Thursday, December 22, 2011

Happy Holiday Reading

Well, this is the last post for 2011 as I'll be taking a little break over the holidays before reconvening Nah Seriously in the new year. I must therefore pass on my best wishes for Xmas to you all and also say a big thanks to those who have been followers/readers from the start and those who have come on board more recently.

I hope there's been some form of enjoyment/entertainment in hearing of my exploits and thoughts on a number of topics throughout the year. I've certainly enjoyed 'jotting down some musings' and am glad I've found a bit of a groove since October in trying to be more disciplined and post on a regular basis.

While I am taking a break and you'll be missing my witty and insightful prose, I thought I'd better provide you with some holiday reading from various sources that I like to check out from time to time. Some serious but some a little more lighthearted. So enjoy yourself if and when you're taking a break and see you again in 2012.

EDM.


John Birmingham - Daddy's Rules

Sam de Brito - Free to be human

Jeff Sparrow - Bad year for dictators, grim year for democracy

Possum Comitatus - Australian Exceptionalism

Kathleen Noonan - Enough is enough

Paul Syvret - Royal chirp-up to the colonies

Martin Flanagan - Liam Jurrah

Anonymous - Footy Almanac

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Old Dog, New Trick



It is an amazing opportunity before me at the moment. Six months long service leave. Living on the Sunshine Coast. And getting to spend a lot of time with the wife and son as I take care of the little fella in particular on a full-time basis.

Given all that, I thought it would be remiss of me if I didn't seek to accomplish a few things while living this life. Regular writing and posting on this blog is one. But another is surfing. While the daddy day care duties don't allow a hell of a lot of time for getting out and hitting the waves, the opportunity of living up the coast for an extended amount of time really had to be grasped.

So a couple of weeks ago, I undertook my first lesson down on Noosa Main Beach. By all accounts, Noosa Main is a pretty good spot to learn so I headed down there one morning with quite a few butterflies and a yearn to learn. Why so nervous? Well, I think I've been fortunate to almost always pick up new things pretty easily when it comes to athletic/sporting pursuits. In my teenage days anyway. As a result, I don't think I handle being a 'gumby' at something very well and I've been reluctant to try new things as I've gotten older for that reason.

So taking on something completely new at the grand old age of 36 seemed a little strange and I was a bit intimidated seeing I was most definitely going to be a gumby this day. And not helped by an American tourist doing the lesson as well that said to me "You're an Australian and you don't know how to surf?"

Anyway, there was a delay to the lesson starting because a large group hadn't arrived yet so I was standing near the truck and putting on my assigned rashie. Next thing I know a German girl tapped me on the shoulder and handed over $60. Perplexed and not quite thinking straight due to the nerves, it took me a while to realise she thought that I was the surfing instructor and she wanted to pay up.

Having been up the coast for over three months now, I guess I've started to take on the 'coasty' look with longer hair, a tan and a bushy beard. I did quickly explain that I was merely a fellow pupil and not the instructor before she snatched her money back, no doubt wondering "He's an Australian and he doesn't know how to surf?"

We eventually ventured on to the sand with our training boards under our arms and squinting heavily into the sun. The instructor did his intro with his surfing bio (born and breed at Noosa, been surfing for 35 years, etc) and some beach safety tips before we went through the movements on our boards, raising the odd wry smile from the beachgoers around us. I was doing quite well at this and was thinking this surfing gig might just be a breeze before I realised the sand is probably a hundred times more stable than a moving wave out in the ocean.

A couple of run-throughs and we were into the water already practicing pushing up into position as the wave hits. It seemed easy enough and I enjoyed a couple of rides into the shore and thought 'maybe I don't need to stand up. This is pretty fun in itself.' We were back on to the beach a short time later for some more instruction and then it was time to try it all out by ourselves.

I was on the end of the group as we lined up horizontal to the shore with the instructor moving along pushing each person along to help them get some momentum. I reasoned it would take ages before he got to me so I decided I'd try and give it a go myself. A little clumsily I found my 'sweet spot' for my feet and looked back behind me at the incoming wave.

It just seemed natural to begin to paddle with my arms so I moved off and waited for the wave to hit. Still nothing so I looked around again and it was still some way off. All this waiting wasn't good, however, as I was over-analysing and over-thinking what I needed to do next. Then before I know it, the board lifted at the tail (got the lingo down already) and I started to gain some momentum pretty quickly.

I noticed that the nose was dipping though and all of sudden I was face-planting sand and my feet were flying over my head in a complete somersault. I'd nose-dived in spectacular fashion and the leg robe was now pulling strongly on my ankle as the board wanted to give up on me and head back into the shore.

I looked around to see where I was (still Noosa?) and the instructor had a big smile as he swam over. "You were a little too high up on the board. All your weight was too far forward." Right, that makes sense I guess. Better just unpluck my boardies from my arse.

Next time around the instructor stayed with me and was calling out the moves as I should have been doing them. It went a lot better this time and I actually managed to catch the wave but stumbled off like a drunken sailor as soon as I tried to stand. Yep, Gumby Day it was turning out to be. Things did improve though and by the end of the lesson I'd managed to stand up a few times although some might call my definition of 'standing up' a little generous.

I'd booked my second lesson for two days later and of course the two day delayed muscle soreness had kicked in by then. So I turned up again pretty stiff in the upper back and neck and was stretching them out as an English tourist from Manchester struck up a conversation with the question "So you don't surf? I thought all Australians surfed?" FFS, cultural stereotyping has a lot to answer for.

Being an 'experienced' surfer because I've done one lesson, I was allowed to go out by myself while the rest of the group did the lesson one intro and routine. And you know what, I was doing OK right from the get-go and managed to ride a wave all the way into the beach within the first ten minutes. A loud 'yee-hah' passed my lips and I began to realise what all the fascination is about. I've always loved bodysurfing but riding a wave in on a board really does beat it and I was starting to feel hooked.

I soldiered on but was still only standing up one in every five attempts. Some awesome wipeouts did occur but I was always quickly back up and paddling out again to try and get the next one. By the end of the lesson, I'd gotten the ratio down to about one stand up in every three attempts and I walked back up the beach feeling great with the board under my arm. Maybe I didn't even need the third lesson I'd booked for another two days time.

I decided to do the third lesson nonetheless so turned up feeling good and quite confident. Again, I was sent out by myself seeing I was now soooo experienced. The first couple of goes were a struggle though and I kept alternating between nose-diving and not being able to paddle on at all.

I was getting pretty frustrated before the instructor came over and lent me a few tips on wave selection and trying to keep my feet still as I paddle on. Guess I'm so used to moving my legs as I roll my shoulders over from all the swimming I've done. Things did improve as the session went on but I still didn't feel as good as the last lesson and trudged back up the beach feeling a little down about it all. I'd just assumed I would steadily improve with each lesson/session but it actually seemed like I'd gone backwards.

D-Day then arrived a few days later. The day of my first go at going out by myself. A very kind mate had lent me a Mini Mal to start off with so I donned my boardies once again and headed down the beach with the board under my arm with a fair whack of trepidation and fear.

And it turned out with good reason. Once again I felt like I'd gone backwards as I kept slipping off the board and struggled to maintain any sort of 'position' for a proper lift off and stand. I did catch a few waves but they were definitely few and far between. 'Frustration' was therefore the descriptor for my mood and I went to grab some breakfast feeling confused and just a little cranky.

Over a strong flat white, I contacted my surfing oracle (the mate who lent me the board) and sought some advice on what was going wrong. Wax my friend. The Oracle said the wax on the board was probably quite ancient by now after a year or so under his house so I needed to get rid of it and apply some new stuff.

