This will hurt me...

I realise that I have been terribly negligent in posting ads that encompass the televisual medium. So today, I have decided to embrace a number of my favourite things: Soviet era social history, lovely ladies, kitschy slogans and (most of all) MEAT . So, today I present to you a sexy and passionate commercial produced in Estonia in the 1980s. I am led to believe that the words "beef" and "chicken" are repeated throughout. You could probably guess that for yourself, although you might be forgiven that a little “HOT” and “SEXY” might also be thrown in for good measure. I defy any vegetarian to watch this video and not go rushing out to the butchers for eight kilograms of mince, a bag of chicken necks and waltz home with a young lovely attached to each arm. Enjoy!

Another Ezra shot, and another poem. Please forgive me, for I am smitten. To all those who've always been left a little cold by the challenging art of poetry, seriously, dig out some e.e. cummings and have a think about how much fun you can have with form and convention when you throw the rule book out the window. One day I am going to be very, very brave (stupid etcetera) and publish one of my very own poems on this here little old blog. Until I work up that courage (or work on those poems), you'll have to make do with shots of babies and some old favourites. [my sweet old etcetera] e.e. cummings my sweet old etcetera aunt lucy during the recent war could and what is more did tell you just what everybody was fighting for, my sister isabel created hundreds (and hundreds)of socks not to mention shirts fleaproof earwarmers etcetera wristers etcetera, my mother hoped that i would die etcetera bravely of course my father used to become hoarse talking about how it was a privilege ...

Some time ago I reflected upon Dr George W. Crane's Marital Rating Scale from the 1930s. You will be happy to hear that prior to Ezra's early arrival, I discovered an online version of the test. Now, after things have settled down somewhat, I have been able to inform all that visit this here humble website so that you can all contribute to saving your marriages . In the interest of honesty and openness, my wife and I completed the test together, and I scored a healthy mark. I will be honest with you though, 1930s husbands set the bar awfully low. That said, there are a few areas where I need to pick up my game. Who knew that "drawing in pencil on the tablecloth" annoyed women so much? Go figure! 133 As a 1930s husband, I am Very Superior Take the test!

Just in case people think that I've gone too far overboard with all the Ezra-love today, I thought I better include a bit of Henry for all of his fans out there. While taking a few shots of the little little bloke, the big little bloke wanted a piece of the action. I told him that I'd put him on teh Internets if he could pull his best "Paris Hilton face". Well, I think that the little champion has achieved sterling success with this one! The name Henry is of Old German origin. Henry has remained popular throughout history evidenced by the fact that rulers from Britain, France and Germany have all carried it. Although Henry suffered a popularity slump in the late twentieth century, the emergence of Internet sensation Henry McCracken has reversed that trend. Not only that, Henry has at least twenty seven variant forms: Arrigo, Enrico, Enrikos, Enrique, Enzio, Hal, Hank, Harry, Heike, Heindrick, Heindrik, Heiner, Heinrich, Heinrick, Heinrik, Heinz, Hendrick, Hendrik, H...

Of course, the reason that I like the name Ezra , and I think the reason that Jen likes it, is the result of a few things. One, it works well with 'Henry'; and two, it works well with 'McCracken'. This should not be discounted lightly, and awful lot of names were discarded for this very reason. Third, it is a real name, but is kind of different. I say 'kind of' different, because it is left field enough, without being so removed that people have never heard of it. Fourth, well, this is a subjective thing, and Ezra sounds like the name of a cowboy (think High Noon ), and cowboys are cool .

Of course, in a historical sense, Ezra was a fifth century BC Jewish priest, scholar, copyist, and historian who wrote the two Chronicles and the Book of Ezra (of the Old Testament and the Hebrew Tanakh) and began the compiling and cataloguing of the Old Testament. I whipped out the only Bible we have laying around the house, (the King James Version) and flicked to Ezra 7:6: This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him. From this, we can assume that Ezra had connections . Maybe our Ezra can snare some rub out of this. The fact that Ezra is regarded as a reasonably influential guy in the key texts of Judaism, Christianity and Islam is also a plus for anyone hedging their bets in an ontological sense

I am going to drip feed some shots of Ezra today, along with a little about his name. The name appears to have caused some consternation on some quarters, but as ever, Jen, Henry and I all like it and anyone that doesn't can bugger off back to Sadsville, Kentucky or wherever it is that naysayers reside. One of the things that appears to have shocked people about this choice of name is the fact that it is quite correctly regarded as a biblical name, despite my lack of any religious faith, and Jen's shocking straying from the Catholic doctrine (don't blame me God, it happened long before I was on the scene). The other thing is that if people aren't aware of the name's biblical roots, they think that it is a "made up" name. The Hebrew term עֶזְרָא (Ezra) is probably an abbreviation of "Azaryahu" meaning "God helps". I have read other variations that include "helper", "salvation" or "help". Whatever the case, ...

