This will hurt me...

If you look really really really closely, you can see some freckles there. You need to keep your hat on Henry!

The sky is the limit. MS1 , Campbell Street, December 2010. The building on the right is known as MS1 (Medical Science 1 to its friends), the home of the Menzies Research Institute Tasmania, in the heart of Hobart's Medical Science Precinct. Let’s just say that a lot of rats go in, but they’re rarely seen leaving… A Few Rules for Beginners , by Katherine Mansfield Babies must not eat the coal And they must not make grimaces, Nor in party dresses roll And must never black their faces. They must learn that pointing’s rude, They must sit quite still at table, And must always eat the food Put before them—if they’re able. If they fall, they must not cry, Though it’s known how painful this is; No—there’s always Mother by Who will comfort them with kisses.

Title: Inner sleeve to a UK indie record released in 1996. A pair of sombre lads here, they've just been told that if there is any more naughtiness, I'm cancelling Christmas.

Someone has put some wood in this wall! The Theatre Royal, Hobart. December 2010. Two books, both written within the same period, with similar themes, but both very different from each other. The first is Defeat Into Victory by William Slim. Bill Slim, or – to give him his proper title – Field Marshal William Joseph Slim, 1st Viscount Slim, KG, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, GBE, DSO, MC, KStJ, has been described by some as perhaps the greatest commander of the twentieth century. Defeat into Victory is his account of the retaking of Burma by Allied forces during the Second World War first published in 1956. Slim was the commander of the British 14th Army that, in concert with American and Chinese forces, defeated the Imperial Japanese Army during the Burma Campaign. But don’t let that put you off! Slim's most notable characteristic is his lack of ego. Unlike many (most?) other accounts of this type, Slim consistently makes reference to his mistakes, errors in planning or judgement, and his def...

A pair of wet men come in from the cruel waves with little more than the love of a good woman ice cream on their minds. It’s a simple, but hard, life

Walking into work with the spirit of Jeebus in my heart. St Johns Park, New Town, December 2010. You know that you have graduated into a new strata of society when you miss a day of work – bit of a cold, not too bad thanks – and the next day the bus driver asks in an accusatory tone “ Where were you yesterday?

This one is from back before the weather turned for the better. Here you can see Ezra leading Jen a merry dance down the dunes at Seven Mile Beach. The distinct lack of crab-related action at this beach is discouraging, and all of the Great Whites were out far too deep for us to tickle and tease. That said, we managed to amuse ourselves by trying to spot Antarctica. We might have managed it, but for the low cloud cover on the horizon…

The birds have found something! Howrah Beach, December 2010. I couldn't decide between these two photos so I have uploaded both, but you will notice that the birds have won pole position! I assume that the birds have spotted the same thing that appears the be drawing the orcas into the Derwent. Aside from angry Great Whites, you can find around these parts: flathead, whiting, flounder, Australian salmon, barracouta, bream, bastard trumpeter, trout, squid, leatherjacket, mullet, long-finned pike, garfish, silver trevally, jack mackerel and blue grenadier. I suspect that these birds have spotted a school of bastards that has set their tummies rumbling! Storms rolling in over Mount Wellington. Howrah Beach, December 2010.

We have been in receipt of the reports that a pod of bloodthirsty Orcinus orcas – that’s killer whales to you and I – are marauding though the Derwent Estuary , terrorising everything that appears before their beady, perfidious eyes. Of course, Henry immediately demanded to be “taken to the beach”, and thrust himself into the treacherous swells and set about sorting these ‘roided-up dolphins out. But the water was a bit nippy, so we got fish ‘n chips instead.

When you are heading into work for yet another long day, you tend to cling to any bit of beauty you can find. East Derwent Highway, the Lindisfarne/Geilston Bay border. December 2010. I’ll call this one Thirty-five Words … Where is your cell phone? Charging Relationship? Exultant Your hair? Brown Work? Policy Your sister? None Your favourite thing? Serenity Your dream last night? Opportunities Your favourite drink? Coffee Your dream car? Feet The room you’re in? Exposed Your shoes? Sneakers Your fears? Rational What do you want to be in 10 years? Relaxed Who did you hang out with this weekend? Children What are you not good at? Apologising Muffin? Savoury One of your wish list items? Sleep Where you grew up? Coast Last thing you did? E-mail What are you wearing? Clothes What aren’t you wearing? Watch Your pet? Absent Your computer? Serviceable Your life? Emerging Your mood? Tired Missing? Always What are you thinking about right now? Thighs Your car? Huh? Your kitchen? Open Your summer...

Almost a year on from the first memorable series that I called Ezra³ , we revisit the theme with a new piece: EZRA=1/1 .

Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair! St Johns Park, December 2010. Quite why this aged care institution (I think) locks its guests in a tower, I am unsure. One assumes that they must get rowdy as the X-Mas season creeps up upon us. Henry and I have been working on a draft letter the Satan Claws Father Christmas over the weekend, but we cannot quite get the tone right. We are finding it difficult to strike the precise balance between worthy, pious, and grateful; and the extremely long list of expensive and ostentatious that we want this year. Maybe we should try the Great Pumpkin instead? If there is one thing that you can say about our desires, they're " sincere ".

This one is from a few months back, and very much showcases the porcelain skin of my pair of beauties! While Ezra and I are swarthy little fellow travellers, Henry and Jen have the skin of exiled Russian princesses...

There are patterns everywhere you look. Bellerive Beach, December 2010. As summer rolls around again, there are a number of things that I look forward to. Today's Sunday Top Five lists a few of them: Five Things I Like About Summer ! Trips to the beach! Well, you can go to the beach in winter too, but frolicking in the water is a little less fun... A few days off! A few days away from work never hurts. Presents! Satan Claws will visit soon, and who doesn't like getting new stuff? Fruit! Even though we are a global village these days, nothing beats the range of Tasmanian summer fruit and berries that become available. Less clothes! I hate being covered up. It's easier to get away with less on when the heat is on.