Aha. The Oracle had spoken. So I headed straight for the nearest surf shop and purchased a wax comb and some new wax bars. I then keenly undertook the task of wax off and wax on (reverse Karate Kid) when I got home. As well as finding some time to practice my 'stand up' movements on the bathroom floor after having a shower.

Two days later I ventured out for the second time by myself with the wife and son on the beach watching. The wife understood my frustrations at the time so I think she quietly had her fingers crossed for me as I paddled out to the first wave. And before I knew it, it was upon me and something clicked into action quickly and effectively. Fore all of a sudden I was standing up and riding the wave into the beach. Bingo! Wax off and wax on had worked.

I've since been out another two times since then and everything is starting to click. I'm pretty much up and riding the wave in say seven times out of ten and am now able to turn and walk a little up and down the board. This is at a pretty tame beach like Noosa Main though and there's still some hilarious wipeouts as the various bruises and cuts on my body can attest to. But I feel like I might just get hooked on this surfing thing. Who knows, it might be a lifetime pastime with many years to come. Then again, it could be a poor man's midlife crisis and all be over in a few short months.

No matter what happens, it's been great to overcome the nerves and actually give something new a go. Life would be pretty boring if we just stayed within our comfort zones all the time so I'm certainly glad I 'stretched the envelope' so to speak and have realised the opportunity to learn to surf while living up here on the coast. This old dog has learned a new trick.

EDM.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Head Shaking Material



Apologies folks for missing out on a post earlier in the week. Family commitments got in the way but I'm here again today dispensing some wisdom for you all. You guys might not consider it wisdom I guess, but you're here aren't you so there must be something that is interesting and read-worthy. Isn't there?

Anyway, the topic for today is stuff that makes me shake my head in disagreement, disillusion and sometimes disgust. Not exactly light and witty holiday reading, but hey, that might come next week when I've had a chance to get some of this off my chest.

Firstly, this article tells of how former Prime Minister John Howard helped launch a book yesterday with the purpose of teaching school children to reject the notion of climate change. Howard lent his not inconsiderable weight to the arguments in the book by addressing the launch and telling all that he felt climate change was 'political propaganda' and science in our schools was being hyjacked by the mysterious 'left' (be alert AND alarmed people!).

Now whatever your thoughts on climate change are, surely you are asking the question, isn't this the man that went to the 2007 Federal Election with a policy to introduce an emissions trading scheme to help fight climate change? For instance:

“We have established a committee which recommended the introduction of an ETS. And work is well underway to introduce that by 2011. It will be the most comprehensive ETS anywhere in the world.”

So what has changed for the former PM to so drastically alter his position? Plain old political expediency I would guess now that the Coalition has moved into the climate change denier realm. Or is it just that former Prime Ministers will turn up to the opening of an envelope and have a say to maintain some sort of relevance? Definitely head shaker material for mine.

Next we have yesterday's release of stats showing that mining exploration is booming. Not exactly 'news' I know but take a look at these figures for the September 2011 quarter - Iron ore exploration up 9%, coal exploration up 12% and on-shore petroleum exploration up 33%.

And that's just for the quarter. As Peter Martin reveals, for the year to the September 2011 quarter, coal exploration jumped 167%, iron ore exploration 54% and on-shore petroleum exploration 18%. The ABS stats also show that total capital expenditure by resource companies stands at a record high of $232 billion.

Yep, the resource industry is booming beyond anything else seen before. But isn't this the industry that is meant to be dead in the water now that a carbon price and minerals resource rent tax (MRRT) are to be enacted in the next year or so? Didn't the industry itself through various media campaigns and the Federal Opposition decry both policies as killing the boom 'stone dead' and effectively killing our economy?

Why then, are resource companies investing in exploration and looking for new deposits at record levels if the industry is meant to be dead in just a few short years? Mining companies and billionaire mining executive aren't stupid people, but investing heavily in something that will no longer exist shortly, according to the campaigns and the opposition, would be a pretty stupid idea wouldn't it?

Of course it would. So the reality must be that the industry is going along very nicely thank you with future prospects better than ever before even with the incoming carbon price and MRRT. That means they are not the 'end of the world' at all as the campaigns and associated media reporting have told us. So yep, another bout of head shaking when I think back to the hysteria about both and the faux outrage of the likes of Twiggy Forrest and Tony Abbott.

There's just two recent examples anyway. The world is a madhouse it seems and there's no shortage of causes for disagreement, disillusionment and disgust.

It's a wonder my head stays on its shoulders with all the other reasons for head shaking that pop up on an almost daily basis. I feel like a laughing clown at the show sometimes. That's just a metaphor by the way. Don't be trying to shove a ball down my throat next time you see me.

Speaking of which, stay tuned for another instalment of Nah Seriously in the coming days. A Xmas break beckons but there's still some time for more musings in the days between.

Til then my friends,

EDM.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Ball Park Music

A short post today but meaningful nonetheless because it's a shout-out to a new(ish) Brisbane band called Ball Park Music.

Why am I doing a shoutout for them? Well, I have a personal connection in that Sam, their frontman, was/is the barista at my favourite coffee spot in the Brisbane CBD. I'm obviously up the coast at the moment but my daily small double shot flat white was an absolute must when I was back working and it was Joel, the owner, and Sam that fed my addiction.

And I say 'fed' because it was the kind of service whereby they knew my order by heart and a sly nod and a wink would let me know they were on to it before I'd even got to the front of the queue. So I highly recommend them for anyone searching for a brew on George Street. The Frisky Goat is the name. Shizza, that's two shout-outs now.

Back to BPM. Now I say a 'newish' Brissy band because they are already getting plenty of exposure after winning a Triple J Unearthed spot at the Gold Coast BigDayOut earlier in the year but also took out the Unearthed Artist Of The Year during the recent J Awards and were nominated for Album Of The Year.

So in my best Molly Meldrum voice, 'do yourselves a favour' and check out Ball Park Music's new album, Happiness and Surrounding Suburbs. Knowing some of you as well as I do, I reckon the Cover Art will be a hit at least.

Anyway, below is their current single, All I Want Is You, so happy listening and catch you all soon.

EDM.


Tuesday, December 6, 2011

I Love Public Holidays



Bring on 2012 and an extra public holiday I say!

I know I'm not working at the moment so advocating for another day off is a little indulgent. But hey, I'm a man of the people and therefore support anything that gives my followers and fans some additional respite and relaxation.

If you haven't heard already, the Queensland Government has announced that from 2012, the Queen's Birthday Public Holiday will be moved from early June to the first Monday in October. But the bonus next year is that we will also get a public holiday in early June for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee as a means of ensuring a smooth transition for events and programs that have already counted on a public holiday then.

This move comes after a discussion paper was released earlier in the year where Queenslanders were asked for their opinions on the number of public holidays they have and when they fall. That consultation overwhelmingly supported spreading public holiday throughout the year. And it's not like the Queen's birthday is in June anyway (21 April for the record). That date is a throw-back to Victorian times so there's definitely an argument that the times-have-a-changed since then.

While I'd much rather prefer to be celebrating Republic Day, the decision to move the Queen's Birthday Public Holiday to October is long awaited for mine as Queenslanders have suffered too long with no public holiday set down for the second half of the year. From early June onwards there's been nothing, which makes for a very long six and a bit months before the Xmas break.

You can certainly see in people come October/November that they are burnt out and in need of a break. Energy levels are sapped, particularly as the temperatures and humidity start to rise, and everyone is just praying for the end of the year to come. Admittedly, Brisbane people have the EKKA Holiday in August, but that's just the capital so there's still a massive part of the State struggling through.

