Just Nicky

Here in my bubble December 9, 2006

I feel like I’ve had not much to say of late, which makes the blog a bit boring. But apart from that it’s not a bad thing, it’s actually probably a good thing. It means I don’t really have anything to whinge about.

I sometimes feel like I’m living in a bit of a bubble at the moment. I can go a couple of days without seeing anyone other than Mark & Finn, which is a bit of a change after spending day after day in an office with 100 other people. I don’t mind it at the moment, but I am aware there will come a time when I will have to start spending more time with the world. If only the world weren’t such an annoying place…

Although I’m not saying much there are things on my mind. I’m not turning into a complete vegetable here in my bubble … yet.

I am even more appalled than I thought I would be by the amount of water our washing machine uses. It’s a small machine (5kg capacity) which we bought in the days before they put water ratings on washing machines. We thought it’s power rating was OK, but had no idea what it’s water usage would be and, at the time, didn’t particularly care either. It was 8 years ago and we weren’t in a record breaking drought. Who thought of these things then? When Mark & I were out and about the other day we had a look at the water ratings on the new machines to get a sense of what ours might use. I figured it couldn’t be any worse than a 4kg washer that used 100 litres per wash. I was wrong. It uses more than 120 kg a wash, so Mark’s estimate that we use 1000 litres a week in washing is probably not far off. It makes me reluctant to wash anything.

The fires through Gippsland and the North East are playing on my mind too. There are quite a few places I’ve visited and loved under threat and it’s horrible to think of them being destroyed and the potential loss of life that could occur. The smoke that’s blanketing Melbourne is also a worry. My folks are old and asthmatic. Days like these are not good for them at all. Added to which their air conditioner is stuffed and they’ve procrastinated for too long about replacing it.

And then there’s politics. I really, really hope that the new leadership of the ALP can get the party to pull its collective head out of its arse and win government. There’s no doubting that it’ll be a hard road. Far too many people think that a $4000 baby bonus is good government. But I feel optimistic that Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard are the best hope we’ve had for a long time.

So see I do have a lot to say. I just haven’t said it in a while.