This will hurt me...

The sun always shines on TV Bellerive. April, 2010. Word was passed on to me the other day concerning a disturbing event that confronted crafty knitter, sometime blogger and erstwhile commenter Blackie in the middle of the night. Awoken by a rustling sound, Ms Blackie assumed that the culprit must surely be a roaming dirt magnet . However, a brief spot of reconnoitring revealed the true malefactor was not of the toddle genus, it was in fact a plain old Mus musculus exploring some half finished knitting. Now, it is not my business to get into the rights or wrongs of musophobia, nor have I any knowledge of whether or not a Gertrude of Nivelles appeared in the guise of a strapping young man. What I can say, however, is that in the middle of the night I'd rather find a mouse explore my half-completed shrug still on the round (in a Continental fashion) than a tattoo-d escaped convict doing a poo in my handbag!

I could be wrong, but I think that this tree is connected to the Internet. I hope that it's live blogging on the Tasmanian election from the distinct perspective of a Braddon-based Araucaria heterophylla , but fear that it's more likely to be trolling the Guardian Unlimited sports pages or fishing about for some cheeky upskirts of a barely-legal Athrotaxis selaginoides . [Or they could be lights...]

The clock tower at Hobart's General Post Office bathed in nice winter afternoon sunlight. We've had too little of this lately, as it's mainly been raining. Time for the Sunday Top Five! Today I am revisiting my Top Five Ever Karaoke Performances Total Eclipse of the Heart : for the amateur vocalist, the sheer overwrought emotion of Bonnie Tyler's raspy voiced paean to wandering lovers the world over is a good song for the confident (or inebriated) to belt out. Come on Eileen : a rousing, jaunty little number that harks back to the music hall. The chanting bit in the middle can rescue strugglers. The fact that there are not many words also helps. Sexual Healing : easily the most challenging of the bunch, as not many are blessed with the pipes of Marvyn Gaye. That said, the degree of difficulty makes it a triumph if pulled off, especially if the intent is to send a [ahem] message to any ladies in the audience. Suspicious Minds : you can't have Karaoke with an Elvis t...

I'm not sure what these birds are doing lurking up on some luxury flats above Salamanca Square. Whatever it is, it can't be good. I've seen that film by Hitchcock. No, birds gathering, it has to spell doom . As I was looking at this photo, one thing that struck me was the yellow tone. I don't do a lot of yellow, and I don't know why...

Here is a Salamanca seagull hanging about waiting for a crack at a wood fired pizza. What is it with me and seagulls ? Although it is not simply a matter of their multitudes in coastal Tasmania – although that helps when you’re scratching around looking for a photo – only a mug could deny at least an element of the propinquity effect at work here. No, it is more that gulls are misjudged , slandered and often unfairly maligned . Their critics see them as little more than opportunistic scavengers , when in fact, they are resourceful, inquisitive and highly intelligent birds. They have complex methods of communication and a highly developed social structure, lesbians or otherwise! F One must admire the way that gull colonies employ mobbing behaviour – think Soviet Army in the 1940s – attacking and harassing would-be predators and other intruders. I have a theory that most gulls are ardent Marxists, and I’ve yet to see any evidence to the contrary.

Look at those rippling muscles. Look at that fine hand-eye co-ordination. Look at that steely determination to succeed whatever the cost. This lad has the makings of a champion, mark my words! Pros and Cons of Toddlers Part Three Pro #3: They're FORGIVING . One of my strengths weaknesses is my ability, nay gift , at holding a grudge. Quick to judgement, forgiveness does not come easy for me, as I am a hard taskmaster . While Henry is quick to judge, and sets exceptionally high standards , he is also rapid and absolute in his ability to absolve one of any potential antipathy or resentment. That’s something to admire in a man, I think. Con #3: They're TEMPERAMENTAL . I've already noted Henry's ability to swiftly offer pardon, this is matched by his tendency to violently and impulsively alter his mood and expectations. One minute you can be happily playing a game of chess, the next minute he’s thrown the board out the window and has a broken whisky bottle at your throat....