It’s funny - I’ve been to Perth what I consider heaps of times, but the most recent trip was 18 months ago. Some observations include that Perth is hot, but it’s bearable inside (unlike Brisbane) even without airconditioning 24/7. There are flies here.

Had a good flight over, secured an upgrade to business class on Tuesday, so the flight was infinitely more bearable. For Christmas, I’d scored a copy of Michael Crichton’s new book, Prey, which I read 350 pages of on the way over. Yes, it’s quite the page turner.

Christmas here was very boozy. Very boozy. We started with supercharged beers (beer with a shot of vodka) with Sushi for lunch, more supercharged beers all day, and T-Bone and chips for dinner.

Eaten soooo much junk food, but having a great time. I hope everyone else is too!

ok ok ok

As planned, tonight at my place, the Learning to Play Puerto Rico seminar. We’ll order pizza or something equally non-stressy, but because of the value of the game, and the fact that it’s owned by Edward, food will have to be finished before we get the game out.

My place, anytime after 6pm, with a perceived dinner at around 6:30pm.

Ok, everyone, that’s it … I’m so close to holidays I can TASTE it. Seriously.

Callun’s graduation ceremony last night. I’m tempted to start wearing a robe and a pointed hat. Which reminds me that this is a good laugh.

I hope everyone has a great christmas and a safe new year. I’ll be in Perth for both of these events, but I’ll be thinking of you all from afar.

Last night was the pseudo family night, due to my laziness bailing me out of Tuesday’s festivities. I slept again in the most uncomfortable guest bed ever, and drove mum to work this morning.

Woo has his graducation ceremony today, which is all pretty exciting. I’m picking Mum up from work and going straight there, via dinner at M&D’s again.

Glenn’s “Festivus for the Rest of Us” sounds like it is going to be a real hoot … get yourself “in” on that soon.

Second last day of work this year, and it’s already half over. Woo hoo!

You won’t believe it … I just found out that work is closed for the Christmas break next week. How unbelievably awesome is that?

Anyway, so yesterday I lost my mobile phone, but I found it this morning. I’d also lost my watch recently, but found that this morning too. So today is shaping up to be a good kind of day.

I’m leaving work early-ish today for a doctor’s appointment, I think I have to get ECGs and blood tests again to make sure I’m not dying as a result of taking experimental drugs. I quite like them - I’m doing much better than I was.

Back to work …

The planets have aligned in such a way that Lara and I have a relatively free weekend, but a couple of things to celebrate - Alan/Stavros’ birthday, Lara’s last day at work for an indefinite length of time, and the general arrival of Christmas holidays.

With this in mind, I’m proposing either a lunch or dinner get-together sometime this coming weekend. Sounds a bit vague doesn’t it? There’s still a few days to get this thing together, so let me know (either by comments or e-mail) whether you are interested and when you are free this weekend.

The restaurant will probably be Vietnamese (or similar) where we buy a heap of dishes and pass them around.

This morning, I agreed to a 10% pay cut.

This has happened every year at the end of the year … we run out of money, and I’m faced with the decision of being unemployed over the new year break, or taking a cut and hoping to get it back when things look better.

I’ve also been offered equity in the company to secure my loyalty, but I haven’t taken that up as yet. I’m not sure if I want it.

In other news, Survivor was pretty good, and Lill was pretty stupid. I taped the reunion thing and if I remember to take it to M&D’s tonight, Mum and I will watch it as part of family night.

That’s all … hope you have a good one.

Well the weekend went pretty much as expected. Crazy hot though.

Saturday spent the day lazing about before heading to Rob and Nadia’s for their christmas party. Headed home at 5pm to prepare the house and foodstuffs for guests that evening. Leyton piked, so it was just Bek, Brett, Blacky and me, and by the time I got home, everyone was already there. They swam while I chopped vegetables.

24 is fantastic. Best show ever.

Sunday slept in and then watched the cricket pretty much all day in the aircon. Survivor was on, and it was disappointing. Burton made a BIG mistake choosing John to go away for the reward challenge.

Can’t wait for the Survivor finale tonight.

Good morning, one and all. I feel pretty good today, so even though Glenn posted a great entry yesterday, I’m going to knock it from the top of the pile. Sorry, Glenn, but that’s just the way things are.

Ok, tonight I’m going to see Spirit of Christmas at QPAC. Let me say “bah humbug” before any of you get the wrong idea … it was dad’s idea and he bought the ticket so mum had someone to go with and blah blah blah. And the fact that I’m not going to be home for christmas this year helped guilt me into agreeing to go. :tongue:

Now, with that in mind, I think I’ll sit out the markets tomorrow. I can hear people sharply intaking their breath, so I’ll explain: the last markets of the year is usually crazy with people. And there’s often nothing that you want left, if you know what I’m saying. Besides, I will’ve been out the night before, and Rob and Nadia are having a christmas party on Saturday afternoon, and then I’m having my 24-fest that evening … it’s going to be a big enough day without the markets, so I’m sitting them out. Or sleeping them out, as the case may be.

Which brings me to the 24 reminder on Saturday night. The invitation includes dinner, but I’m still trying to decide what to cook. Satay chicken is looking like a winner at this stage. What time did I initially say? I forget. I think it was 6:30pm. Let’s say that you can arrive between 6pm and 6:30pm, hopefully dinner will be served at 6:30pm, and then we can get into it. Projector is officially borrowed, so it’ll be a night of bigscreen goodness. Can someone else bring desert? I’m thinking that if Leyton could bring drinks and Bek could bring desert, we’d have an easy night for all concerned.

Sunday I have nothing doing. Obviously I’m open to suggestions - I’ll still have the projector, and I have a new episode of The Simple Life. Maybe I’ll just spend all day playing the new Prince of Persia … as you can see, Sunday is completely open.