OXFORD: “Watch me make 69 reasons to extend one fistic phenotype into Richard Dawkins’ improbable ego!” says a blindly delusional Payton L. Inkletter.

Be all that as it may, meanwhile:

'In other news…'

26^th March 2010

Friday: My plans to work with Bob today were scuttled by my state of health, specifically weariness that would have made driving unsafe; so I slept till well into the afternoon, but still felt I had a long way to go towards feeling well rested when I finally surfaced.

We had something very nice to look forward to, namely, the Chocsons were joining us and The Dear Leader for dinner. They arrived towards half six, and didn't leave till after one a.m., giving us all, as is always the case, a thoroughly enjoyable evening. They are rolled gold friends. As well as Janny's delicious meal, copious quantities of chocolate and cocoa drinks went west, predominantly courtesy of the best efforts of we two younger bucks, oiling the conviviality of the occasion most effectively.

Back from the future update 1: I had the foresight to record Lateline with Windows Media Center on the computer, and late Saturday evening got to watch it: The (Leigh) Sales Graph: Looking a tad nautical with a horizontally dark striped white camisole under a dark jacket, Ms Sales' appearance was faultless, bedecked with minimalist jewellery, subtle-effect make-up, and becoming hairstyle. She had for the regular Friday night fight club interview Liberal Senator George Brandis and Labor backbencher Maxine McKew, the male gendered polly bedecked smartly and conservatively in a dark striped suit, lightly mauve shaded or grey shirt, and maroon with white dots tie, the female gendered polly and former legendary Lateline host and Prime Minister killer bedecked simply as well also smartly in a dark jacket and white high necked blouse, subtle effect make-up and loose flaring hair style finishing the decorations.

As mostly per usual with these sparring pairings, the polarised positions of the pollies was as predictable as the behaviour of a Methodist parson at a parishioner's Sunday roast, but let me note that Ms McKew has lost none of her articulateness honed over many years on this very program, and Mr Brandis kept a professionally controlled delivery, even if the content was unbelievable in places.

For example, he said "… I thought Tony Abbott won the debate hands down" referring to last Monday's health debate with the Prime Minister; I couldn't agree with that, nor did most; Mr Abbott lost it as far as I was concerned when he let rip with that over the top triple harmony laugh.

I would not like to have to defend the behaviour of Barnaby Joyce in a ministerial position, shadow or otherwise, as Mr Brandis chose to do after Ms Sales' raising of the matter of his removal as Finance spokesman in Mr Abbott's shadow cabinet reshuffle of yesterday. Loose cannons like Mr Joyce would be better suited to such positions in developing and illiterate nations' governments, but in Australia's case, keep him away from official portfolio podiums; his opinions, some of which are rather valuable and insightful, are better left to stir up the pot behind the scenes, not in front of the prime time sound byte seeking cameras. Mr Abbott's judgment is worth questioning regarding his placing Mr Joyce in such high public profile positions.

Ms Sales did not have to work very hard to keep these two pollies behaving themselves, for they kept themselves well in check, to their credit.

Thank heavens Stephen Long was next! The (Stephen) Long and Short of It: My word, top marks to Mr Long's hairstylist off camera for taming his freshly tousled curls that his mother insists on messing up every chance she gets, as well as to his own snazzy dress sense tonight, looking expensive in a dark suit and blue shaded striped shirt combo, set off with a glossy and textured light pink tie.

His first subject that Ms Sales tossed to him was Barack Obama's next big economics move, a plan to restructure finance for myriads of beleaguered home owners, followed by Germany's dictation, within the EU, of the terms of Greece's bailout.

As always, it was a pleasure to listen to Mr Long's opinions and analysis.

Back from the future update 2: I learnt 'tomorrow' – Saturday – that my Aunt Pat, 83, died yesterday, in Bayswater, not too far from here. She has been widowed many years now to my maternal blood uncle, Ernest, or 'Snow'. Had I been well today, I had been planning, since Monday, when Mum told me she was home to die from a long stay in hospital, to visit her on the way to Bob's to take him swimming. Such is the nature of the march of mortality: time seals things, and waits for no man.

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