A win-win then surely? But sadly, no. Fore there is always someone having a whinge and in this case it's the various retailers' groups (Australian Retailers Association, National Retailers Association, United Retailers Federation just to name a few). Now, I can definitely see why such organisations exist and applaud retailers getting together to try and raise a voice on issues that concern them (much like a trade union, but for businesses rather than workers).

The thing is though, is that all I hear from them is complaint. If it's not about an extra public holiday next year causing a small increase in staff costs for one day (a day when the public won't be working and most likely will be spending mind you), it's the changing value of the Aussie dollar causing import costs to go up and down.

And if they're not trying to pressure the Reserve Bank to lower interest rates so that people can spend a lot more on things they don't need, it's them complaining about customers moving towards online shopping rather than visiting their stores (maybe some decent customer service instore would help out on that one).

So yes, just once, I'd like to hear a positive thing come from the retailers. Although it would probably take the return of WorkChoices for that.

I sure don't envy individual retailers and their choice as to which representational organsation to join though. And maybe that's the problem. Each organisation is competing with each other to be the 'voice' of retail businesses and is therefore keen to 'cry out' the loudest. The more 'airtime' you get, the more members and all that.

Anyway, I reckon it's time to celebrate the sensible move of spreading our public holidays out from now on and the added bonus of an extra day off next year. I'm so keen on celebrating, in fact, that perhaps we should have another public holiday for that also. EDM Day?

Awesome. I'll start the petition now. Just don't tell the retailers.

$hit-stirring again,

EDM.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Mixed Messages Make My Brain Hurt

"Modern life is rubbish", as the Blur song goes. Not so much rubbish, but bloody complicated if you ask me. And mainly because of all the mixed messages reported in the media these days and the contradictions that exist amongst all the research and studies that get reported.

Not sure what I'm on about? You know, the "eat more fish for the omega-3, but not too much because of the mercury". And "get more sun for the vitamin D, but not too much because of the skin cancer threat".

Or "drink fruit juice for the vitamins and minerals, but not too much because they're full of sugar". And one for a lot of the women I know at the moment, "it's OK to have a little caffeine or alcohol while pregnant" while others say "strictly no caffeine or alcohol". Which one are we to believe?

Yeah, getting by in this mad, crazy world is hard enough as it is without all these mixed messages and contradictions. We're all just trying to do the best thing and live our lives as best we can in our own particular circumstances. But being told to "do this but don't do that", and "have x amount of this but don't have more than x amount of that" just makes your brain hurt. Well, mine anyway.

The worst part is that we're bombarded with these messages on a daily basis through the media and every one of them purports to be based on the best evidence and be the latest advice.

But sometimes they're only being reported in the media because they go against the mainstream and current thinking in that area. So the actual research might be completely faulty and based on illogical persumptions or calculations. But because it's different it gets reported on and once again we're hit with another contradicting message.

As a result of all this, you're constantly confused about which way to go and what you should do. One day you think you're doing something right, but by the next, your scratching your head because 'apparently' that something might be wrong.

Yes, I'm sick to death of all these contradictions and just wish I could turn them off. Unfortunately, the so-called 'information age' means they're everywhere and you just can't escape the latest 'recommendations' and claims. While the info age is a great thing in so many ways, this is not one of them. I just wish there was a spam filter on my life for 'mixed messages reported in the media'.

The best thing to do in response to all the contradictory information out there, by my reckoning anyway, is to live your life in moderation and don't excess on anything (if only I could practice what I preach sometimes). But most of all, and as hard as it may be sometimes, to take the so-called expert's advice with a grain of salt and not let the mixed messages stress you out too much.

Certainly on a personal level, the wife and I have had reason to question some of the experts in our lives of late so believe me when I tell you that they don't always have the answers and most of the time they are merely 'guess-timating' based on their increased experience rather than having a definite and infallible remedy for the problem at hand. Experts, Schemksperts!

Anyway, that's my latest rant from the EDM Files titled "Things that make my brain hurt". So excuse me while I get a glass of red wine for all its antioxidant values but promise I won't have too much because of the alcohol content and the increased risk of cancers.

I'll also make sure I get to bed at a reasonable hour to ensure I get the 'right' amount of sleep for proper brain functioning but of course not too much because I don't want to wake up lethargic and unable to concentrate.

(currently smacking hand into side of head to relieve the brain ache)

Til next time Nahhers,

EDM.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

A Homecoming Observation


Greetings folks. I write this latest post not from the grounds of our broad acred Sunny Coast house but from my hometown of Brisbane. My in-laws study to be precise.

Yes, I'm back in town with the wife and son for a few days while the wife undertakes some vocational training for her job. The son and I thought we'd join her for the trip 'down' and allow for some time with the grandparents. We also managed to catch up with some good friends just this morning for a 'playdate' that has long been talked about and now finally realised.

Now this isn't meant to be a bagging or anything. Just an observation from our first trip 'back home'. Actually, we've been down twice before since we moved to the Sunny Coast but once was just for the day and the other a quick one-night visit for a farewell dinner.

My observation? Traffic. Or more precisely, traffic lights. Now I know I may sound like some country bumpkin or something, but life around the Noosa region means you rarely see a traffic light let alone have to stop for one. From memory, the only two we have any contact with are between Noosa Junction and Sunshine Beach and both are for school pedestrian traffic so are only used occasionally.

Yes, the preferred method of traffic management in the Noosa region appears to be roundabouts as there's definitely plenty of them. I have heard that Canberra is the capital of not just the country but of roundabouts as well but I reckon Noosa could easily give it a run for its money. The area around Noosaville when entering from Eumundi-Noosa Road stands out the most and that's before another couple are constructed for a new super Bunnings store coming soon.

Anyway, most of the driving that I do at the moment in getting from our hinterland property to the beach, to the pool (yes, the home one is still not working if you've read my last post), to the park and so on is on main roads or allows for continual movement. So a lot of it is up around 80-100km/h and of course involves mainly roundabouts except for occasionally getting stuck behind some dopey tourist or grey nomad caravan (being a local now, I can say that).

So it was quite a shock yesterday afternoon to be cruising into Brisbane and coming across our first traffic light at Carseldine. We'd arrived at the big city obviously but we moved off again pretty quickly to resume our journey. But what's this? Another traffic light. And another. In the next ten minutes we were stopped at another ten lights and that doesn't count the other ten we managed to drive through.

My driving was a little 'stop-start' as a result and had to brake suddenly on a number of occasions which caused the wife and son to lurch forward violently and promptly raise their eyebrows at me. And I think this was happening due to the fact I'm so used to gaining some momentum and speed and then being able to maintain that for quite some time before having to slow down or come to a stop. This whole 'just start to accelerate before having to decelerate quickly and stop in the space of 200m' thing was causing me all sorts.

"What did you expect EDM?", I can hear some of you saying. "Geez mate, it's only Brisbane. It's not like it's Sydney or London or Tokyo", I can hear the rest of you saying.

Well, I did mention that this post was merely an observation and not a complaint. And this was a small and probably very trivial observation that hit me upon arriving back in Brissy town for the first time in months. That I hadn't come across a traffic light in weeks, or maybe even longer, and that the humble roundabout has become such a large part of my life. All the big issues hey?

Yes, I know this post isn't particularly hardhitting or edgey and that some of you may well be asking for your five minutes back after reading this. But hey, this blog is about joting down some musings on all walks of my life and a light bulb moment regarding my driving habits and traffic lights will have to do for today.

So greetings once again from Brissy town and I'll be back with a Sunny Coast broadcast later in the week. And sorry again, but no, you can't have your five minutes back this time.

