This will hurt me...

The neo-minimalist etchings of Ezra question their own raison d'etre. Are they visual tropes? Self-conscious (self-mocking/self-loathing) po-mo nombrilisme? Stochastic snapshots sans lexical basis? You decide!

Safety first! C'mon Ezra, workplace health and safety is no laughing matter, especially when it comes to electrical and fire safety!

Fearing the collapse of civilisation as we know it, and acutely aware of Tasmania's strategic location in terms of the forthcoming resource wars; Henry and Ezra have begun to construct a mighty fortress that shall withstand hordes of assorted barbarians, infidels, traitors, rapscallions, brigands, scoundrels, wastrels, ne'er-do-wells, blackguards, deadbeats, desperados, hoodlums, malefactors, miscreants, reprobates, ruffians, scalawags and wretches. That should keep us safe for a while...

Coming back with crays. On the Derwent, as seen from Long Beach, Sandy Bay. September 2011. The Lucky 33 Meme [part 1]! 1. Can you cook? Absolutely! 2. What was your dream growing up? Lots of beautiful women. 3. What talent do you wish you had? Turning a blind eye. 4. Favourite place? Home. 5. Favourite vegetable The wonderfully durable potato. 6. What was the last book you read. The Appointment by Herta Müller 7. What zodiac sign are you? Taurus. 8. Any Tattoos and/or Piercings? Not one. Ever. 9. Worst Habit? Groping my wife. 10. Do you personally know anybody on Blog? Erm... 11. What is your favorite sport? Sychronised jelly tickling. 12. Negative or Optimistic attitude? Realistic. 13. What would you do if you were stuck in an lift with someone of the opposite sex? We would wait. 14. Worst thing to ever happen to you? My children were born very loud. 15. Tell me one weird fact about you: I am nine percent blancmange. 16. Do you have any pets? Only a wife and two children.

The track is now well and truly built. They still need to build a bridge over the creek though...

Sometimes all in life you really want to do is sit atop a giant chick on a spring and watch the heavy machinery go about its business.

There was this guy. And there were these chickens. Oh, and there were a bunch of rabbits. So there was some kind of argument about something. I think that it was over chocolate. And eggs. T This guy's dad wasn't happy. It had something to do with fish as well. I’m pretty sure that it had something to do with loaves and fishes. Or chocolate fish eggs maybe. Anyway, the rabbits eventually must have won and these chickens got nailed to this guy. I think. Anyway, his father wanted to prove a point. Yeah, his dad wanted to prove a point and that’s why they nailed the chickens to him. Because he sinned. Or we sinned. Or maybe the chickens sinned. Or something. The father sounds like a bit of an arse really. Nailed them to a cross I think. Something like that. S o we eat chocolate eggs delivered by rabbits in bonnets and there's nothing good on TV.

Careful now, men at work. A crane as seen from the corner of Liverpool and Argyle Streets, Hobart. January 2010. I treat the discovery of somebody else’s library due date slip – now helpfully printed out by some kind of bibliophile robot – as a rare insight into the mind of somebody else. Thus, when I found tucked in the back of Vladimir Nabokov’s Transparent Things a slip from the Burnie Library, I eagerly pocketed it for my perusal. What might it tell me about the puzzling punter who had previously perused the putative plot of a perplexing pederast? Let’s have a look shall we? The Critique of pure reason The very best of Bert Kaempfert [sound recording] Water music : and, music for the royal fireworks [sound recording] Immanuel Kant’s bold – and utterly impenetrable – attempt to understand understanding , a collection of the hits of a German ‘easy listening’ orchestra leader, and GF Handel’s most famous piece paired with a suite written to celebrate the end of the War of the Austri...

We have elevator shafts, but no building. Problem? Developments on Argyle Street, Hobart. January 2011. Sunday, you say? Sunday means Sunday Top Five ! How about a Top Five Excuses For Not Getting A Blog Post Up As Per The Accustomed Time ? A saltwater crocodile named ‘Bitey’ (inspired by his annoying habit of nibbling on other people’s belongings) ate my notes. Henry [and/or] Ezra . I’m having an epistemological break. The Internet was broken. What? Late? I’m not sure I understand you…

Hobart: On The Go ! The view from the eastern end of Liverpool Street. December 2010. We might not quite be rivalling Shanghai when it comes to cranes, but whenever you see three cranes on the go in Hobart, you know that something is going on. This one is part of a development that will comprise a supermarket, shops, an additional 544 parking spaces for the Argyle Street car park (just what Hobart CBD needs, more cars ) and new “A-grade” office space. Whether or not there will also be a slippery dip, wholesale ball bearing emporium, underwater aquarium, Turkish baths, Finnish sauna and Liechtenstienian superstore, I am unsure.

Authorised by whom? East Derwent Highway, Geilston Bay. October 2010 Like the velociraptors in Jurassic Park , my children's brains are evolving . And like that movie, it is dangerous and terrifying . Take - for instance - the discussion that I had with Henry the other evening. After reports from the Oberaufseherin about rude and unruly behaviour for the second straight day, I assumed my fatherly voice (i.e. drop a couple of octaves and talk slowly) and queried the lad. After confirming that yes, Henry had stretched the bonds of maternal love that day, I expressed my bitter disappointment in the lad, as he had "promised to be a good boy" that morning. "Oh no," interjected the (not very-) guilty party, " you're wrong daddy !" A rueful shake of the head on my part, and a tired, "In what way am I wrong Henry?" "I only promised to try and be a good boy." What could I do? He was correct. I didn't expect such semantics at age f...

There's money to be made here... June, 2010. The prospect of destroying all the evidence is an intriguing one, one that most of us wouldn't mind applying to facets of our own lives. Now, I'm not talking about some Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind expurgation of the self; I'm more about the elimination of proof . What I am proposing is putting yourself in the clear . Suppose that you could discretely arrange for CONFIDENTIAL SECURITY SHREDDING to rock up and remove the evidence , would you do it? Perhaps the question should be what would you do it for?

Burst water mains can be annoying. May 2010. Thankfully, we only went without water for a few hours. Henry did have to have a Pommy wash though, which upset him no end. Time for today's Sunday Top Five, where I am listing my Current Top Five Favourite Podcasts ! That's right, since children I now no longer watch TV, I listen to podcasts. In particular, I listen to these podcasts. Tell 'em Steve-Dave Highlight? #18, where Walt explains his theory about midgets seducing paedophiles for the public good. Dan Carlin's Hardcore History Highlight? #27-#30, a four part special - Ghosts of the Ost Front - exploring the German invasion of the Soviet Union, and Soviet response. It's Up For Grabs Now! Highlight? 21/12/2009, where Alan abuses the Hull bench to the delight of the crowd. NPR All Songs Considered Highlight? 10/2/2010 Breakup Songs . For the record, I don't mind Split Enz's I Hope I Never ... BBC From Our Own Correspondent Highlight? Hard to...

Breaking all the rules. April, 2010. If you don't mind me saying it, I have magnificent legs. Ask anybody, they'll tell you.

Preparing one's leave. April, 2010. . There is something very nice about Autumn light. It might be getting colder, but it appears the Derwent is also getting blue-r more blue! I knew a bloke once, nice bloke, he liked to swim. That's all.