The death penalty is wrong

I am against the death penalty in all cases.

And yet, Kevin Rudd, I do feel for people who lost family members and friends in the Bali bombings.

The two positions are not mutually exclusive. In fact, for me, the two are inextricably intertwined.

“The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. It violates the right to life. It is irrevocable and can be inflicted on the innocent. It has never been shown to deter crime more effectively than other punishments.” Amnesty International.

10 October is World Day against the Death Penalty. The World Coalition against the Death Penalty will focus on the proposed UN General Assembly resolution for a universal moratorium on executions. You can read more about it and sign the international petition at their website. I’ll be doing it even if Kevin Rudd isn’t.

nothing like a sleeping baby


IMG_1698

Originally uploaded by adelaide writer

This is how he has spent most of the last two days. Asleep in someone’s lap. Which is to make up for the nights which he mostly spends crying. Missing his mum I guess. Goodness only knows how his mum is feeling.

This is probably the totally wrong thing to be doing. Like everyone says ‘don’t let babies sleep in your arms all day’. But we did. Let them sleep in our arms all day. And that seems to have worked out fine.

I’m completely out of my depth. You might have noticed.

Just popped in to say hello, can’t stay long…

Last night, I did this. And today, I wandered around Carlton, having a jolly fine time, but wishing that after I said to the mister last week maybe I should get in touch with some blog people when I’m in Melbourne that I had ignored his ill-informed comments about always hiding behind a computer screen and followed through. Next time, shall we have a cappuccino? My shout.

Now I am exhausted from a week of nerves and too little sleep, because for some reason, I always wake up early after such things. And of course, I stayed up too late watching rubbish on cable television and eating the punnet of strawberries I had bought from the market earlier that day, in anticipation of staying up too late watching rubbish on cable television and wishing I had something to eat.

Also, it’s school holidays here, so I haven’t been on the computer much what with one thing and another. There’s a beagle asleep in the lounge. As for names, let’s just say that my suggestion – Brett Ebert – only got the one vote.

Did you watch Rain Shadow? It was good, wasn’t it? I really did want to watch that thing about the women who went to the abbey, but I’m off to bed. To sleep. Hopefully that beagle won’t be scratching at the laundry door when we finally harden our hearts and banish it for the night.

Back soonish.

UPDATE: I forgot to tell you that I was greeted at the airport by youngest boy saying ‘and he’s done three pisses on the floor’. He’s done a rather large number since then. Is it toxic, dog wee?

Hope there will be change #2 (or: every now and then, you get a little hint you’re on the right track)

So I’m on the corner of South Terrace and Morphett Street, holding my placard

RELEASE AUNG SAN SUU KYI

with my back to the traffic because I am watching my boys and their after-school friend sitting too high in the tree while they eat their apples;

and then I am watching them kicking a ball around the parklands;

and I am waving madly at them when the ball gets too close to the road;

and I am waving madly at them when they chase the ball too far in the other direction;

and I am waving madly at them when they all pile on the littlest boy and squeeze the breath from his lungs;

and I am shouting at them in a very not-silent-vigil way when they taunt the littlest boy;

when my eldest boy joins me for a moment and looks at my placard, then looks at me, then says in a very stern way ‘Mum! I can’t believe you’re advertising‘.

Hope there will be change

I know you don’t come here for the politics, but anyway…

Tomorrow night, demonstration in support of the demonstrators in Myanmar. Have you seen them? Really, how courageous are they. I’m leaving the question mark off that last statement.

So, if you live in Adelaide, you can join the demonstration in support:

Where: Outside the AI office 80 South Terrace, Adelaide
When: 27th September 5pm – 6pm
What: Placarding action

And if you live elsewhere, you can find out where your local demonstration might be held by visiting here.

“Hope there will be change, for all the military have is guns.” Aung San Suu Kyi.

jo from little women


window

Originally uploaded by adelaide writer

So, here’s my very own garret (sp?), complete with skylight. Goodness knows what the previous owners used the dark, airless box for before. My companion is a present from one of the mister’s aunties. In the tradition of all good aunties, she only visits when she is loaded with presents. She’s generally known as Aunty Christmas, and I’ll let your imagination do the rest of the work.

All the girls got one of these Santas, after we all admired Aunty Christmas’s own one. As I said to the mister ‘my silence was misinterpreted’. But we have got quite used to having the old fella around now, and he is a good companion all year round.

My eldest boy is now slightly taller than Santa and soon my youngest will be five. I’ll let your imagination do the rest of that work too.

Preliminary final


footy parkOriginally uploaded by adelaide writer

This is a view from where my dad sits to watch the footy at footy park (applying ABC editorial standards just for a moment here). I took it a few minutes before the only game I’ve been to see this year. And I’m not going today – it costs too much, and there’s too much to do, although we can’t collect the puppy after all which has made the weekend slightly less hectic.

I’ve been wearing my port power jumper for the last three days (I don’t have that many clothes). People ask ‘how do you think we’ll go’ and it always takes me by surprise. As I said to the mister and my dad the other night ‘I wear the jumper with irony, but no one understands’. They mocked me. As they very often do.

I like the simplicity of football. I like that I can not like the crows for no reason at all except that I go for port. I don’t have to analyse it, or explain it, or go to my acupuncturist and answer questions about it. I guess if I did think about it, that would also be what I don’t like. But we all have our inconsistencies.

My dad taught me that.