EDM.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

My Kingdom For Some Rain


Where the bloody hell is this rain we were promised?

It's been a month since we had any rain here on the Sunny Coast and the forecast for yesterday (Wednesday) was 'thundery rain' followed by 3-4 days of similar conditions to provide nearly 100mm over the period. Alas, it's now Thursday afternoon and not a drop in sight despite plenty of clouds around.

Why do I care so much? Shouldn't I be happy for sunny and dry days for the beach and park runs with the son? Isn't a lack of rain a good thing when living near the beach?

Yes, it has been pretty nice weather of late and we've been taking full advantage of it by being at the beach or local pool everyday. But the lack of rain has been a curse as well as we've been unable to run the pool at the house as a result.

That's because 'life on the land' (always wanted to say that) means being reliant on tank water. We have two tanks going here at the property, one for the house and one for the garden. Now the house one has plenty of water in it as it fills up first but the garden one is empty.

It was pretty much empty when we moved in so it didn't take long to start having some issues with the pool after that. This being the first time we've had to manage a pool, we bought in the experts who eventually put it down to a lack of water from the tank.

The owners to their credit felt bad about leaving us with an empty tank so they were happy to 'truck in' some water so that we could get the pool running. 10,000 litres duly arrived one morning and we had a few days of bliss of using the pool to our hearts content.

This story has to go further though, so the next relevant fact is that the 10,000 litres were gone after only nine days. Whattha? So yes, we were back to not being able to use the pool and contacted the property agent to say there must be a leak somewhere.

It's been a few weeks since then and we've had both the pool man and water tank guy out to try and solve the mystery. They had guesses at best and said to try this and that but each time we enacted something another issue or mystery would pop up. And of course we still have no authoritative answer as to where the 10,000 litres went.

The latest is that a pool leak specialist came out this morning to do a check. And you know what he said? "Oh, I need there to be water in the tank before I can see any leaks". That does make sense I admit, but it just adds to the vicious circle we are on. We have no water due to a leak but we can't find the leak because we have no water.

Anyway, he has informed the agent that some more water needs to be trucked in but I would love the 100mm forecast for the next few days as that will go along way to solving some of these issues.

I now understand just a little what it must be like for farmers and their constant vigil towards the skies. Mine's just for the luxury of running a pool though. Not for the growing of crops and one's livelihood like them.

But still, some rain, some rain. My kingdom for some rain. We're paying for the pool in our rent so we should be able to use it. Especially with a two-year old who loves the water. Which in turn would also make my job as Daddy Day Care Provider a whole lot easier.

On another note, who'd have thought after the wet season we had last year that we'd be worried about a lack of rain already. It was a pretty dry winter but our winters are meant to be dry here in south east Queensland. A dry November is out of the ordinary though as we would usually get a storm rolling through every second or third day and dropping 15-30mm in just a short time.

Alas, this November is looking like it will be the driest on record apparently despite the fact they are still saying it will be a wet summer so there must be plenty still to come. Here's just hoping that it doesn't all come at once in just a few weeks like it did last year and all the damage and turmoil that was caused.

Anyway, please excuse me while I check on the BOM website once again for some rain and think about my tactics for the next phone call with the agent. Having to worry about water supply and watching the skies like a farmer is something very different for this city slicker.

But hey, life up here in the hinterland sure beats my old office cubicle and the daily 'drone' run on the train. That my friends, I can guarantee.

Til next time,

EDM.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Password Fatigue



Does anyone else have 'password fatigue'?

Modern life is pretty bloody complicated and a big chunk of that for mine is all the usernames and passwords you're expected to remember for this and for that and also for this and for that.

I recently joined Twitter as a means of making this blog a little more accessible and upon having to come up with another username and password, I was struck by the realisation that it's all getting a bit too much. Particularly as all the IT security nerds say you really need passwords for every occasion (like a wardrobe or something) and it's best not to reuse them for multiple applications.

So I sat down and decided to make a list of all the username/passwords I have. I've got no doubt that I've missed a few but I ended up with a list of 20 in only a few minutes. As I said, there's definitely some I've missed so I could possibly have over 30 username/passwords that I need to remember to conduct my life in these modern times.

Of course, some of them are the same password or versions of the same despite the tech heads recommendations. And some of them are probably not 'needed' as such but hey, things like an ebay account and AFL Supercoach go along way to making life a little more interesting for many, not just yours truly.

The bottom-line is, that I need to remember a multitude of information such as usernames and passwords just to access my info, access my money, access my correspondence and even to access this blog. I understand the need for privacy and appropriate safeguards, but jaysus, it is becoming quite a drain on my cerebral capacities.

The regular ones are easier to remember obviously, but the ones that only get used fortnightly or even later and I'm sitting there scratching my head trying to think of something. And then after a couple of goes of submitting one, having to revert to the 'forgotten your password' page and then waiting for an email to come in before I can access my stuff.

I realise this may be a particular problem for me and many of you are sitting there asking what's my problem. But I do know from my former work colleagues that this is a problem for many because just before I left to go on leave, an email went around saying that from now on mandatory changes of your password would occur every two weeks rather than six. The collective groan that went across the floor was audible and could probably be heard by the IT boffins on the ground floor.

The HR system was even worst with passwords needing to be reset every two weeks but you only went into it on a fortnightly basis to check that you got paid so it was a case of having to come up with a new password everytime you accessed the system.

I guess I don't have to worry about all that right now while I'm on extended leave, but I do live in fear of that first day back when I'm asked to remember a heap of passwords that I probably reset in the days before I left and haven't used for over six months. I might need some more leave after going through that I reckon.

So yes, I'm suffering a little from password fatigue at the moment and am pining for simplier times with simplier ways of living my life. It's not going to happen though is it. Our lives are only going to get even busier and more complicated and many more username/passwords will be needed to conduct ourselves and our lives.

A scary prospect that one me thinks. I think I need to focus on something else to take my mind off it all.

Now what is my itunes password again?

EDM.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Obamarama


In light of the current POTUS visit (President of the United States - too much West Wing me thinks) to our shores, thought I'd jot down some musings on our friends across the Pacific and thoughts on the relationship we both enjoy.

Now, I don't claim to be an expert on this, but I have had cause to think a little more deeply on this topic than most having had two stints living in the US and doing a Masters in International Relations nearly ten years ago.

That Masters was undertaken over a couple of years but began during the Clinton era of global engagement and 'just' interventions in humanitarian crises in places such as Kosovo and Somalia. Those interventions did not completely avoid controversy but at least the decision to go in could be seen as the right thing to do. In fact, I ended up doing my Masters thesis on US Foreign Policy during those humanitarian responses and the overall philosophy of democratic peace.

Conversely, the last year of my Masters coincided with the Sept 11 attacks and decision to go into Afghanistan and I'll always remember the fascinating tutes I attended where there was some quite heated discussions between American and Arab/Indonesian students.

Personally, I agreed wholeheartedly with the decision to go into Afghanistan to take on Al Qaeda with vivid memories of being at the World Trade Towers only a few months before the attacks and knowing friends in Rhode Island, where I'd lived, who'd lost friends on one of the flights.

However, I did not agree at all with the decision to go into Iraq and even hit the streets in protest along with millions of others around the globe. Iraq and Saddam Hussein had no link whatsoever to Al Qaeda and the arguments around 'weapons of mass destruction' were flimsy at best and outright lies at worst.

The invasion of Iraq was therefore unjust in my view but also pretty stupid as it merely inflamed relations with the Muslim world and hindered any attempts to sustain the goodwill towards the US that was engendered by the Sept 11 attacks.

