The art of acting consists in keeping people from coughing.

Here you can see Henry doing Anthony Hopkins doing Hannibal Lector doing Henry, trying to eat Ezra's face. Don't panic though, it was only a game, and Ezra emerged unscathed.

Far too long ago now, I asked a question of everyone about which actor they would like to play them in a film. As I said at the time, others – cruelly and maliciously, I might add – suggested one of Robert Downey Jr, Hugh Grant and (most unkindly) Ben Affleck to play the part of yours truly.

Of course, I vociferously and aggressively rebuked such nonsense, and suggested indie-favourite early-1990s floppy haired Martin Donovan. I think that he would have the height and gravitas to successfully translate me onto the big screen.

Oddly, other people seemed reluctant to engage with this question – unlike the others that were asked that week – I put it down to the unhealthy tendency to subdue our egos that society often forces upon us. Naturally, this is I am happy to disregard at will. I am of the Shirley Strachan school of thought in this regard.

There were some takers though, and I am happy for you to continue to contribute if you wish, and some very interesting suggestions.

I very much liked Hallam’s suggestion of Eric Stoltz (as Rocky Dennis), in what surely would be Oscar bait of any year. USelaine went through a bevy of beauties to arrive at Kathy Bates. I liked that Sue was open to Whoopi Goldberg, who would be required to pull out an extraordinary performance rivalling C. Thomas Howell’s star turn in the quite unconvincing Soul Man.

Juliet Binoche was a favourite, and Blackie keen on the idea, but dipping in to the deep pool of talent that underwrote Canadian classic Degrassi for a suggestion that might be closer to the mark.

Miles audaciously suggested Kelly Ripa in drag, it would be interesting at least, and Saretta nominated figure of much McCracken-household hate Nicole Kidman. [No offence Saretta, but I just don’t get Nicole Kidman, she just can’t act. And what happened to the ginger, freckly, frizzy haired girl that Australia first got to know? When BMX Bandits is the best you’ve done in thirty years, time to give it away love...]

Jackie was thinking Oscar too when she nominated Emma Thompson, and ‘Me’ of Launceston is thinking a young Alan Rickman. I wonder if he means Alan Rickman Alan Rickman, or Stella Street Alan Rickman? I love Stella Street Alan Rickman.

For the record, I would like to nominate Dame Judi Dench for Henry, George Clooney for Ezra. Jennifer was noticeably absent in commenting on this question, and I would implore her to have a crack at it and not keep the world in suspenders.

Ah, Joe, you never knew the whole of it...

I still have the robot on the job. Here you can see the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery . And here is a poem: Soliloquy for One Dead Bruce Dawe Ah, no, Joe, you never knew the whole of it, the whistling which is only the wind in the chimney's smoking belly, the footsteps on the muddy path that are always somebody else's. I think of your limbs down there, softly becoming mineral, the life of grasses, and the old love of you thrusts the tears up into my eyes, with the family aware and looking everywhere else. Sometimes when summer is over the land, when the heat quickens the deaf timbers, and birds are thick in the plumbs again, my heart sickens, Joe, calling for the water of your voice and the gone agony of your nearness. I try hard to forget, saying: If God wills, it must be so, because of His goodness, because- but the grasshopper memory leaps in the long thicket, knowing no ease. Ah, Joe, you never knew the whole of it... I like Bruce Dawe. He just my be my favourite Austral...

There was nothing left. No reason, no conscience, no understanding; even the most rudimentary sense of life or death, good or evil, right or wrong.

Here is a self portrait. I’m calling it Portrait of a lady in a dirty window . Shocking, isn’t it? However, it is apt! Samhain , Nos Galan Gaeaf , Hop-tu-Naa , All Saints , All Hallows , Hallowmas , Hallowe'en or HALLOWEEN . It’s Theme Thursday and we’re talking about the festivals traditionally held at the end of the harvest season. Huh? No wonder Australians have trouble with the concept of HALLOWEEN. For the record, in my thirty-two L O N G years on the planet, I can’t say I’ve ever seen ghosts ‘n goblins, trick ‘n treaters or Michael Myers stalking Tasmania’s streets at the end of October. [That said, I did once see a woman as pale as a ghost turning tricks that looked like Michael Myers in late November one time.] Despite the best efforts of Hollywood, sitcoms, and innumerable companies; it seems Australians are impervious to the [ahem] charms of a corporatized variant of a celebration of the end of the "lighter half" of the year and beginning of the "darke...

In dreams begin responsibilities.

A life at sea, that's for me, only I just don't have the BREAD. That's right, Theme Thursday yet again and I post a photo of a yacht dicking about in Bass Strait just off Wynyard. The problem is, I am yet again stuck at work, slogging away, because I knead need the dough . My understanding is that it is the dough that makes the BREAD. And it is the BREAD that buys the yacht. On my salary though, I will be lucky to have enough dough or BREAD for a half dozen dinner rolls. Happy Theme Thursday people, sorry for the rush.

This will hurt me...

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