty, says he tried to keep ticket prices low and instigated the $349 package to keep the shows affordable for families.”

Rae and I have good jobs, we don’t want for much and live comfortably but within our means however (and here we must say Delta ain’t our musical tastes so this would never actually apply to us) $350 for an hour and a bits entertainment? Mr Dainty needs to have a little rethink me thinks.

In the meantime we’ll grab the Singin In The Rain DVD from the shelf and give that spin.

The revolution is here.

Get your pod and get on board, podcasting will change the way you listen to ‘radio’ and two great examples can be found right here in Melbourne, Aus – G’Day World and ShitFM. Check out the first ShitFM podcast, around the 18 minute mark is a wonderful Died Pretty-ish track by a Brisbane band called Charles Foster Kane. You’ll love it. I’ve added this cast to the list I download. Each night I grab the lastest casts, set up a smart playlist in iTunes to select all podcasts from the previous 24 hours and listen to the latest on my way to and from work the next day.

If you have no idea what I’m talking about check Cameron’s links on Everything you need to know about podcasting.

You’ll be glad you did.

A table for six with five adults (all bloggers) busy eating their main course and one kid sitting with nothing in front of her.

Enter one waiter holding a bowl.

He marches up to the table, looks around at us all, stands their for a while, asks “One childs ice-cream?” and waits.

Viva Zapatas indeed.

What’s hit Melbourne town? When I got home tonight I was feeling pretty blah at the thought of sitting behind this PC working so I thought I’d go for a walk. I grabbed a couple of podcasts, plugged in the iPod and set off.

Seems I wasn’t the only one – Daniel and Jean had the same idea. Bet you neither of them saw the production company filming something at the top of my street though.

Does anybody know if cats can see ghosts?

Something odd is happening in the banking world. My bank, Westpac (Nee Bank of Melbourne, nee Westpac) just called me to ask what they could be doing better.

It must be a scam, surely.

One good thing is it looks as though they will be introducing a ‘favourite transaction’ option in their ATMs which will suit me fine as most visits to the ATM for me are for the same amount from the same account.

Now I can see properly again we sat down and watched season 2 of The Office on DVD.

Like most men I’d like to think of myself as Tim but have a dreadful feeling I’m equal parts Gareth and David.

Sigh.

Perfect television, regardless.

In a fantastic nod to tradition and statement for moving forward the Mighty Tigers have reverted to the jumper in which they won all their premierships but abandoned in 1994.

Now it’s back – the slash is on the back once more as the Tigers get ready to roar. Club PR on it here – The Sash Is Back and here – Tigers Revive Sash Of Success

The sash, a new coach, potentialy great recruiting of youth and a new sponsor. Will summer never end?

Time to start saving for a new #10.