Does anybody read Bob Ellis any more? If they don't, they should. This on Malcolm Turnbull and this on Tony Abbot stand as landmark diagnoses of the Liberals, notwithstanding his irrestible itch for over-egging the rhetorical custard.

i wanted to go and sit by merri creek
and weep
'cause that's what yer supposed to do
right?
but there were signs
and fences
and people on bikes
so i left the trickling thing behind
and headed south
where i found all manner
of things.

Was it the shock of suddenly being outside for the first time, today? I'm not sure. But it was very quiet. Cars purred by softly on the main road. Even passing aircraft seemed a bit further away, a bit less harsh. The sun beat down on the concrete under my feet. I wouldn't be out for long.

On returning, I poked around in the cellar at our sump full of water. The cat danced around the hole in the floor above me, wondering what I was doing, and how he could get down to investigate. I drained as much as I could, wondering how a whole room could stay so damp on a day so hot and dry outside.

The day after we moved in, I could hear the sounds of people playing sport in the park out the back - soccer perhaps, I didn't look. It took me back to growing up in the sprawl of the south-eastern suburbs where there was an oval a couple of streets away. On a lazy weekend you'd hear the same background sound occasionally punctuated by an air horn. And so, while sport's never really been my scene, there's something about this particular situation that makes me feel like I'm at home.

i checked on our new house on the way home, as you do, especially when it's so close. at the exact same moment, the current owners came home from work. as they opened the gate and walked to the door, i wondered - should i say hello? but no. coincidences are only significant because we make them so. so without breaking my step i left them alone, wished them well, and kept walking. they're starting a new life in a new town. we'll be starting a new life in the same part of town. things change, things remain the same. as i turned down a main(ish) road, i found myself smiling at strangers. this is my town. this is my part of town. it has been. it will remain so. it behooves me to be friendly. after all, what have i got to lose?