We need to talk about Kevin

This opinion piece by Mike Carlton in Saturday's Sydney Morning Herald (24/11/07) proved prophetic

Revenge of the betrayed battlers

THE bizarre antics of the Liberal pamphleteers in Lindsay might not have been sanctioned by the machine. But they speak volumes for the culture of the Liberal Party, particularly in its NSW division.

It is the politics of fear and loathing. By turning one group of Australians against another, the theory goes, it is possible to divide and rule. Minority groups - Muslims, homosexuals, unmarried mothers, trade union members, academics, etc - can be dispatched to the margins while the party leadership wraps itself in khaki and the flag with high-blown sophistry about Aussie family values.

Where necessary, the threat from without can also be invoked - queue-jumping refugees, for example - and then met by iron-fisted measures like the Pacific solution. This is not something new to the Liberals. It has worked for them often. Ben Chifley's light on the Labor hill was trumped by Robert Menzies' reds under the bed.

Until now, John Howard has been a masterly exponent of fear and division. But when he gained control of the Senate at the last election, his visceral hatred of unions overreached itself. Work Choices was an attack on the Howard Battlers who had given him four election victories. It is an exquisite irony that those battlers will now bring him undone today.

smhcarlton@hotmail.com

11 and1/2 long years of Howard - we can't believe it is over and Australia has chosen a new direction, into the 21st century.

We watched the tally room analysis until Howard conceded defeat and Rudd assumed victory - switching between the ABC and WIN's coverage: the dignified debate of Julia Gillard and Antony Green on the ABC counterbalanced with the squirmy depths of Ray Martin's, Michael Kroger's and Robert Ray's coverage on WIN. We wouldn't have missed it for the world.

We toasted victory with Mum and Maxie & Rod at Jerrabomberra (over 7% swing to Labor, unseating sitting Liberal member Gary Nairn).

This morning baby Ella was quite unconcerned about the momentous events happening at government level. She was looking forward to a day's shopping with J&J and "doing lunch". She is learning to clap her hands and is forever intrigued by Nellie the beagle.

Counting down

Five weeks of school to go for me, five weeks until Christmas, 3 days since Jody's operation (which went well), 3 days until Ella is 6 months old, one week until election day. After the last 12 long years we can't believe what the polls are telling us. We are making some noises about a possible "Don's Party" next Saturday -to celebrate (?)

The Lebangs are at Coogee this weekend, blitzing them at the Opera House, kayaking in the harbour, eating ice cream, drinking Gravitas and finding 8/85 "fantastic".

I had a work day at Birrigai Outdoor School in the Namadgi National Park last Thursday, my first visit since the 2003 fire storm. The school has been completely rebuilt and vegetation is re-established, but the land looks ancient and "cracked open": so little soil, charred stands of tree & scrub skeletons, ancient rock exposed everywhere.

Rob and I babysat big O & little A last night while C & J had a big night out at "Aubergine". C had prepared detailed "lesson plans" covering every eventuality. In the end, after an hour or so of fun reading books and dismantling the playroom for our entertainment the boys went to sleep without a peep. Both of them had an uninterrupted night's sleep (well at least until 5.30am).

Ella was showing no ill effects this morning from having an indisposed mummy. She coped well with all the interruptions to her routine caused by Jody's operation.

Of horses and utes

We celebrated our first ever public holiday for the Melbourne Cup last week. We drank champagne, ate chicken, ran an in house sweep and tried to rekindle a bit of the old spirit around Melbourne Cup day in this year of the equine flu virus (EFV).

Ollie learnt about the difference between "the" favourite as opposed to the familiar "my" favourite when he drew Master O'Reilly in the sweep. Little A strutted around the house exercising his two week old walking skills in between being very interested in Rob's vintage Matchbox car collection. Little E smiled a lot and observed everything intently.

Josh lent us the ute for the weekend so we could transport another table up to Coogee. It went like a rocket up the highway. The table fitted the space in the kitchen perfectly and will join with our other one to make a larger square table when needed.

The ute looked right at home parked outside the mansions of Dudley St. We took it for another ride on Sunday morning to Rhodes Ikea to pick up a wall unit for J&J. Rob survived our two hours there without getting PTSD like he did last time.

