You have discovered the Aglarond sytem

No posts for a while, apologies but I have recently been overwhelmed by a combination of apathy and ennui, plus I've been playing an old computer game that is comparable to crack in terms of addictability. Ascendancy, it's available as an abandonware download and is liable to take over your life for a week or two.

So what's been happening? The important thing, of course, is that M's preggersness is proceeding smoothly and happily. She's hilariously large now, and the Potentiality is ever more active. Fingers crossed for a smooth couple of months up to and including labour.

Melbourne last weekend for a visit to old mate Mark and his lovely wife Rachel. First time we've caught up for a couple of years, so that was great. Top tip; if in Melbourne, check out the Gin Palace for outrageously priced but utterly lovely spirits. Mixers are a definite optional extra.

Otherwise, the usual. Tolstoy has prioved almost as addicitive as Ascendancy, I'll finish it at the weekend. Nursery now contains an assembled cot and single bed. Had a job interview today for something I won't get. Et cetera, and so on, ad nauseum.

This week sees trips to the movies for Hitch-Hikers and Downfall, the start of ante-natal classes, a trip to the theatre and, oh yes, a tupperware party at our gaff. I intend to hide with a different Mark in the computer room. Nerds v Tupperware, the new gender war.

Humour for thirty-somethings! Here's the great Douglas Adams'efinition of the imaginary word Glasgow, which didn't seem funny when I read it in my teens but now seems unbearably poignant:

"The feeling of infinite sadness engendered when walking through a place filled with happy people fifteen years younger than yourself".

Peep peep peeeeep. xoxox

And the award for best use of the word “yam” in a pop song goes to…

Maybe its just on our iPod, but I’m developing a theory that there are 2 new schools of music rattling along on the crest of the zeitgeist. I’m calling them Heartfelt Irony and PFARR. My case:

The movement: Heartfelt Irony
The tell-tale signs: Yearning balladry, witty lyrics, distinctive singing style, homosexuality, time spent living in New York City
The Godfather: Elton John/Neil Tenant
Other influences: Cole Porter, Gershwin, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Pet Shop Boys
The proponents: Rufus Wainwright, Magnetic Fields, Antony and the Johnsons, Scissor Sisters

The movement: PFARR (Post-Franz Ambitious Rock Renaissance)
The tell-tale signs: Long atmospheric intros, yelpy vocals, prog-esque time changes, Art
The Godfather: David Byrne
Other influences: Franz Ferdinand, Flaming Lips, Joy Division/New Order, Smiths, Radiohead
The proponents: Arcade Fire, Ambulance Ltd, Futureheads, Bloc Party

What do you reckon?

All happy families are the same - they paint nurseries and go on camping trips

Another dull weekend painting the nursery, but thankfully the end is in sight. Next time, we pay some guys to do it, its been a real drag and we've done something of a shoddy job, at least on my bits.

Last weekend was ace, though. We went down to southern New South Wales for a camping trip at a place called Pretty Beach. We had a lovely, dozy time playing games and reading and bushwalking an ting. Michelle's sister Karen and her hubbie Steve were staying at the next beach along with a gang of mates so we also got some boozy socialising in at their gaff.

Photos available! Check out www.flickr.com/photos/tomgoodfellow - and bookmark it, a few more will be added each month.

The Pope died! Geez, I never saw that coming.

Oh, we saw REM last week who were very good, if not quite brilliant. Stipe is very much the Rock God frontman, as is required in the enormodome which we saw them in, and some songs were superb (Orange Crush, The One I Love) but, I dunno, maybe the preposterously priced beer had put me in a bad mood. Still, a fine band.

Some good movies too - Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (stylised and yet heartfelt - clever stuff) and Metallica: Some Kind of Monster (Spinal Tap for real) were the standouts. Looking forward to Star Wars 3 and Hitch-Hikers Guide To The Galaxy - although either or both are potential duds.

I've finally got my reading head back on and am thoroughly enjoying Anna Karenina. It'll all end in tears but, hey, that's life innit?