As a result, you could say I've had a bit of a love/hate relationship with US Foreign Policy over the years which probably mirrors my own political views and where I sit on the political spectrum. Leaning to the left a little, I've probably admired and respected US policies when Democratic Presidents have been in power (Clinton, Obama) while being massively disappointed at other times, but in particular the George W Bush years.

One element of the GWB years that angered and frustrated me the most, besides the actual decision-making that took place, was the hypocrisy evident in the justifications for pursuing a certain decision.

The invasion of Iraq was all about shoring up strategic assets in the Persian Gulf and ensuring the supply of oil. But no, we were told it was about 'freedom' and bringing 'democracy to the Arab world'. For once, I just wish they'd admitted their decisions were based purely on their own self-interest, which is OK - everyone does it, rather than feeding us a whole lot of 'saving the free world' rhetoric as though they were doing it all for someone else.

Enough on the US as a political/government entity though. A completely different side of things is the actual people. Before I lived in the US, I'd travelled extensively in Europe and must admit the ugly American tourist thing was in full swing. The fact the ugly Australian tourist thing was in full swing as well is another story.

And while you try not to stereotype and generalise, sometimes harsher impressions solidify more easily and particular people you meet can come to symbolise a whole nation. A very silly premise really, especially with a nation of 300 million people that has no single culture but is made up of thousands of cultures and connections.

So when I actually moved to the States and lived there, I found the people to be extremely generous and friendly and I made a number of lifelong friends amongst them. I had an absolute ball while there and would happily move back to Rhode Island or places like Boston and New York in a heartbeat. My so-called 'worldly view' of Americans had been dramatically corrected and of course I came to admire a lot of aspects of American life and the institutions and structures they hold dear.

Of course the Americans I got to know well were hugely patriotic and well versed in statements talking up the US as the best and brightest. Coming from Australia, where apathy and disinterest is a national trait, I both hated and loved this chest-beating and pronouncing.

On one hand, I loved playing devils advocate against the grand statements and felt the need to point out that a whole another world out there existed. But on another hand, I had to admire the pride in their nation and was inspired a little by their devotion and how much they cared. As I said, we do the apathy thing a bit too well here in Australia and I often wish we cared more about how the nation is being led and what can be done to make things better.

So there's a lot I admire and respect about the US and Americans as a whole while there is the odd point of difference as well. Much like the relationship between our two countries I would surmise. There's many more ties that bind than those that don't.

So here's clinking a cold Samuel Adams (my favourite American beer) to our friends across the Pacific and long may our special friendship continue. Especially if China keeps rising the way it is. Because let's face it, we'll be needing you guys in a friggin' hurry if that all turns to $hit.

Cheers!

EDM.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

EDM's Belated Birthday



How does one forget their own birthday? I really don't know, but EDM himself has managed to achieve such a calamity.

Yes, Nah Seriously's first birthday has come and gone with no mention from anyone let alone a celebration or toast from yours truly. 22 October 2010 was the day of my very first post so I've even missed it by weeks rather than just a mere few days. Oh well, this sad predicament will quickly be remedied by this post.

And what a year it has been. Over 70 odd posts in a 12 month period is a little short on the frequency I was hoping for when I started this blog so I've certainly had my share of writer-guilt at times in not being more consistent in my output.

But I have realised I was a little naive back then to be expecting to churn out three a week given how busy the other elements of my life have been, especially the last few months and my role right now as primary care giver and house husband. That new role has also seen a real change of tack in relation to the topics I post about as my life as a working man and the issues that revolve around that are on temporary hiatus.

Alas, I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and think the blog has achieved one of its purposes in seeing for myself if I have the commitment and drive to write on a regular basis and put myself out there in relation to my thoughts and arguments. It hasn't been short of controversy as a result but I've always welcomed comments from others disputing my take on things and providing alternative arguments.

On a personal front, the year has had a lot of ups and downs, some of which has made it on to Nah Seriously but some of which has not. I have actually written a number of posts over the 12 months that expressed my frustration or sorrow at something going on with ourselves or with friends/family but I haven't ended up publishing them in the interests of privacy and not wanting to potentially upset other people.

I said in my very first post that I wouldn't limit myself in subject matter and that I would post on anything as "I am interested in anything that is interesting". Well, I think I have succeeded on that front as the range of post topics is quite diverse.

From political discussions on the carbon tax and Campbell Newman's foray into State politics; to AFL season previews and reviews and some passionate takes on the ups/downs of my beloved Melbourne Demons; to rants and raves on social issues such as Brisbane's response to the January floods, the recent riots in London and the changing nature of Australia Day; and to storytelling and narratives on my own life, particularly around my family and of course the amusing antics of The Son.

So what will the next year bring? Hopefully some more readers and followers for a start but also a more regular timeslot for the publishing of posts. My aim at the moment is to post on particular days each week so that people know when to expect another one.

Haven't quite worked out when that will be but all will be revealed in due course as well as some lowgrade marketing initiatives (or shameless self-promotion as some might call it).

As to topics, who knows? It all comes down to the happenings of the world at large and my particular place in it and who on earth can predict any of that.

I am always thinking of my loyal readers, however, so below is some of my favourite and more interesting posts of Nah Seriously's first year for your reading enjoyment.

Some Of Life's Pleasures
Some Of Life's Displeasures
Some Of Life's Questions
Day In The Life Of A Political Staffer
Mind's Eye - Trip To The Pool
It's A Grand Old Flag

So thanks to all that have dropped in from time to time and especially those that have 'followed' me from the beginning and provided comments. Here's to me then and Nah Seriously's first birthday, but here's to all of you as well.

Til next time my friends,

EDM.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

I Rest My Case

The Aussies bowled out for a meagre 47, the last 20 odd runs coming from the last wicket pair of Siddle and Lyon. Then the Saffers smash us around for an easy 8 wicket win.

I rest my case (regarding arguments and antics from my last post). Something is rotten in the state of Australian cricket.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Leather On Willow Again



It's on again. Apparently. A brand new cricket season. Wow. Don't all come back at me with such unbridled joy. Whoa back there. Take it easy.

I speak in sarcasm obviously as it certainly feels like there is a lot of apathy towards cricket at the moment. In Australia anyway. We're on season's eve and even the cricket journalists seem to be pretty ho-hum about it let alone the paying public who've been slowly losing interest over a number of years.

What a contrast. There was a time when I couldn't wait for it to all start and would be eagerly reading this and looking up that for the latest on the season to come. Some of my most favourite memories include a day at the cricket with a bunch of mates cheering on the Aussies against the latest enemy, preferably the English or the Saffers.

I raced to the Gabba after school many a time to catch the last session of a Test when the dog track was still there and remember whole days on the XXXX Hill during swatvac when I should have been studying for uni exams.

I toured the UK in 1999 watching the World Cup and had a day to the remember watching the final in a pub that was literally underneath one of the stands at Lords with hundreds of other Australians.

I took in many a New Years Day hangover on the 'Hill' at the SCG while also creating new hangovers at various one-dayers armed with vodka-filled watermelon and buckets of hot chips.

And I've watched numerous Boxing Day Tests sitting in freezing Melbourne weather and drinking nothing but coffee just to keep warm.

Yes, I think I'm fairly typical of the Australian cricket fan who, due to a number of factors, have slowly turned to viewing the cricket season as 'interesting' rather than as an 'obsession' like bygone days. A real shame.

