Around the House

Ellen shows off her smile on a recent trip to the country!

We have good things going on here at Falconer Street. Our housemates Greg, Bron, Hayley and Tim have looked after us with great care and hence made our time in Melbourne an absolute joy so far; it is wonderful to make friends so quickly and to be priviliged to share their space, their stories, and their lives. We will be moving out next week, but to a flat that Greg's Grandparents own, and so we're remaining within the fold.






Ellen's work has taken off since a colleague went on leave, allowing her to expand her role and to begin to enjoy the experience more. Her Director, Greg Burgess, is a good guy, and we count Ellen very lucky to be working under him. We also consider him very lucky to have Ellen! It's a good partnership!


Last week I had my first game of eleven-a-side football since Oxford. This time I was up-front on strike! I hit the woodwork in the first half and then blezzed one over the bar in the second. Oh well. In the end we won on penalties (hit mine straight at the keeper in true English style) and then went for a knees-up at the bar which sponsored our team. Football, or "soccer", is on the up and up in Australia since The World Cup. Damn. Another sport that the Australians are going to beat us with!


Since I published a damning report at work, things have taken a turn for the bureaucratic, with several members of senior management reaching for the bottom-covering manual and going through it laboriously looking for somewhere to hide. For someone from the outside, with ideas and a passion for change, it is all very frustrating. A break in the form of a trip to England to see friends and famaily is very much what I need right now.

We have been working hard on the garden and have benefited from some good broccoli, lettuces and beetroots so far. I have also taken my first step into the horticulture of roses - with some rewarding results! The pruning appears to be crucial, and needs to be followed by heavy watering with a seaweed-based fertiliser. If only I could bring these home as a present to Mum on her wedding day!