Another day in paradise

I’ve got a bit of a name for myself in the executive carpark.

Snuggled in between the Lexus, BMWs and Mercedes sat my little old 15 year old Subaru with three wheel trims and a carpet on the dashboard to stop it melting in the heat.

Even when I drove it to the airport and handed the keys to the valet parker every week he came to love it’s little idiosyncasies - like not starting if you touched the accelerator, not turning off when you took the key out, the little electric shocks when you touched the mirror….

But alas, my puddle jumper is no more.

On Monday, the insurance company decided that my car wasn’t worth fixing after it’s recent shunt and took the decision to write it off.

That car had cost me 5,000 dollars 3 years ago. Or about1500 quid in old money.

By my calculations it worked out about 73 pence a day to own. Bloody bargain.

Now I’ve just got to go out and find another banger under $5k to annoy my fellow suits with and give the valet guy at Qantas something to look forward to - he must get bored parking Porsches….

Escaped to the Hunter Valley this weekend without the kids!

I’d like to say it was two days of peace and quiet but when you go to see Rod Stewart play live with about 2000 other Scots in the Hunter Valley vineyards, especially when you go with two dear friends, you can guess it was slightly alcoholic.

We had a ball, Rod was fantastic, the weather was awesome, out under the stars drinking cold beer(?) and singing our hearts out - then going back to the cottage to watch the sun come up still drinking cold beer and annoying the neighbours.

Aaah Rod isn’t the only one who still believes he’s younger than he is.

But I bet you his kidneys or head don’t feel as bad as mine today.

(Go to the family photos section to see more of 4 go mad in the Hunter!)

As sponsors of the Cannes Media Awards it looks like I’ll be attending this years conference in France.

Along with thousands of other media types we’ll be given insight into best practice around the world, learn new technologies and explore ground breaking thinking in effective advertising.

And of course the meeting Rupert bit again.

I’m hoping to get drunk at brilliant parties.

Watch some funny commercials.

And visit my sister in France too!

But I’ll work as well.

Honest.

Ooooops.

Thats tomorrow right?

Wrong.

One of the reasons Drambuie won’t sell a lot of our subtle, sophisticated drink in Oz.

Last week was a bit stressfull at work and at home.

It ended on Sunday morning at 3.00am with Tee phoning the police as about 200 teenagers partied out on the oval, having spilled out of some houseparty nearby.

I was oblivious to the noise, chaos and all our children being woken up by the singing and general shenanigans.

However I did hear subconsciously Tee asking to speak to the police on the telephone.

I woke up at this point.

Only because this week she has managed to phone the firebrigade, an ambulance and now the police.

If it carries on like this she’ll be phoning S.W.A.T next.

Had another meeting with Rupert on Friday.

It’s the worlds greatest laxative.

It’s like trying to nail custard to the wall, you’ve no idea where he’s going to go and what he’s going to ask next.

But I got through - but not without staying up most of the night trying to memorise every fact and figure that we’ve ever published!

He seems to be pleased with progress and he’s still absolutely passionate about the paper.

And when you look at the advert for the paper in the 80’s, well….you can see for yourself..

Thankfully we’ve toned it down a bit..

But I feel really priviliged to spend 4 hours in the company of a man who still has the drive and insight to set goals for the next 10 years.

I only hope I have the energy to outlast him!

The romantic image of boys up trees playing and falling and scraping their knees harks back to a day with out gameboys and computer games.

My youngest still lives in that era, thank goodness, but as a result is constantly getting into strife with bruises, knocks and bleeding noses.

Yesterday evening we spent 5 hours in accident and emergency with a dislocated elbow and broken arm.

The result of falling out said tree.

As he’s getting older the accidents are getting scarier the more gallus he becomes.

When he was young we used to make him wear a bycicle helmet because he was so accident prone.

In the house!

However as I sit and type this, he’s sitting with his arm in a sling and plaster, with that wee glint in his eye, he’s happy as a Larry and I know he’s thinking….How else can I scare the shit out of my old man?

For the rest of his life……..

I’m knackered and I’ve only been back at work a fortnight.

And everyday has been a series of hurdles that are needed to be cleared.

And they seem to be getting bigger.

And just as you see a bit of light……another Beeches Brook comes around the corner.

And it’s rained for 10 days now non stop.

And I need the sun at the weekend so I can collapse on the beach and unwind but El Nina is just getting in the swing of dropping the wet stuff.

And the train is full of wet, smelly people on my way to work

And on my way home.

And everytime I see the kids they’re in their jammys.

And I’m cranky with everyone.

And tomorrow I have to present to Rupert…..again.

And I haven’t won the lottery so I have to turn up to tell him where the money is.

And therefore my life is just one big cold sore..

Bollocks.

I’m going to bed.

Over here you have PVC covers that protect your barbie from the outdoor elements.

You’re meant to put them on when you’ve finished cooking, have turned all the burners off and have sat down in front of the telly to let your snags digest with a bottle of wine.

You’re meant to.

This morning the fire brigade visited the Tait household because I didn’t.

One melted cover, a smell of gas and one scared wife who went out to hang her washing brought them and discovered the chaos.

Ooops.

Mind you, it could have been just a rouse to get 12 firemen fully kitted up and flashing lights on their engines to come to the house!