So where did it all go wrong? I know for mine one of the reasons I stopped going to the cricket was the fun police. My last big session involving multiple days of the same test was the Ashes series in 2006-07. It was billed as being the series of the century and tickets sold out in hours rather than days/weeks. But in the end the actual viewing was very poor with the uproar about only plastic bags and no balls, etc and even the banning of the Barmy Army's trumpeter. The beginning of the end for mine.

The actual Australian team of the last few years may also be to blame. They just aren't as likeable as previously and there's certainly no rogue mavericks or loveable larrikins like a Warnie, Merv, Dougie or Boonie. It's all hair product and bling and model WAGs which most of the viewing public just can't relate to.

The so-called feud between Simon Katich and Michael Clarke over the incident at the SCG certainly points to the generational shift within the team and what the new breed deem important. Think that has also crossed over into the relationship between the Australian team and the Australian public.

But I reckon the biggest thing for me has been the cricket authorities all over the world pimping themselves out to the bastard that is 20-20. Corresponding with the rise of India as the centre of world cricket and its own Premier League, 20-20 has taken the focus away from the real stuff that is and should be Test Cricket.

The entire tour schedule is now set according to the IPL in particular but also any other 20-20 tournament the administers want to make money from. It's a truly sad state of affairs when its becoming the be-all and end-all rather than Test cricket with a lot of players now happy to give up the opportunity to wear the baggy green to make a few bucks in a tournament no-one remembers who won afterwards anyway.

My case in point is the soon-to-commence Test series between Australia and South Africa which has been reduced to a mere 2 tests. This is one of the most contested rivalries in the cricket calendar with both countries, teams and their supporters, not wanting to give an inch and to get one over the other. But what do the administrators do? Make it a farce by reducing the contest to only 2 games rather than the usual 3 and sometimes 5 to allow the IPL to take place unhindered.

And the Australian Cricket Board are wondering why cricket has lost it status as the country's number one sport. I don't know all the ins and outs of the recent Argus review/report but here's hoping the implementation of its recommendations go some way to restoring the faith the public had in the game and the Australian team itself.

Anyway, that's a quick rant on the state of play after realising the season is about to start and then thinking back to how it used to be. How I used to be excited and keen. How I used to already have my tickets sitting snugly in my wallet awaiting the first day. But now its a passing reference in the paper and just a check of the scores on the evening news. Something has gone wrong and I don't think I'm the only one. Geez, I hope I'm not the only one.

Actually, I know I'm not the only one so here's a link to a fine article by John Harms who puts it in better words than mine. It was written at the start of the year but is definitely applicable to this upcoming season as well.

Nonetheless, I'm interested in what the (other) masses have to say on this as well. Has cricket lost its mojo? Can it come back and return itself to status as our national game and national pastime?

EDM.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Promises, Promises and That One Race

Well, October was a bit sparse wasn't it. It was my first full month of daddy day care so those responsibilties do appear to be undermining my blogging consistency. Plenty of inspiration mind you, but just making it hard to sit down for an appropriate block of time and punch out a post. I am promising more this month though so a good thing it's only the first giving me amble opportunity for a productive November.

Yes, the daddy day care thing is pretty full-on. I know there are plenty of people who seem to think I'm on holidays up here on the coast so it just goes to show how little spare time you get when you're doing the bulk of the parenting duties. Although I did get some boys time most recently on the weekend so it hasn't been all nappies and park time. Very good weekend in fact which took most of Sunday and yesterday to get over.

The occasion? Our annual Noosa Triathlon weekend (I didn't have far to go) whereby we do the Eyeline 1000 ocean swim on the Friday before enjoying ourselves for the rest of the weekend while most of the event's attendees do their bit. It's quite a tradition for our group with it being the 11th year for the founding fathers and my 7th. The swim went pretty well actually considering I only trained for about four weeks so plenty of ammunition for the celebration that followed. Hence the hangover that only diminished yesterday.

And so it is the 1st of November and that means Melbourne Cup Day. I've missed nearly all the buildup and just managed to get some ill-informed bets in a few minutes ago. I'm currently at home on my lonesome while the wife works and the son is asleep so quite surreal to be honest. At the very least, I've always had a work function to go to with a few beers so strange to be sitting here watching it on the TV while punching out a post on the laptop.

My bets? Shizza, have forgotten already. Think it was a bit on Niwot and a bit on Drunken Sailor as well as a boxed trifecta for the big bucks. First one is one of the favourites but had to go with Drunken Sailor as well for its name.

(stepping away now to grab a waking son and to watch the big race)

And the winning horse is...Dundaden, by a hair. Meaning I'm not a winner which is par for the course as I'm still yet to have a win on a Melbourne Cup race. My awesome strike rate continues. Shizza once more. But a memorable experience nonetheless to watch it with the son on my lap. He did tell me to stop when I was cheering them on, however, so probably not the most authentic of horse racing experiences.

So there you have it. A promise to be more productive and consistent over the coming month with this blog and also a riveting narrative on my rather sad Melbourne Cup experience. Bet you lot can't wait for more after this. That's sarcasm by the way.

Anyways, best of luck to all with their bets and see you soon (hopefully).

EDM.

PS - And a Reserve Bank rate cut just announced. This mortgage slave reckons that's much better than a Melb Cup bet win.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

$hit Happens

This one's not for the squeamish I'm afraid as it rates pretty highly on the 'gross out' spectrum. But a story that needs some telling as an example of the perils of Daddy Day Care. Oh, the perils.

Our saga begins at the local pool, where the son and I have been regular visitors over the last few weeks. Usual practice is that he is dressed in a normal nappy for the car trip there but we then change him into a swimmer nappy upon arrival before spending the next hour or so in the water together. Plenty of good times and the son's water abilities and confidence are growing immensely with each visit.

The thing is, the swimmer nappies are merely made for No. 1s rather than No. 2s. In fact, it's highly undesired for any sort of No. 2 action to take place while a swimmer nappy is on. (we're talking about the son here...not me of course)

So on this fateful day, the son and I are again enjoying our time in the water and he's jumping in and jumping out and chasing me and me chasing him. All of a sudden, he stands straight up and starts moving quickly toward the steps out of the pool. I'm watching from a few metres away thinking he'll come charging back down and try and chase me again.

Alas, the son fully steps out of the water and runs to a nearby pole and hides behind it. "Ahhh", I think, "it's a game of hide and seek". So I move around and make out that I can't find him with the obligatory dialogue "where is he...I can't see him, etc".

I then notice that the son is crouching on the ground with his head between his legs. Shizza. Big shizza. That's his pooing position. And then a loud grunt confirms it all for me. It's No. 2 time. And he's only wearing a swimmer nappy.

The dilemma is large. Do I try and get him to a toilet in the middle of it all? Or just get him into the change rooms and then wait for it to be all finished before changing? Given the time elapsed and no doubt a rather full nappy already, I decide it has to be the second option and pick him up carefully and carry him to the changerooms. It has to be a careful pickup. We want to minimise any seeping out the sides.

So we're now in the changerooms and the son is telling me 'more yuck' meaning he hasn't finished. He doesn't like being around anyone while he is doing it so he goes and finds a corner near a utility room. Again, leaning over with his head between his legs and the occasional grunt and groan.

I set forth and start getting ready for the 'poo-nami' that is coming and lay out a towel and get all the change equipment out and strategically placed. Other people are wandering in to get changed and no doubt questioning the smell in the room. I therefore try and hurry the son up so that it can all be over with but he's still saying "Dad, more yuck".

After about 10 minutes, he finally allows me to pick him up for the extraction process to begin. Boardshorts and rashie come off first to avoid cross-contamination and I can already see some interesting material trying to break out of the swimmer nappy. With a deep breath, I then attempt to slide it down and over the son's feet to get it off. And of course the inevitable happens. It all slides down his legs and feet with the swimmer nappy.

