Mark O’Meara: the blog

I was down at the Community Centre and I discovered that our local council appears to have lifted their ban on men attending new parents groups, as they now call new mothers’ groups.

When I got home I rang just to be sure and they explained that if Finn were born now I would be quite welcome. If we have another baby I would could not go because it is only for first time parents but the good news is that men who are foolish enough to do what I have can go to an official honest-to-God council supported group and this is all good news.

I must admit that I feel a certain amount of envy of the mums who still meet with their groups and do wish that I was allowed in the clubhouse too. But it probably doesn’t make an actual difference to the material world and is nothing to dwell on.

Lesson for the day - progress sometimes stalls but does get there.

I found a link to this short guide to Australian politics and it’s a must-read.

Lesson for the day - it is nice that there are people calling it as they see it.

We took the Funster off to his regular appointment with one of his hearing specialists. He has fluid in his ears and today they tested what his hearing would be like if he did not. Basically the put something behind his head and the noise goes straight in and around the blocked bit.

He still has hearing loss, no surprises there, but less than previously estimated. For those of you who don’t know he will always have hearing loss, what is wrong is not something that gets better or you grow out of.

So what remains before us is the question of grommits for the Funster. They are a small hole in the ear that allows fluid to drain. The upside if that at the moment he doesn’t hear most speech sounds but with dry ears he will hear almost all of them. The downside is that it means he will have to be super-careful around water which constrains things like baths and swimming. Also he would have to go under a general anesthetic for them to be done and this is not such a jovial prospect.

Anyhow we know more than we did and that’s a good thing.

Lesson for the day - choices are better than no options at all.

On the weekend we took advantage of the lovely sunshine and took Foozley for a stroll to the far end of the estate. When we moved here we were the western-most occupied house in the place. Now it goes for about another five blocks right up the the next estate.

All of this space was a paddock quite recently and we used to take the dogs for a run in it. But now it is all streets and new houses and it all seems somehow surreal. The surreal feeling is heightened by the massive progress and absolute silence.

One we had completed this journey to what felt like the edge of the earth we sat on a blanket in the shade of a tree in the park and just sat with Foozley. He seemed to think this was a great idea and we pretty much agreed.

Lesson for the day - sunshine is for getting out into.

One of the real downsides to living in the west is that when something happens on the Westgate Freeway you are pretty much stuffed for getting into town. This morning something happened and Nicky has been sitting in traffic for two hours already.

The chances of her getting into town before lunch are not good so she is turning around and will work from home when she finally gets here.

Lesson for the day - it must be nice to have a plan B to get into town.

The more I giver away Gmail invites the more they give me. I currently have 6 to give away and I don’t even know that many people. So if you want want, Gmail is like super webmail, then let me know know.

Lesson for the day - it is annoying when you have something of value to give away but not enough friends to give it to.

If you see a woman with tussled pretty hair, groovy pointy black boots, an even groovier long black skirt with a massive flower on it (in an entirely swish way), and wearing a pretty white shirt then it is Nicky and feel free to say hello.

Don’t feel compelled to mention how terribly beautiful she looks as she can be a bit shy.

Lesson for the day - some people can be beautiful in all sorts of ways.

Let’s assume I learn to read before I get whisked off to this well appointed island.

Five desert island books, in no particular order

Harper Lee - To Kill A Mockingbird
Joseph Heller - Catch 22
A.A. Milne - Winnie-The-Pooh
Douglas Adams - Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy
Assorted - The Old Testament (I figure I have no read it and I might have time on the island)

Again, add your own.

Lesson for the day - books are handy if your stereo or home theatre get damaged by a Wild Beast On The Island.

On this island, of course, there is a home theatre or perhaps even a real theatre. So my desert island DVDs, in no particular order, are

Star Wars: Episode 4
Reservoir Dogs
Best In Show
The Princess Bride
O Brother Where Art Thou?

Lesson for the day - I hope they have a kick-arse 5.1 sound system on this island.

I was reading a thing in the paper about must-have DVD and it got me thinking about desert island collections.

This week my five desert island albums, in no particular order, are

Deborah Conway & Willy Zygier - Summertown
Gillian Welch - Soul Journey
Be Good Tanyas - Blue Horse
The Beatles - Help
Cat Stevens - Tea For The Tillerman

Feel free to add yours as a banana.

Lesson for the day - it is a good thing desert islands come with CD players.