This will hurt me...

We need a bigger boat. The Derwent Estuary, as seen from Bellerive. November 2012. The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham: Fantastic premise slightly undermined by sloppy execution. The great set up is spoiled by too many lengthy, turgid monologues. That said, the central theme (i.e. human/ species 'nature', survival and society) is a powerful one, and the conclusion (albeit somewhat predictable) delivers. C .

Tall ship is Sullivan's Cove as viewed through the window of a water taxi, March 2010. I've just finished reading the blackly comic (and unremittingly bleak) The Restraint of Beasts by Magnus Mills on the bus in this morning. By golly if there was ever a book to explore the notion of work as a domineering force in the lives of workers, this is it! Check it out, even if your headspace is akin to mine at the moment.

Another day, another photograph of rigging. You will note that today, there is no frigging in the rigging , as the navy has just passed a law against such activities. Henry and I did a little experiment before: poem writing. After a long and arduous explanation of rhyme and metre , we set about writing his first ever poem ! Henry supplied the core concept, and the key words that rhyme, I banged it together into something [hopefully] servicable. Without further ado... Henry's First Ever Poem If I were a little fish I would have but just one wish my one wish would be to fly doing such would make me cry

Here is a little bloke in a little boat down at Kingston Beach the other weekend. Normally, such little boats are confined to in-shore racing, but I am currently training Henry up to be the world's youngest solo global circumnavigation in one of these babies! Time for Sunday Top Five ! Today, I am featuring my Top Five Charlie and Lola Books ! 5: I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato 4: I Completely Know About Guinea Pigs 3: I Can Do Anything That's Everything All on My Own 2: Look After Your Planet 1: I've Won, No I've Won, No I've Won!

Here is one from last week. Yes, more rigging set against an ominous sky. Like the weather, I am predictable if nothing else! That said, today I have been treated - incredibly - by a clear blue sky and a nip in the air that suggests the rain may have abated for a while. It has, however, left its mark with the water across the whole waterfront area a lovely shade of brown ( pictures at 10 ). For a second there I was confused, thinking that I was strolling along the Yarra River! In this, the existential melodrama of life took a decidedly Lynchian twist (without any bald midgets).