Can you spell cacophony?

Being on holidays (paternity leave?) at the moment, I have taken the opportunity to not bother shaving. In fact, I have more facial hair than I have ever had…

I do take exception to my father’s unkind suggestion that it is just bum-fluff, but it really would be an exaggeration to call it a “beard”.

A funny thing though… A couple of my sons’ friends at school, Star Wars nerds all, have suggested that I look like [Qui-Gon Jinn][1]. You be the judge…

I can see what they are thinking, but it is a bit of a stretch. I’ve got a lot less there, and a lot more of it is grey! In fact the best thing about not being clean-shaven is that I am a lot less likely to get “you’re too young to have seven children!”

So I think I will keep my light sabre in the cupboard and remember that I would much rather be [Dr Who][2] anyway!

[1]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qui_Gon
[2]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_%28Doctor_Who%29

>> The only issue I’ve got with cricket at the moment is that Australian people and administrators and ex-players and ex-coaches, a la John Buchanan, have got to stop the arrogant mindset that Australia is so much better than anybody else

Well said [Shane Warne][1]. Who’s the goose?

[1]: http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22956377-5001023,00.html

We have never much gone in for the local show. Costs too much to get in, costs too much to do anything once you do get in. Granted, some of the displays are interesting, and it doesn’t hurt to show some interest in things agricultural when you live in an agricultural town like Esperance.

For a couple of years I entered my ginger beer in the cooking competitions (which reminds me, I have been meaning to post my recipe) and some of the boys have done craft or cooking and entered that in the kids’ competition.

We were meaning to do it again this year (last year when we didn’t go I told them that we would do it every other year) but it really just seemed like too much effort. Dragging six children around the show (not to mention paying for them all to get in) just to see if anyone got a ribbon just didn’t strike me as a reasonable use of time or effort.

At breakfast in the week before the show when I was trying to work out how I could get out of going, I made what I thought was a throw-away remark: “Why don’t we just have our own show”. To my surprise (and dismay) the boys thought this was a great idea. They thought it was such a great idea that when some friends were over that day (while I was at work thankyou very much) they shared my great idea and invited them over for it!

So Saturday comes and we have our show. Bought a whole pile of meat for the barbie, a bunch of lollies, Pat made some cakes and filled the fridge with the infamous ginger beer. Above mentioned friends came over, I cooked food, kids played (only one trampoline injury), we ate and drank and then out came the colourings-in, the origami, the lego creations and everyone got a certificate.

A great time was had by all (somewhat to my surprise!) and I am sure this will turn out to be an annual event. It has been said to me in the past that children will always have fond memories of family traditions and I am sure this is going to be one.

BTW, click on the photo of the fool to the right to see some photos of the action.