Where is our odds expert when we need them - and why are headlines so confusing. "Huge betting plunge for Labor" ... does that mean more people are taking the plunge and betting for them, or people are betting against them? If odds are shortening is that a good thing? (You would think that with a grandfather who was a regular track attender and a father who liked a flutter, some of this knowledge should have been transferred through to me genetically!) And surely it's a big enough gamble just to have these people vying to run the country? Is this why they call Australia "the lucky country"?
Pearl continues to be incredibly helpful - especially as she has been trapped inside all day as the rain continues to fall, and fall and fall. It has turned into a bit of a rally course at the front gate/letter box and for a brief moment there this evening I wasn't sure Lars was going to make it up the first mud hill home. If the rain keeps up I may have to think about taking the four-wheel drive for a run. And where is that rooster noise coming from? It's the first one I've heard since we've been at Latimers ... "it's swimming across the paddock" offered S, before pointing out that it was on the television (more lifestyle programs). But back to Pearl ... she has been helpful, vacuuming up - or trying to - the cats' special cookies. She has been behaving herself - mostly - and I think she would have been better if she had been able to play ball this evening. I gave her a couple of tosses - just so she could catch the ball in her mouth - but that doesn't give her the exercise she's become used to.
M called this evening to remind us that R is starting on Thursday and that we would need to slightly amend Friday night dinner times. She's not sure how it's going to work with her feline charge but we'll call her tomorrow or Thursday to work out the finer details. In the meantime, she's planning to have all the family around for Thursday. And, as she reminded us, she only has two Friday nights before she goes - and she still has lots and lots to do - so much so that she isn't sure that she's going to get through it before she has to catch the big plane.
We're trying to decide what to send over with her ... which of the cats - and whether Pearl should be given the opportunity. We know that they're things that you definitely can't get over there!
S was up before me this morning, showered and ready to leave Latimers for the day. Then she looked outside, saw it was still bucketing down, and thought better of it - but she was kind enough to do the gate - for which I am always grateful.
After overdosing on "The Dresden Files" - about a wizard turned detective - actually very good - I am concentrating on music listening for a while ... especially since it's difficult to get near the television in the evenings. We have created a ... very distinct change in viewing habits. I can't believe that I didn't appreciate full control of the television for the 20 years I had it ... it's often the case isn't it ... we don't fully appreciate what we have until it's gone. It's a nice change though, and it would be even better if I hadn't put together a compilation which seems to tap into a "poignant" streak. Ah well, should it get too bad I'll just pop "Heart and Souls" onto the DVD. That should fix it.
The cats are all in - a record - 8.20pm - but it's too early to do lock-down. Chances are they won't go far though - and if they do, they'll soon realise how wet it is and come back in.
It's a pity they can't see in colour though otherwise we'd be able to show them the new logo for the Gold Coast's bid for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. It has 72 dots in the shape of the Gold Coast sun. There are all the colours of the rainbow - or more precisely ''Colours in the logo represent the golden sand, blue water, green hinterland and red sunsets of the Gold Coast as well as the colours of competing nation's flags.'' Well, that's what Anna Bligh said when she launched it this morning.
No-one came out to launch the huge pothole on the M1 at Merrimac this morning. It was a metre in diameter and up to 20cm deep. Motorists who went through/over it were not happy. Nor was the person whose car caught on fire near the Q Centre. Can't help but wonder if the continuing rain overnight will add to the general road difficulties tomorrow.
