i have to say, it’s quite an adventure moving across to the other side of the Merri Creek. Time seems to move more slowly now because there’s so much newness to absorb.

• “Sparkly Square” is a much more fun than Northcote Plaza;
• Walking distance to miles and miles of parkland – but i’m walking, not jogging yet;
• Hundreds of new restaurants within minutes of home ..
• many more cheap variety stores, with all manner of precious junk (which i am not thinking about buying, at all! Too much junk in my life already, which i still haven’t cleared out.)

Sydney road has a different character from Northcote High Street .. can’t quite describe the difference just yet. Larger range of ethnic diversity? More established cafes and hotels?

But all these new cafes, i need a local tour guide ..
and where are all the musicians madly improvising?

Thank Evans i’m still cycling distance from the Northcote hill.

image thanks to deepwarren at flickr

Huge thanks to the people of Australia for this very fair and timely dismissal. Thank you so much.

Will this mean the end for the politics of fear? What sort of changes will emerge? At the very least, surely we’ll see an end to the mean-spirited social division that characterised the autgoing federal government.

This new government will need help finding its feet, i imagine .. probably a good time to get involved in influencing policies from a grass roots level.

(Image: thanks for time by FABIOLA MEDEIROS at flickr)

One of my favourite movie quotes is Wayne’s buddy Garth scrunching his face and weaselling out the words: “We fear change.” This sums up the Australian body politic for me over the last eleven years.

It is time to push through this fear. Australia i’m asking you to make the change.

My all out favourite quote from this election campaign has been Paul Keating in the Age:
“When things become errant, a wise country adjusts its direction. It understands that it is being granted an appointment with history. On this coming Saturday, this country should take that opportunity by driving a stake through the dark heart of Howard’s reactionary Government.”

My fellow Australians, i urge you to embrace your inner “Buffy the Slayer of Vampyres”. Let’s use our power to clear the undead out of office.

Okay that’s harsh. Calling the leaders of our elected government “the undead” (or rodents) is abusive and inflammatory. If offended, please note that this is intended to be a satirical metaphor for how i perceive their behaviour over the years.

I believe governments have a responsibility to work toward social harmony, not against it.

(images: thanks for sounds of terror by dogwelder and vampire hunting by G2 Pics, both from flickr)