I know I said yesterday that I'm something of a cricketing tragic where Steve Waugh is concerned, but this is ridiculous. The first story on a television news update I watched a few minutes ago was that 'Waugh's farewell was in jeopardy because he was hit on the elbow with a ball and had to leave the field.' The second item was the earthquake in ( Read more... )

Well, the non-festive season has again been negotiated more or less successfully. I'm glad that other people are celebrating, and I always wish my friends the very best for the holidays, but I tend to feel like I'm drowning in turkey recipes and Christmas carols and decorations and table settings - there's almost no way to escape ( Read more... )

I'm Loz, and I like good cheese, classical music, the German language and when Arsenal wins.

Borrowed from thistlerose: ( 2003 in Review )

My back's been playing up again, so I haven't been able to be on-line much. However, I've had a rather nice few days, so I wanted to mention them.

( Wednesday )

I'm not usually terribly fond of modern opera, but the Houston Grand Opera production of The Little Prince that's currently on the radio is surprisingly pleasant listening. Or maybe that's because Teddy Tahu Rhodes is one of the singers. He's a) got an excellent voice, and b) rather pleasant on the eyes. Having seen him wearing not very much in Don ( Read more... )

For everyone who's ever trembled at a truly vile piece of fanfiction smut...check this out.

Bad Sex in Fiction Awards

Nominees for the award this year included Rod Liddle for Too Beautiful for You"She came with the exhilarating whoops and pant-hoots of a troop of Rhesus monkeys, which was flattering, if alarming ( Read more... )

Today was my first day out since I hurt my back, and I'm very, very tired. Negotiating Sydney's streets on a rainy day with a walking stick is not easy. Many thanks go to the nice lady who offered to carry my basket of books up the stairs at Abbey's; to the other lady who didn't mind when I clumsily knocked over her sugar bowl at David Jones; and ( Read more... )

I've had grand plans to post a few things recently, but unfortunately I've been laid low by a nerve/disc inflammation in my back. I'm now able to hobble around with a walking stick, but I can't sit still for too long ( Read more... )

I've just finished reading Don Watson's Death Sentence, about the decay of public language. You have to applaud someone who is willing to say that "John Howard's Dear Fellow Australian letter might have been been written by Harold the shopkeeper in 'Neighbours': if ever there was a chap to say Alert but not alarmed, it is Harold" (page 159 ( Read more... )

Obviously I should have invested in one of those voodoo dolls! The pundits clearly knew their stuff - it didn't matter about the other fourteen men on the field, because the English victory was indeed masterminded by that single player, Mr Kicks-Like-A-Bloody-Machine Wilkinson ( Read more... )