It’s been a while since my last post-11 days in fact and I was feeling a little stir-crazy at not having updated my blog so , although I have nothing much to say as is my way lately, I am checking in and putting a few useless words down to simply sharpen me up and let anyone who stumbles upon my ramblings know that I am still alive and well and “Strange Notations from a Laborious Life” is still a going concern.
So, what better way is there to relax on a very soggy Friday morning than post a picture of myself in Mansfield Victoria a couple of months ago posing alongside a giant cookie! Mansfield Sweets certainly looks like the place to be for megalithic confectionery.
It’s been unseasonably hot in Canberra as it has been elsewhere in Australia. Summer has gone out with a a bang and early autumn isn’t giving us any respite. Today’s rain is a welcome and unexpected distraction.
Work is groaning on. I dread getting out of bed in the mornings knowing I have to drag myself in there for eight hours later in the day. It’s not so bad once I am there and working but it’s a sad place for a lot of reasons which I won’t divulge on this forum. The drudgery of it is driving me nuts. But that is the least of it’s problems.
The only thing I have to look forward to for the rest of the year is the looming federal election. Sad I know. It’s almost unbelievable how fast time flies. Three years ago as I was about to get on a plane to Europe, Tony Abbott, a man I considered unelectable was hoisted on the shoulders of his conservative peers and admitted to the highest political office in the land. I didn’t think Australians could be so stupid. My thoughts on Abbott were well explained in my blog post from June 1 2013 entitled “Tony Abbott’s Pet Hamster”. The title and tone of the piece was obviously tongue in cheek but my message was serious. I thought he would be a mere watermark on the history of Australian politics and I think my analysis was right. Unfortunately Mr Abbott is still sticking his finger in the pie despite his deposition in favour of Malcolm Turnbull-much to the latter’s dismay no doubt.
And so an election is on the horizon and there is talk of a double-dissolution in July-the odds of which seem to firming despite the Prime Minister’s denials of such plans just a couple of weeks ago. As a rule I lean to the left with my political views although I can wander across the white line on an occasional matter but I have always had a little bit of time for the current incumbent of the Prime Ministership, Malcolm Turnbull. He is obviously a brilliant man- go read his resume and you will be left in no doubt of that but, as his tenure takes on some length and shape he does seem to be a little sticky-fingered when handling government. He is a far cry from Abbott. Much more competent-a much better fit in the job but there is something not quite working at the moment and the public is noticing. He should be returned to office whenever the election is but his government will lose some skin methinks. Perhaps being elected in his own right will give him more authority in his own party. He was always more progressive and far sighted than his colleagues in the Liberal Party. I think that is what is weighing him down now.
Former Prime Minister Paul Keating weighed in on Turnbull some time ago and delivered a devastating critique on what Turnbull may be like leading an Australian government. I won’t quote him verbatim but he compared Turnbull to a Penny-Bunger that older folk may remember from cracker nights gone by. Big, beautiful. Sure to set off a bang which could be heard around the neighbourhood. Instead, Mr Keating believed,all you would get from Turnbull is a bit of a “pfft” and be roundly disappointed as a result. Could it be that Keating’s analysis is on the money?
Anyway, that’s enough talk of politics. It is a bad subject among friends and something I usually steer clear of here. I don’t think I have said anything that may offend. Apologies if I have. Everyone has their own opinion which is worthwhile.
Now the rain is coming in torrents and cascading off the leaking roof of my pergola. It’s time to go and check that the dog isn’t drowning. Hope you all have a great weekend.
Strange Notations From a Laborious Life 