Anthony Malloy

Eating Monday Night Takeaway last night (every fortnight I pick up Phee and it’s just her and me for tea) and Phee is reading my KFC pack.

“Look Dad! It’s a website! You can look at it on the internet.”

I never even knew she knew those words. My, how she made me smile.

Next she’ll be complaing the 512k ADSL is too slow for looking at barbie.com. Sigh, they grow up so fast.

Congratulations to the Mayor and First Lady of Audiville on the arrival of
Timothy William Morton who burst in to the world, returned a smashing serve and leaped over the net in to his dads arms yesterday (Or the day before, or maybe it’s tomorrow. I’m really not too good when it comes to this international time zone stuff).

Well done Nigel, even more well done Sarah.

The weekend; one part giving the new car a proper long distance run, one part visiting the family, one part seeing dad on father’s day, one part being spoilt rotten on fathers day and one part nephew’s first birthday. No part work, no part cleaning, no part do anything really constructive. A good weekend.

I’ve been thinking we need a new day. The day after father’s day should be ‘New Novelty Tie and Sock Day’. I know I did my bit to celebrate it. It could also be ‘Hang The Really Cool Movie Posters On The Wall Day’ (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off & Buffy’s ‘Once More With Feeling’) or even ‘Watch Donnie Darko On DVD Day’. Either way I’m covered this year.

I had my one and only recurring nightmare last night.

I was in high school, running late for maths. I kept all my books in my bag in secondary school – never once used my locker and on this day I had to get my book. I ran to the bags and there was a problem. Everybody had left their school bag out and no one had put their name on theirs; they all looked the same. I was frantically searching but couldn’t find my own, all the time knowing Mr Pilkington would be most disappointed in me.

Sure, it’s not Jack Nicholson smashing through the door with an axe, and I was fully clothed, but it’s a dream I have every now and then and for some reason it throws me for a couple of days afterwards. I think I know why I had it this time, but it’s still left me unsettled.

Most odd.

Richmond – a team is for life, not just a season.

Strange things are afoot at Malvern Central.

This tiny shopping centre in Malvern is hosting a group of Tibetan Monks who are creating a sand mandala. It’s only one and a half days in but it’s already stunning. To think that on Saturday afternoon it will be dissolved.

Transient beauty. And, of all places, in a shopping centre.

It’s that time of the year again, Ian Rankin has released his latest Rebus novel – and I have no funds.

A Question of Blood (Buy at Amazon | Amazon UK) will now have to wait a week. I need this book now though – so, anybody want to buy a new car? Will sell for $29.95.

Well, I’ve packed away the scarf, the Tiger thermos, the Tiger jacket, my special Tiger pen for marking the record, the Tiger bag for our bread rolls and my radio. Season 2003 has come and gone for us Tiger fans. One great game (vs Hawthorn in Round 5) and a run of losses seemingly without end, pretty much a mirror image of 2002. Now it’s time to let go for a little while, recharge the hope batteries and begin to look forward to 2004 when the slate is wiped clean and our boys have a chance to redeem themselves by staying healthy, kicking long, stop handballing at every opportunity and honouring the best lead regardless of it being Richo or not. Hope shall spring eternal once again come autumn next year.

For now it’s time to shift in to hockey mode, but before I do there’s a little housekeeping left.

Well done to the beautiful Miss Marita on her win in the footy tips. I’m not going to mention that I, me, myself was beaten in the tips by an Englishman who until this year had never seen a game. I think next year Nigel, Marita and Veronica will all be operating off a handicap.

And so ends 2003.

I’m at work now. But soon I won’t be.

Soon I’ll be on my way. On my way to pick up my new car!

At last, the time has come – pictures won’t be far behind.

I have never been so happy to be wrong.

The leasing company, for reasons known only to themselves, have moved hell and high water and my lease has been signed.

I’m getting the car.

I pick it up tomorrow. And it looks like I will have to bring my Paul Kelly CD with me.

So, any body need a lift absolutely anywhere?