Halloween aftermath

For some reason I find this photo, taken of the Ofcom canteen chef on Halloween, both disturbing and compelling.

Speed

Thought that they comprised some interesting statistics (click on left to read). Mind you, I think that it is less about women’s general good will to society and more about their basic stupidity. You know, it wouldn't really occur to me to think, "Oooh there is a speed camera, might remember that (using precious brain cells) for next time I come this way"... No, it makes me think, "Oooh... big scary speed camera. Must never speed cause you never know where they will be..".

In other news, it is Wednesday already, contributing to my building conviction that some painful nephew of God has gotten hold of the office time clock and is fiddling with it manically in the corner. This year is just speeding up silly style now. It seems like brief moments ago that I was on a Sydney beach weighing the pros and cons of London through a misty hangover. Phewy!

Work, though I haven’t given pause to discuss it much recently, is finally starting to nearly be almost going well, which is the beginnings of a relief. I had my first day yesterday where I; (a) knew what I had to do, and (b) knew how to do it. This meant for a product little session and a general feeling of worth at the end of the day.

I have a new housemate. She moved in on Sunday and we had a nice little bonding session last night. She works right near me in a Thames-side wine establishment called Vinopolos . She does wine tasting and such, and I am hoping that this means that I can pop next door and have a quick swig of champers in my lunch break.

some paint

My walk to work is really devoid of graffiti except for two pieces of paint; one cannot really be called graffiti because it is both too high and too neat, the other most definitely is, but why has it been left? I have been meaning to take photos, but why bother when the internet will do it for you?

This first one is in the back ally that I walk through to get to the back entrance of work. The rest of the walls are clean. It is not exactly what you want to read in the morning;




The other is more heartening, TAKE COURAGE.

The building up the back is where I work..

These are the only two bits of paint in the whole area - it is really odd. They have obviously been left for some time, but why? Just to freak people out? Put them in the mood for stronger coffee? Dunno.

news

Scientists at CSIRO have developed a t-shirt that allows you to play air guitar and make music, thus deftly missing the entire point. Still, they have been kind enough to post a video of someone trying to play it here

Meanwhile, an unauthorised biography of Alan Johnes (aka the scariest person on Australian radio) called "Jonestown" makes the observation that, "The masking of his apparent homosexuality is a defining feature of the Jones persona". Well bugger me! Jonesy, huh?

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I went on a flying trapezing on (at?) the weekend. Brilliant! I was feeling a bit sick cause I have a bugger London cold at the moment, but it certainly wakes you up!

"Put down the mike, and admit that you're soft" - Cut Chemist

That line is from a pop77 track by Cut Chemist. I want the Democrats to play the song in their victory speeches. Any other suggestions?

My word. The news has really rocked me. I guess he had it coming, but the American’s having a truly idiotic megalomaniac as a president was getting up there on the permanency stakes with death and taxes.

So .. how long do we give Howard? My first impressions were that he would be out shortly after his master, but Australia really needs a credible opposition. Like really really. Poor Beazley. Now, with Blair exiting in January, Howard will be the last man standing in the axis of lunatics that we joined five years ago. Hmmm. Very, very dubious honour, that one. Keep flying the flag, Australia!

And … as much as we on the left (making a couple of assumptions about my readership here), are all against war in Iraq, what next, huh? Premature withdrawal can really piss people off (hur hur..).

History will look back and see Bush as a shining example of how far the dim witted can get in life. “There, there, Johhny”, they will say, “Bush even became president!!” He will inspire finger paintings across the globe.

My first Fawkes!

Things are getting properly lively in London. Guy Fawkes was this weekend. I went to see my first Guy Fawkes fireworks Saturday night at Blackheath. It was pretty awesome, but it is just a touch hard when you have seen the Sydney harbour lit up on a New Years Eve to go back to the group of people in a paddock paradgym. Still, it was a very nice paddock and some pretty fireworks so I ain’t complaining.

I also have just remembered this weekend that I am actually related to a dude that was put to death with Guy Fawkes, a chap called Sir Everard Digby, with my Grandmother being a Digby-Roberts. Apparently he lent them some horses.

'Cause fireworks are not illegal here, the “party” tends to continue pretty much all weekend. I am now a bit jumpy. Last night it seemed that every neighbour was burning stuff and making stuff go “bang!”. Restful.

Anyway – here is some piccies of the late great Digby. Wasn’t he dashing?!