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• This is good value for taxes. "Things Arkady is only allowed to do for a living." I still have "Figaro" stuck in my head.

• NotN: Major Christian Party push for European Parliament; "Instant courts" to be established; The sound of "found": Bob Hope; MPs included in latest list of Britain’s endangered birds.

Rollercoaster week and no mistake. As of Thursday, I have joined the Great Recession! Three months' payoff (so I can still technically put "to present" on my CV —must get it tarted up to usability today — email for a copy) and a whole bunch of things I suddenly don't have to think about any more. Getting whoring clothes (suit, white shirts, tie) in order, ready to hit the streets and shake dat ass. p.s.: FUCK!!!

arkady and Freda are off to Brighton today and tomorrow to visit cavalorn and lucybond. redcountess is sorting clothes and I'm killing the laundry pile. Also took the pile of fungus-rotted toilet floor out to the bin at last. Friday Arkady and I attacked the kitchen and Saturday the lounge. naughtypixie dropped off a pile of surplus bookshelves (and an air purifier and a 19" swivelling LCD monitor) this afternoon, so we'll have a bit more house-rebuilding to do once we have Liz all organised for her month visiting Australia, flying out on Wednesday evening. The older teenager is particularly looking forward to more room in her cave when her mother's books can be put on shelves rather than in boxes. She is also delighting in her father's old gaming rig now being her new gaming rig, less so in it running Windows 7, which in the transition from beta to RC appears to have acquired Vista's remarkably lardy arse. Arkady has switched to the mirrors G4 from Timmie and Juliann and the 22" Cinema Display and is really rather enjoying it.

This weather is exactly like my childhood in Perth. Too hot, sun too bright, suburbanites walking the streets in nearly nothing and flipflops. Too hot to move, too hot to think. Can hardly believe it's nearly eight already. It's just the time of year for a nice holiday, though (modulo the lack of ongoing income), so I welcome invitations to socialise. Drinks are on you, okay.