Everyone stopped in their tracks at 11.00am of the 11th for a short Remembrance ceremony conducted over the Ikea loudspeakers. It was kinda bizarre. It didn't have the respectful ambience I needed - but full marks to Ikea for attempting it. We picked up a rug for the apartment at the same time.

The Victorian mansion over the road from our apartment goes up for auction this Tuesday evening.

This is Ella at about 7.00pm on Sunday evening - usually a time when babies get a bit crabby - but not our Miss Peach (Piarchay).

Lions, tigers, bears and monkeys

I treated myself last Friday to a day with the year fives at Old Mogo Town and the Mogo Zoo. Although the mobile phone was running hot throughout the day with assorted crises happening back at school I was able to get in some quality time with our gorgeous kids, their teachers and the lions, tigers, bears and monkeys at the Mogo Zoo.

A little treasure of a zoo...so up close and personal to the brown Syrian bears, the Sumatran tigers, the pride of exotic white lions and only 3 metres away from the most expressive and active family of black chimps. I know some little boys who would love the intimate scale of that zoo - feeding time was a thrill a minute when you can be that close to the animals.

We have had good rain intermittently over the past week or so. It really lifts everyone spirits to see rain at last...but not enough yet.

We were lucky to catch up with J&J & little E this morning. Little E was highly sociable and gave us a great show of her ability to touch her toes and roll around on her rug. She loves being pulled up into the sitting position - her little neck is looking very strong.

A weekend in Canberra

We enjoyed our weekend in Canberra: seeing "Inside Paris" (Dans Paris) at our favourite Dendy theatre on Saturday afternoon followed by an all out chocolate binge at KOKO Black; rudely woken on Sunday morning to daylight saving time..rushing out for a quick hello to a dreamy Ella (with daddy and her dummy) before taking Nellie the beagle on a long walk...back in time to see now smiley Ella refreshed after her morning nap.

We enjoyed our long talkative lunch today (lots of Bali news) with Jo A. & friends and struck it lucky with some of Jo's great Indonesian food to take home (including delicious urab urab) in doggy bags.

Two weeks back at school now and only eight to go. I have announced to everyone I am retiring and this term will be my last. I am determined to enjoy every minute of it and am already feeling like a weight is lifting from my shoulders.

Last weekend was very busy - a special night at the National Gallery of Australia for all us founding members (25 years) for a private viewing (and lecture) of the Culture Warriors exhibition.....then up to Coogee on Sunday for some more furniture acquisition and removal. The Moran sofabed has finally landed (thanks to the 4 "boys" who grunted and sweated it up 3 flights of stairs). The Chinese bench and side table from Coco Design, Rosebery have found their homes. The Coogee apartment stage 1 is almost finished now, just needs a rug and J&J's table to match the one under the window.

Holiday's over

We tried one last time to get the new Moran sofabed installed at Coogee this weekend. The delivery "boys" arrived on cue at 12.00noon but then declared it would need 4 boys to carry it up the 3 flights of stairs. Only 2 boy teams work on weekends. 4 boy teams work Monday to Friday!

I had to disallow Sam the electrician his best service in Sydney award from last week. He "forgot" to turn up on Saturday as arranged to do the electrical work. He had also forgotten to let Vera the painter know she was meant to meet with us too. I rang Vera the painter and felt quite intimidated by her dour Slavonic(?) demeanour.

Anyway our last holiday weekend at Coogee was still great - even more fun now we have found a few of the antique/asian furniture emporiums around Rosebery & Waterloo. We didn't catch a glimpse of Rodney Adler, fresh out of Muswellbrook prison even though a lot of the pundits were predicting he'd visit Gertrude and Alice cafe/bookstore at Bondi (one of our favourite cafes too!)

Our timing was just right this afternoon to see baby Ella drying off after her bath - what a peach! Her smiles light up the world.

We had a big girls day out at Floriade two weeks ago. The big girls had a chance to catch up while Ella, big O and little A stayed very mellow for many hours in the spring sunshine, amongst the tulips

The nation has breathed out a sigh of relief today as "Wimpy" (my mother's favourite nickname for JH) has finally called the election date. At least it will bring an end to the avalanche of thinly veiled political advertising that is jamming the media at the moment (and being funded from the public purse).

