The Loaded Dog, what a fine place for singing and what a great audience! Thanks to Sandra for keeping this place together and inviting us to sing; we're now sporting her little soft sculptures of loaded dogs, each tenderly carrying a stick of dynamite (how do we get these beasties through customs?).

One of our squigglies by the way, a bright green one, has slithered off and found a new host; it's nice to think that hemispheric balance has been restored; I don't think there has been a squiggly in Sydney since the end of the Cretacious Period. Of course, you really need a breeding pair to re-establish them here, but maybe the green one is pregnant.

From what I heard sung by the Shiny Bums, I had a lot of favorites. "The Office Fridge" compares well to Lou and Peter Barryman's "When Did We Have Saurcrout(sic)" and I particularly liked "Filing." We didn't have a clue about particular targets in their songs, but the commentary/sentiment was universal. "When the Auditors Come Marching in" could prove quite popular back home, but I'm not sure if we have anyone in office who rises (?) to the level of a "John Howard," whomever he is.

Simon is clearly a master of outrageous parodies, a joy to watch as well as listen to. Too bad he's not going to be at this afternoon's BBQ. We almost converted our whole set into warped songs in response, but wisely decided to be more responsible. We did get much needed help from the collective chorus on "Dead Dog Cider" which some day will be returned in its new arrangement to the dark smokey pub in Bristol, UK, where we first heard it; hope they enjoy the new chorus as well.

Brett did a fine job of leading "Northwest Passage." Good for you, big fella!

Now we have to figure out how we're getting to that BBQ in Earlwood. There's the 412 Campsie bus which passes by here somewhere and goes within a block of John and JennyO's door. Or we could pool for a taxi. We could walk but even Bob Bolton might have serious reservations about attempting that. By the way are bottle shops open on Sunday?

Well, it's off to breakfast!

Charley Noble, having a good time and greedy for more