Kit - new is much the same as the old

Holidays are over, and like yenli, it's back to the grindstone. Budgets, forecasts, programs.
To the Federal Liberals (and the NSW Labor party): stop stuffing around and let your appointed leader lead, instead of stabbing them in the back.

David - Insert Something Witty Here

Sill in New Hampshire. Have spent the entire week battling rampant insanity, my only weapons being logic and the unholy power of a pissed off COO. The next politician I meet wot says private companies are more efficient is getting a punch in the face.

Expecting worse next week now that the enemy has figured out I am serious. Which of course means that we will go back to playing "you don't need to know that" games. On the plus side I am so pissed off right now that I have broken through to the other side and am capable of maintaining rational thought - relatively speaking.

In other news I am exhausted and may be going to London on Tuesday. For 2 days. Sorry Fasledan - maybe we can catch up at the end of Feb when I am over for more than 2 days.

David - Leadership for a New Tomorrow

Back in New Hampshire continuing my ongoing theme of not spending time in New York! The tele is wall to wall New Hampshire Primary ads. Thank heavens they vote today and the insanity should alleviate until a Presidential candidate is picked. Still an outside chance I will be in London by the weekend.

Becstarr : A move and a mob

A few big days of clearing out J's studio has made room for little sister Zoe (20) to move in. Flatmate Sarah has also announced she's found a place, so in about 2 weeks J gets his studio back! The clear-put was good though: many things thrown out, and good training for my own upcoming move. It's much less emotional helping someone else sort their stuff!

My main birthday present for J today (1975) was cooking for a big family dinner: parents, Zoe, uncle & grandfather up from Melbourne - 7 people all up (with a possible 10 at one point). It was a lot of planning but I'm pleased to say I pulled it off! Roast chicken, heaps of vegies and chocolate mousse for dessert. Plenty for everyone and pretty much without stress.

The other great thing today was seeing Bob Brown, Kerry Nettle and Jenny Leong launch the Greens' higher ed policy up in the Quad. I loved what they said, but I also loved that they didn't seem to have the fakey "gloss" that many pollies have. It's good to feel there are some people I'm really happy to get behind and vote for.

Becstarr: APECapalooza

The circus was in town and we went to join in. Saw the riot squad and water cannon, naked men wearing 2 pairs of socks (promptly hauled into the converted jail-buses by the police... they know party people when they see them!), and Grandmas Against War.

G&A's "APEC a-party" was the evening fun, and it was great to see a bunch of people there. And I hear that October is shaping up to be a month of many birthdays! Huzzah! I'm looking forward to it.