The 10 "best ofs" for this week

1. Best meal: Although the Nokia's flash found it hard to cope the atmosphere and food at "The Jimbarin", Avoca Street Randwick was the outright winner for us. Sharing wonderful Indonesian food with a Balinese twist in the outdoor courtyard with Ros, Pete and Rob on my 56th birthday was pretty wonderful. Eggplant with green chilli and anchovy sauce, kangkung, pancakes stuffed with beef and the sea food curry were our favourite dishes.

Rob and I returned to Binh Tranh at Cabramatta on our way home yesterday. The sugar cane prawn rice cakes (number 58) keep calling us back (along with the sticky rice cakes for dessert at the nearby bakery - the best ever).

2. Best walk: In a week where we walked everywhere, walking to the Clovelly Hotel with Ros and Pete was pretty special. We had the deck, the million dollar view and reasonably priced Coronas all to ourselves. I like the way Rob has managed to get my favourite Strylitzia (spelling?) plant into this picture.

3. Best Coffee: Cafe Mado, Auburn Road, Auburn - Turkish coffee and pastries to die for. Fascinating to sit and watch the multicultural passing parade- very strong traditional Muslim presence. Rob and I found amazing Afghan bread and hand made (in Auburn) Turkish delight to take away as souvenirs from our visit to Turkey in Sydney.

4. Best show: The only show in town for us this week was the Saturday matinee performance of Miss Saigon at the Lyric Theatre, Star City Casino. The theatre was packed, with a predominantly Asian audience. We were mesmerised by the show - not a particularly joyous one with its tough subject matter - but quite moving even with all the burlesque sparkle and helicopter special effects.

5. Best movie: We fulfilled my little Sydney apartment living dream of walking to the Randwick Ritz to catch a movie: "The Bourne Ultimatum". I experienced every knock, thump, bash and smash in the small but well set up Ritz theatre number two - here's to seeing many more movies at our "local"!

6. Best ice cream: Just to be sure I had two, both enjoyed sitting on the circular steps down to Coogee Beach as night time descended over the sand and rolling waves - my favourite was a double cone gelati - blood orange and pistachio from Gelatissimo, on Coogee Bay Road.

7. Longest walk: On Monday Rob and I walked to the Sydney Antique Centre, South Dowling Street, Surrey Hills - took us about one and a half hours. At least we can say we've done it. Without internet access it was really hard to locate where all the cool Antique shops are in Sydney. They are definitely not cool at Queen Street Woollahra (which we tried exploring on Tuesday). Way too posh; I felt a complete outsider, too intimidated to even enter most of the shops!

8. Best shopping experience: I spent nearly seven hours at Bondi Junction (by myself) on Wednesday. I had promised Rob I was going into every single shop I fancied. The time just flew and I only went into a couple of shops but I had the luxury of time to try lots of things on. Came home with heaps of parcels - new sunnies, David Lawrence coat, two pairs of jeans, a few Country Road tops; all good fun - lucky me!

Rob and I spent five hours at Ikea, Rhodes near Homebush Bay on Thursday. I swear Rob has been permanently traumatised by this shopping overdose, especially in the hyper controlling and consuming Ikea environment. We were very pleased however with our Expedit TV cabinet. It was delivered (exactly as promised) on Friday after which we spent three hours putting it together. We only made two fairly big mistakes despite Ikea's clear instructions, but they are not too noticeable in the finished product. We enjoyed sitting watching TV on Friday night and admiring our handiwork.

9. Best hardware store: One of Rob's happiest moments this week was when he discovered there is a Mitre 10 hardware store close by, on Clovelly Road at the Randwick end.

10. Best Service in Sydney Award: This has to go to Sam from Accept Electrical who responded to our temporary lighting problem on Thursday night with speed and diligence. We are going to get him to install more power points for us next weekend. He's keen to refer an excellent painter to us - she's female, paints like an artist and "doesn't charge too much". We are keen to talk to her!

Maxie and Rod hosted a big family get together last Friday night 28 September to celebrate Ros and Peter's visit. I came straight from a "hard day at the office" but didn't take long to enter into the celebratory spirit.