I'm sweating profusely at this moment under the corrugated iron roof and cursing the strawberries and kiwi fruit I fed the son a mere hour ago. We're not finished yet though so another delicate procedure of wrapping the now-redundant swimmer nappy up and trying to place into a garbage bag without any more leakage.

I manage to negotiate this procedure pretty well but can't come away fully unscathed. Yes, I quick look down to my hands is not good news. Thank god the wipes are well placed as I manage to get my hands 'clean' while still trying to make sure the son doesn't stand in or on the garbage bag with the other hand.

It's then a tale of Wipe City as about 18 are needed to fully clean the son and some of his clothing. I make a mental note to buy some shares in the company that make the wipes. They must make a fortune out of these types of scenarios.

In the end, I decided a shower is in order and place the son underneath the water. He's loving it and giggling at me as I try and place the flow of water in the appropriate places. He then comes out with the immortal words "Mine yuck on Dad" and giggles even crazier. Yeah, thanks son. Cheers for letting everyone else know.

When that's all done, the son seems to have lost the weight of the world off his shoulders. Or more precisely, off his bum. Because he's now a bit 'hyper' and running in and out of the changerooms while I try and get changed myself and locate a spot to offload the culprit garbage bag. Finally I'm sorted and pick up the bag with ends of my fingertips and head on out of the changerooms. 'It's over' I'm thinking. 'Let's be free of this place and never speak of it again'. 

I scoop up the son and in one motion place the garbage bag in a nearby bin. "Quick son, let's get the hell out of here" I say and start walking quickly for the exit. The son loves the quick movement and obviously isn't affected in any way by the horror of the last 25 minutes and is laughing and giggling away.

Oh, to be a toddler again. No. 2's without impunity and a world full of giggles and laughs. The upcoming toilet training is going to be tough for sure. But after this, it'll definitely be worth it. Let's just hope there's no repeat before that time. There's only so many 'poo-namis' that I can handle.

EDM.

(you were warned!)

Sunday, October 9, 2011

2011 AFL Season Review

It's finished. It's gone for another year. What will a poor boy do?

Yes, the AFL footy season has come to an end and we're now in the twlight zone between it and the cricket. Where only motor sport and racing are on with neither being my cup of tea. But at least the A League has some potential for interest and entertainment over the coming months. Particularly as the cricket hasn't exactly set my world on fire of late either.

So the footy is no more for another year and it's time for EDM's 2011 AFL Season Review. As you'll recall, I posted a Season Preview back in March as well as a Mid Season Review in June. Both can be found here and here respectively. Will therefore be very interesting to see how my predictions from both panned out.

Premiers
Preview Prediction - Collingwood
Mid Season Prediction - Collingwood
Actual Result - Geelong

No shame whatsoever in getting this one wrong as I'd say the vast majority of football people would have had the Magpies as favourites for the flag right up until about Round 23-24. They were easily the best side in the competition for most of the year but hey, they don't hand out premierships until September (or October). So as the finals series approached, a few question marks did get posed and Geelong started to firm in the betting. Finally culminating in them being favourites on the day of the GF and even earning me some hard-earned by winning and Jimmy Bartel taking out the Norm Smith.

Grand Finalists / Runners Up
Preview Prediction - Hawthorn
Mid Season Prediction - Geelong
Actual Result - Collingwood

A few changes in this category over the course of the season but again, no shame on my part. The Hawks came incredibly close to beating Collingwood in their Prelim Final (great game by the way) and finished third overall accordingly. And of course my mid season tip of Geelong ended up being reversed with them taking out the title and the Magpies being eventual Runners Up.

Wooden Spooners
Preview Prediction - Gold Coast
Mid Season Prediction - Gold Coast
Actual Result - Gold Coast

Kudos to me for getting this one right. Although not too many as they were always favourites for the title being a first-year team full of young kids. Port Adelaide did try and challenge them and went into Round 24 on the bottom of the ladder. However, a win for them in their last game (v the Dees of all teams) got them out of the cellar and pushed the Suns down below. Credit to the Gold Coast though as I think they exceeded expectations and were a lot more competitive than most thought they would be. They certainly suffered some hammerings from time to time but had some extremely close games against good opposition such as Hawthorn, West Coast and St Kilda.

Team on the up
Preview Prediction - Melbourne
Mid Season Prediction - West Coast
Actual Result - West Coast

Well, my Preview Prediction was sadly off the mark. The Dees failed to meet expectations this year with some of the most frustrating displays I've ever seen. My take on the circumstances surrounding the record loss to Geelong and Bailey sacking can be viewed here, but as with every year in my life, I can only say 'there's always next year'. So definite title holders for Team on the up must be West Coast. From a wooden spoon in 2010, they made a Prelim Final in 2011 to finish 4th overall. Massive change of fortunes therefore which must have pleased their coach immensely after he was ridiculed at the start of the year for claiming that they would play finals footy.

Brownlow Medallist
Preview Prediction - Scott Pendlebury
Mid Season Prediction - Scott Pendlebury
Actual Result - Dane Swan

Not too bad a result here seeing I did get the fact a Collingwood player would win it. After last year when Swan was favourite but hardly came close, I assumed umpires weren't impressed by his style of play and therefore dismissed him accordingly. Pendlebury is a class act who never seems to lose the contested footy so I thought he would probably stand out more. Alas, it was Swan (32 votes) as the winner with Pendlebury (24 votes) coming fourth. I am consoled by the fact, however, that Swan was in my Supercoach team and helped it take out this year's premiership for me (how sweet that was).

Coleman Medal
Preview Prediction - Lance Franklin
Mid Season Prediction - Lance Franklin
Actual Result - Lance Franklin

Despite Jack Riewoldt and Travis Cloke occasionally producing a bag of goals to worry young Lance, it was always Mr Franklin and he won the Coleman with ease in the end. Nuff said.

Rising Star
Preview Prediction - David Swallow
Mid Season Prediction - Dyson Heppell or Jack Darling
Actual Result - Dyson Heppell

As I said in my Mid Season Review, Swallow was enjoying a good first year with the Suns but was not being brilliant and failed to even win a nomination. Heppell and Darling on the other hand impressed from the get-go with Heppell winning his nomination in Round 1 and Darling in Round 6. Darling ended up tiring later in the year to allow Heppell to take the title from others who announced themselves later in the season such as Luke Shuey, Daniel Menzel and Zac Smith. A very deserving winner in my books. And I'm not just saying that because he was in my Supercoach team as well.

Goal and Mark of the Year
Preview Prediction - Liam Jurrah
Mid Season Prediction - Liam Jurrah
Actual Result - Hayden Ballantyne and Andrew Krakouer

Thinking I won't do these categories next year as it's too hard to try and pinpoint the winner in both as some nobody you've never heard of before might get a game and do something brillant that no one can predict. Alas, Mr Jurrah did not enjoy a good year in 2011 and was sadly absent from consideration. Goal of the year ended up being won by Hayden Ballantyne (Fremantle) and Mark of the year by Andrew Krakouer (Collingwood). Neither are nobodies but it would have been incredible if anyone had picked them at the start of the year.

Biggest story
Preview Prediction - new substitution rule
Mid Season Prediction - new substitution rule
Actual Result - Scully defection to GWS

I reckon at the half-way mark of the season that I was on the money with this prediction. However, the issue of the new rule and its impacts quickly died down and the footy world just got on and excepted it. This may be a tad subjective, but I'm going with the Scully defection as the biggest story of the year because the speculation was relentless from early in the off-season right through to the final announcement just a few weeks ago. The press came up with a new angle on an almost weekly basis and we Dees fans in particular had to battle through all the rumour and innuendo with constant tugs at our heartstrings. In the end, I was quite relieved when the announcement came because it meant it was all over. I dare say it had quite an impact on the playing group as well with all the speculaton around money and loyalty and co so here's hoping they can work together next year with it all behind them.

