Old school tie dies, whilst new school starts today...

Against the background of the dreadful fall of the Royal Bank of Scotland and others, it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain a sunny disposition is it not? I was shocked to hear that the great and venerable institution has had such an ignominious turn in its fortunes and took no consolation in having not that long ago explained that this was likely to happen (to Wayne) since we live in a society that takes constant and unceasing expansion as its God over all else. It's one thing to appreciate something from a theoretical point of view, and quite another to see it actually occur. Nor was it much comfort to hear that the value of chairman, (ex) Sir Fred (the shred) Goodwin's personal shareholding had fallen from £5.73m to $296,345. (OK I'm lying... that was a comfort!)

The implications for all of us are similar though and I can assure you that it is difficult to take the current dearth of financial good news and concoct a sunny outlook for my own future employment, future business, future house building finance or future - period. Sad isn't it, that our fortunes are so closely associated with a system that is so fundamentally flawed. A system that is being administered by others of Fred Goodwin's disposition to spreadsheets and complex risk instruments. They are all too flawed, just like me, just like all of us - yet we trust them to keep our future 'bright' even though their heads, like most people's are full of meaninglessness. Aah but what can we do about it, save pull up at the side of the rat run, cash it all in and buy a little small holding as far away from the affected conurbations as possible. And the funny thing is that if you did that, everyone would say you were mad. Pause here to take a belly laugh, if you can muster one. What's the worst that can happen?

Well the thing is its not me you understand that its all about. It's the kids. It's Josh and Moll and Matilda and Phoebe. It's all still to happen for them eh! Welcome to the real world...have a nice day!

So, this weekend was Australia day. Buggered if I really know what it's all about. I did get a letter from the Open University asking if I could write about what it's all about. I did consider finding out and writing it here, so that you'd all be the wiser, but then I thought 'Na stuff it'.
No one seems to know what it's all about if you ask them, and most people go to the beach or hang out in their yards taking dips in their pools and drinking to excess. We went down to Carlene and Ian's and the kids spent the whole day... (and I mean the WHOLE day in the pool). When they arrived, they were kids, when they left they were prunes!.



One thing that happened was that the adult women were seen to apply little Australian flag tattoos to their upper chest. Madison put one on each side just above the hem of her dress. Ian said 'nice tats Maddy!' Guffaw guffaw! (Hmmn, perhaps you needed to be there) We had a really nice day, Cindy's Mum 'Auntie Cass' was there from NZ, Daile hasn't seen for years. Hilton, Ian, Johnny and I sat at one end of the table on the deck drinking beers and generally being grumpy old men. (Guess who's the best at that!)



Today was the first day back at school. (I have some pictures for you Mum). Now this is enough to bring a smile back. This is what it's all about my friends. This is what pushes the boat out when you're a parent eh!





Phoebe was really excited about going and not even slightly worried it would seem. When we got there a few minutes early, she sat down at a table that had kids drawing and immediately began to document her trip to the school. She gave it to me, and that is also reproduced below. Both of them declared that they'd had a really good day.



As Feeb's little class set out on a tour of the school, I thought... 'this is it. This is the first day of her school life. All that time in front of her. All that work, and all that upset, all that growing to do.' I hope it's a good one Feeb.