In order to give Jennifer and Ezra a chance to relax without being bothered by two strapping lads, Henry and I decided to take some air and pop across the road, feed the ducks, have a go on the slide, and have a few sets on the hardcourts of the Geilston Bay Tennis Club. On our way in, we noted the row of cockatoos grazing on the lawn, and the snow on Mount Wellington over the river. I am aware that there remains some demand for baby photos, so will endeavour to get a few more up over the next few days when I get the chance. Henry appears to dislike me typing on the keyboard, so I generally do this when Elmo has been acting as a decoy. Well done Elmo! Here's a Robert Frost poem that I like to tide you over until then: Fire and Ice Robert Frost Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To know that for destruction ice Is also great And would suf...

Here you go, Ezra's first bath from a couple of days ago... Asleep in the bath? No problem? Asleep all day? No problem? Sleep more than ten minutes at night without demanding mum's boobs? NEVER!

Well I couldn't just leave it at one photo today, could I? Brand spanking new baby and all! So here you are, another of little Ezra. He's a little one in Henry terms, but a ripper nonetheless. And another one for good measure. The above photograph is one with a little more perspective vis-à-vis size. Lest you feel that I am terribly good at setting timers on cameras and then running back with a sleeping newborn, or that Jennifer has awfully hairy arms for an lass, I will admit that neither myself or Henry took these photographs. Yes, the tired-looking bloke above is Me. I'm holding a nude little Ezra while waiting for his bath to fill. In defence of my sons, I'm tired more through the lack of sleep from excitement, than littlies carrying on. Henry has been an angel (normal evening meltdowns exempted) and sleeps through the night. Ezra is still a little confused regarding night or day, but is quiet as a newborn kitten (especially when contrasted with Henry's foghorn ...

Here is a photo of my three most favourite people in the world. Henry, Jen and Ezra. I don't care that Jen reckons she looks demented here, or that Henry has his tongue hanging out, or that Ezra has his eyes closed. It's lovely.

A whole bunch of my favourite things here: sunrise, sunburst, water, clouds, a clean, fresh-looking photograph. Here's a Robert Graves poem to go with it! Rushing to pre-post this, the waters have broken! Nature's Lineaments Robert Graves When mountain rocks and leafy trees And clouds and things like these, With edges, Caricature the human face, Such scribblings have no grace Nor peace- The bulbous nose, the sunken chin, The ragged mouth in grin Of cretin. Nature is always so: you find That all she has of mind Is wind, Retching among the empty spaces, Ruffling the idiot grasses, The sheeps' fleeces. Whose pleasures are excreting, poking, Havocking and sucking, Sleepy licking. Whose griefs are melancholy, Whose flowers are oafish, Whose waters, silly, Whose birds, raffish, Whose fish, fish.

Slowly getting the house ship shape for Ezra and Jen's return. Until then, enjoy the greatest meeting of the minds since the Manhattan Project.

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...

Can't write too much, I'm entertaining Henry before bath time and bed. I’ll then sneak back to the hospital and leave him in the care of my parents. He has a new brother. Ezra Leo Fitzgerald McCracken Ezra's first photo Three kilograms, he came a bit early, but got top marks on the APGAR scores. He’s a reasonable size, but looks tiny compared to Henry at birth (who was a monster baby). No drugs, no stitches, very quick labour and mum and bub well. I have a quick pic, I will post more when we're home properly. Ezra and his dad

If Jen is right, then she IS in labour. But now Henry is in bed and not much is happening, so I am managing to do a few pre-posts to continue the streak! Don't expect much though, I'm reaching into the grab bag and slinging you some random pictures and a few of my favourite poems. Well, that last bit is a lie today, because the above photo - while admittedly not my most technically proficient - is to this point my favourite. It's the first one of Henry. It was taken about two minutes after he was born (nearly twenty-one months ago). I think that its wonderful. Are you allowed to dedicate someone else's poem to someone? Anyway, if you are , then this one is for dear little Henry. After Making Love We Hear Footsteps Galway Kinnell For I can snore like a bullhorn or play loud music or sit up talking with any reasonably sober Irishman and Fergus will only sink deeper into his dreamless sleep, which goes by all in one flash, but let there be that heavy breathing or a stifled...

There is every chance that if this automated message has been posted online, that the contractions that Jennifer is feeling have indeed developed into a real life labour. If so, I expect that as you read this, Henry will indeed be the proud brother of somebody , rather than an concept . If I am correct in this, then I expect that it might be a couple of days until I post again. I don’t think that the RHH has a wireless Internet connection. This will break my streak that goes back quite some time, but is not the end of the world! The upside is that the next post that I make will probably be one of a new entrant into our household (unless it is hideous, in which case I will substitute pictures of Henry as a baby until we can get a surgeon/Photoshop wizard to make it look at least presentable. Until then…