Two thousand and seven...too late?

In the midst of of the maelstrom of living (life being that thing that happens while you make plans) we - being Nelle and Tom and the LITTLE DUDE - wish you all the best for the coming Lunar Year of the Metal Pig.

Baby's got...blue eyes!

Dad's little helper!

Surprise!!!!

The three of us at Christmas

We have been thoroughly recalcitrant of late, not having posted for almost two moons. And of course, we are hours away from leaving the Beautiful Isle for the Great Land Down Under.

So, for the nonce, here are some tidbits of Jude in the last little while...

Smiley little dude!

Sleeping convict baby

The Unbearable Lightness

Naked smiles

The three of us are heading to Australia in a few hours. zendaddy can't wait. Spaces that contain natural things and not just cacophonic human menageries and cement avoidance; civilization and vast, splendid, calling realities; a society that chooses art and cognition as its philosophies; my friends; their children; diving; currawongs; drop bears; unlimited Vegemite...

Ohhhhh...the humanity...

Love to you all. We'll try to be more regular. We plan to begin a fibre-max diet real soon. We are taking our first holiday together as a family, and zendaddy is very pleased to be taking the young feller back home.

Traditionally, Aussie kids are thrown in to the ocean somewhere around the age of 2-3 months, to see if they have the guts to make it back to shore. Jude is a little past the appropriate age, but we'll still perform the traditional dunking. If the kid is strong enough to swim back to the beach, it's worth keeping. Otherwise, try again. You gotta be tough to be fair. Life ain't easy. Ask a convict.

We'll spend time with Nana Billie in Sydney and zendaddy's daddy Ron down on the south coast of New South Wales. Jude may have the chance to be in the same room as all his aunts (Chris, Jo, Caro and Amanda) AT THE SAME TIME!

Cover me in oil and flour and bake me for 40 minutes!

I'm taking the boy into the ocean, and I'm going to show my girl the magic of the Great Southern Land. We are taking a holiday, and that wil include driving south to Melbourne to see Toby and Deanne the Gorgeous Hippies (at least that appellation can fit the Eccles), Peter Roberts the YogiJazzaNova and Nick Kidster, having just relocated from Taipei.

Australia is amongst the best of places - an astounding and beautiful continent, with a great people, and a potentially excellent society. It's not Sweden, but there is much that is....utopian. And the bush, and the beach, and the bush. Being Australian implies knowing that it's a good idea to shake out your boot before putting it on your foot. Which simply implies good sense and respect.

So we wish you all the best for 2007 and the Year of the Metal Pig.

Much love and curiously shaped marzipan...