The bits of stuff that fall in the cracks between Life, Music and outrageous fortune.         December   Close this window to return to Mike Rudd & Bill Putt's Stop Press   Wee Michael and Geoff carving Xmas Day starts badly - then there was Boxing Day.. 26.12.08 - I'd picked Chris up from Vermont St on Xmas Eve and we popped up to see the Rudds' in Warrandyte and had a lovely pre-Xmas meal. Back at home I hadn't bothered to erect the pitiful plastic tree - the Xmas lights carked a couple of years ago and it never seems to impress Chris much, and anyway we were going to the McClatchys' for lunch and they'd no doubt have a splendid tree. It was as we were leaving for the McClatchys' I noticed the water seeping from our fence line into the gutter and down the street towards the Xmas revellers already gathering in the park. Chris' arrival had prompted unusual activity in the shower and laundry dept and overloaded the bloody sewer once again! I was instantly depressed - but fortunately I'd regained my equilibrium by the time we got to Heathmont and enjoyed a traditional day of fun and laughter and over-eating. (pic) I dropped Chris back at Vermont St last night, so as not to strain the drainage, and picked him up again this morning and we whistled out to Mornington to visit Mary's sister Paula's family. On the way I uncharacteristically volunteered to pick up three café lattés and promptly spilled them in the van, which now smells like yer standard crappy roadhouse. (Is there another kind?) Our stay in Mornington was always going to be brief as we had a date back at the Sullivans' at 1.00 to demolish the remnants of the Xmas dinner - not to mention fall asleep in front of the telly watching the first day of the Boxing Day test. All this was accomplished satisfactorily and I have to thank the Rudds, the McClatchys and the Sullivans for allowing Chris and me to feel as though we were a part of their families. Their generosity is a tonic after all the commercial hype and the angst-ridden build up to this so-called season of giving.     Mother Christmas news 23.12.08 - What with my Dell finally giving up the ghost and my haemorrhagic posterior vitreous detachment issues, (and now losing part of a tooth and all of the filling at Chris' end of year party), this Chrissie has been even more stressful than usual - and we ain't even there yet! So I was relieved to hear from Mum that her champers had arrived in time and intact. I spoke to her just a couple of days ago and she mentioned that she'd got her pic in the local paper - and now she's just sent me the evidence. (pic) I'm very proud of her - she is the epitome of a modern woman!     1) Dick plays silly buggers on home turf 2) Tram lady snoozes Another Friday lunch with Dick 19.12.08 - I slipped into town today on the No.70 tram and met up with Dick in the Rialto foyer. We adjourned to Lucias, which we immediately regretted because it was obvious the staff was under pressure, and indeed it transpired our risottos struggled to qualify as second rate. Nonetheless we entertained ourselves hugely with Ruddy ripostes, before retiring to the Rialto for cups o' tea. (pic 1) On the way home I noticed a fellow trammer apparently gazing enraptured at some distant galaxy (pic 2) and wondered if she was going to miss, or already had missed her stop. What is the etiquette in situations like this?   Mike and Chris are a handsome couple of blokes.. Chris celebrates turning 41 6.12.08 - Chris' actual birthday was on Thursday, but we decided that today would be a better day to celebrate. I met Chris and the Vermont St crew at La Porchetta in Doncaster at 1.00, and Chris seemed to be delighted with his DVD (The Beatles' Help movie), which I shall naturally borrow at some stage. I think La Porchetta have bettered Sofia's in the blanding out dept. - I didn't think it was possible - but it all went down just the same. The cake (home page) tasted as good as it looked and Chris poured on the conversational charm, which is as big a thank you as you'd ever want from Chris. While Christmas anxiety is palpable on the streets of Camberwell, this was a refreshingly meaningful family interlude.   My hero finds his quantum of solace in my drains The plumber cometh 5.12.08 - By last weekend I knew I had to make a decision. It was perfectly obvious that the sewer had blocked again, and if I felt I really needed an extension before seriously looking for another place to live, I was going to have to do something about it pretty quickly. I didn't need to consult my landlords - they've made it clear they're not interested in spending any more on maintaining the place - so it was simply a question of ringing up (the same) plumbers first thing on Monday and hoping for the best. The bloke that eventually arrived looked experienced enough and got to work with the organ grinder straight away. It was all over in a few minutes. Secret bloody women's business again (vintage). I live on - temporarily...     back to the top