Insert wit here....

So I did resolve to do this Thang once a week. If not directly to y'all, I did promise myself. And its not like I haven't done stuff this week, its just that I didn't feel it was share worthy. So, my humble apologies for the lack of quality inherent in this week's post. I'd like to say they will get better but I'm not one for making promises I have no control over keeping.

I did make it out to Sydney Festival Opening night this week. Admittedly, I was there mostly for social reasons but I did catch a couple interesting shows. Most notably these guys (since beginning to write this, I have now discovered that "these guys" is actually a "this thing". Look at us! Learning together!) Now everyone loves a swing band but this was more of an experience. I didn't even see the show in its home venue but even on its Festival First Night outdoor stage it smacked of campness! The highlight was the most fabulous of drag queens crooning a swing version of Gaga's Born This Way, while same-sex dance partners lindy-hopped their way around the stage. I tried to find a little video snippet of this to share with you poppets, but alas. I did, however, find this(!) little original arrangement by the Sirens Big Band. No queen needed for this one, although a Fat Controller wouldn't have gone astray.

This week, I also, went and got myself employed. Hurrah, money! Now, I do resent spending money on meaningless jobs but I did get myself work shoes last night. Take care of your feet, my little Squirrels. I had planned to be all adult about it and get myself grown-up looking boots. In the end, however (and to no one's surprise), I ended up finding Le Coq Sportif black leather kicks. Best of both worlds?

Also this week, I have watched the entire oeuvre of The Mighty Boosh. Consequently, this has been on rotation in my brain: If you don't have the patience for the  entire 11 minutes of Old Greg wonderment you are no friend of mine jump to 5:40 for the catchy tune-ness.

And occasionally this:

OMG we're back again...

So it seems my New Year's Resolution for 2012 is to do this thing again because you all seemed to enjoy it so much; and by you, I of course mean, my Mum. To be honest I seemed to enjoy it too. I am feeling nostalgic for sharing my silly little adventures with an anonymous world of people that have too much spare time on their hands. Looking at the time stamp on  my last post, I think this may have been my unspoken 2011 resolution as well but this time Will. Be. Different. This shiz is going to happen in a big, regimented and regular fashion. Feel free to try hold me to that.

To kick the year off I need to tell you all about my Father's Kingdom; or "how Dad is throwing away our inheritance" as my Brother refers to it.
Some time while I was away, my Dad bought himself a caravan park. Then, because of his dislike of about 92% of the population, he made sure it was in the middle of "bum-fuck nowhere" (once again, my brother's turn of phrase). The property is in a tiny place called Trangie  (pronounced Trang-ee not Tran-Gee or Tran-ee) that is about 70 clicks outside of Dubbo. I can hear the buzz of brain bulbs lighting up in all the Australian's reading but for those of you not familiar with the area, Trangie is to Dubbo what Viking is to Edmonton, only much hotter and with kangaroos instead of coyotes.
My travelling companions for the six hour drive, west of Sydney were my brother, his special lady and their fur baby Boo.

Boo, ecstatic to be on the road.

Having already visited Trangie, they were ready to leave after the first 24 hours, except Boo who jumped straight back in the car as soon as he had relieved himself on the park's grass. I, however, was determined to enjoy this slice of true-blue Australia. After all, what's so bad about having nothing to do but sit in the sun doing sweet fuck-all with a beer in your hand?

My Dad, for one, could not be happier with his little slice of heaven (hell?). He spends the morning pottering around, giant dog in tow, mowing lawns or doing laundry. Then he has lunch. Then everyone falls asleep on the couch.

Dad and Boo, who has stolen Gus's couch

Hence, Gus is napping on the floor

Occasionally he has to go "rough someone up" for payment which involves whistle at Gus, his giant dog, to follow and dropping a few f-bombs until the culprits are so bewildered and confused by the tiny Swiss man n front of them, that they pay up right away.
Also the previous owners had a bidet installed. So there's that perk.  Here it is with a frog in it that hopped up the drain pipe.

During our time there, the Trangie horse races were on. Apparently, the busiest day of the year for park. Dad was ever vigilant so that no drunken rednecks snuck their equally drunken red neck friends in under the old man's nose. We even had to put the parks boom gate down (after first testing that it did actually work). While the park was supposedly full, it turned out to be a far less rambunctious day than we had hoped. Oh well, so much for bogan watching.

All in all it was quite the relaxing few days. Although we probably would have murdered each other if it had been for much longer. There is only so many rounds of Hearts a family can play, you know. Also we ran out of beer by the last night so who knows what could have happened if we pressed on.

So, here's to the new year, my little squirrels. May it be a rip-snorter for us all and may it include many adventures.... Otherwise this will get tired fast.