First coach to be sacked
Preview Prediction - Brett Ratten
Mid Season Prediction - Rodney Eade / Ross Lyon / Neil Craig
Actual Result - Neil Craig

Yes, my Ratten call was way off the mark. Carlton had a stellar season and finished fifth after playing a good brand of footy and handing out a number of thrashings. My Mid Season Prediction(s) were therefore more realistic with all three being under immense pressure at the time. In the end, it was Adelaide who showed Neil Craig the door first although Eade and Lyon will not be coaching their respective teams next year either. The Dees own Dean Bailey came in a fast-finishing second place though being sacked the week after Craig. A very turbulent year for the coaches I must say with there even being constant speculation about the Premiers Coach (Malthouse) right up until the GF last weekend.

So there you have it my footy friends. Another year full of intrigue and controversy. And hey, that's why we love it.

Until the 2012 season and another go at it all,

EDM.

Monday, October 3, 2011

A Focus Realignment

Just a quick post my friends to point something out that has only just come to me as I've had a ponder or two about my current circumstances and recent changes in my life.

Regular readers would be aware that most of my previous posts in a previous life, my working life I mean, had a political or social comment bent. This largely stemmed from my job and its daily requirements of having to be up-to-date and aware of all the news and current affairs of the day.

Consequently, I had cause to form an opinion or two and jot down some musings based on these for all of you to either agree or disagree. Not sure which as the comments have been rather light on for a while.

Anyways, you get the picture. This blog's been a vehicle for my opinions to be delivered and perhaps debated. A crucible you might say for the forming of points of view and the development of, what I hope anyway, are effective and efficient arguments.

las, the taking of long-term leave from my job has taken me out of the news-cycle environment and the constant, nagging consideration one must give it when working in the political sphere.

And you know what, I haven't missed it at all and am relishing in being away from it. Quite frankly, I don't give a damn about it right now and am starting to relate to what most of the Australian population must feel when it comes to politics - apathy, and lots of it. Its feel strange for someone like me but I'm just going with it for the moment.

Yes, its a major focus realignment for me as I change from being a burntout worker-bee to family man and primary care provider to our son. The in and outs of the political game just aren't doing it for me right now and I can already see this blog's content changing as a result. Since the taking up of leave, its been all about family stuff and the providing of a narrative on our sea/tree change. No opinions being espoused or arguments being rammed down your throats.

So what does it all mean? Not a hell of a lot really. Some of you probably appreciate the storytelling stuff a lot more so perhaps the change in focus will bring on some additional readers.

I do know some enjoyed my take on things in the past though which led to plenty of hearty and healthy discussions with some of you in various forums, the pub included. The world is a better place when that sharing of views can occur in a civilised way so that will be missed I must admit.

But I can't be all things to all people so you'll have to expect a continuation of the narrative style for the coming months and less of a talkfest on politics and social discourse. So what will the next post be on? All will be revealed in time so stay tuned.

EDM.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Getting Snakey

How do you know when you've truly become an acreage resident? When you have the snake man under speed dial in your mobile phone.

Yes, the tranquillity and relaxed atmosphere here at the new EDM home in the hills behind Noosa was rudely interrupted a few nights ago by a sudden sliding noise coming from the roof at 1am. The wife woke first and asked me what it was. Being half-comatose, I replied it must be the wind pushing some tree branches across the roof.

That seemed to resolve the issue (for me anyway) but a mere five minutes later it started again so I stood up and took a look out the window. No trees were moving in the wind so I thought I'd open it to see if I could hear something. Nope. Not a skerrick of sound out there so no wind to speak of.

Still being a half-comatose, I then took a few seconds to do the calculations in my head. As my synapses were trying to fire up, the wife blurted out "It's in the roof. It must be a snake". That certainly woke me in a hurry and it was a mad dash to the switch to put the light on.

A quick scan of the roof revealed it was all intact and there were no visible signs of an entry/exit point. I then looked down at the wife and we both exchanged faces of fear and confusion as we pondered what to do next. I think we were caught in a state of paralysis through hesitation though as it seemed like whole minutes passed before we heard the sliding noise again.

No hesitation this time though as we both quickly scrambled out of the room and along the hall to check on the son. You may wonder why we did this. Well, just a few days before, the antennae guy who came and fixed the TV aerial mentioned that he'd just come from Eumundi where a snake had dropped suddenly from a shop ceiling and caused all sorts of mayhem amongst shoppers and staff.

With that image fresh in our minds, we raced down the hall in fear of the source of the sliding noise dropping suddenly on us or worse, into the son's cot as he slept. Therefore, there was absolutely no chance whatsoever that we were going back into our room and trying to sleep again.

Knowing the son was OK, we then moved into the lounge room and continued our game of staring ahead and mumbling incoherent questions to each other that the other could not hope to answer.

Eventually, we determined it was too late to ring anyone after checking the internet for local snake guys and too late to try and decamp to a motel or something. We had to stay put. We had to try and get some sleep somewhere in the house.

Thinking ahead, I then grabbed all our phones, wallets, car keys, etc and put them in a bag at the front door just in case we had to do a mad dash out of there. Don't worry, I'm sure I would have tried to get the son out as well.

No actual decision was made as to where we would sleep but we found ourselves curling up in the loungeroom. The wife on the couch and me on a camping mattress just below. No words were spoken even though it took both of us a very long time to finally fall asleep. Unfortunately the loungeroom has massive sliding doors opening up to the east so it was wake up time as soon as the son rose. Well-rested and alert we were not.

Later on, about 8am, I decided to put on my boots and venture outside to check the exterior walls and roof around our bedroom. And low and behold, there's a snake sitting on the corner of the roof sunning itself. A quick call to the wife and within seconds she was on the phone to the local snake man.

She put me on and after describing the night's events and the snake on the roof, the snake man, in all his wisdom, said the snake on the roof was merely a tree snake and that yes, we probably have a carpet python in the roof. Just a mere coincidence that the morning after hearing a snake in the roof, I saw another snake actually on the roof.

The snake man then continued to say that being spring and starting to heat up, snakes in general would be re-emerging from their winter rest and would be getting active once again. He also said that carpet python's are harmless and that every second house between here and the coast would have one in their roof as well. End result, he didn't think it was worth him coming out and we should just get used to it.

He was a nice bloke who was happy to answer my inane questions, particularly as I had quite a few. He also assured me that it wouldn't come into the house itself and laughed when I asked about it falling through the roof. "You've seen too many movies son" he replied.

So there you have it. We just have to get used to the idea of a snake in the roof. Guess it's par for the course when you want to live in a rural setting for its' quiet and relaxed life. Being around nature with the trees and the birds and the roos is good, but you've got to take on all aspects of nature as well. Not just the cute and cuddly ones. So yep, we city slickers have to get used to it.

Doesn't stop me double-checking the manhole to the roof every morning though and peaking my ears out for that sliding noise again as I lie down to sleep. We did think we heard it in the wall one time actually so I'm even telling myself that it must have been making it's way out of the roof/wall and is outside now trawling the 11 acres we are on.

Yes, that must be it. It's gone now and I shouldn't worry or give it another thought. Snakes alive they say, but not in our roof.

Shite, what's that noise? Maybe it's just the wind pushing branches across the roof? It could be couldn't it?

EDM.