Full Term

Sophie is 37 weeks pregnant today. Depending on who you ask this can be considered to be full term, despite our due date still being 18 days away. So we've now reached the four-week window where our baby could be born any day, from today until 10 days after the due date when Soph would be induced.

Ideally Bean will be born very soon, as it is my Great Aunt Edna's 100th birthday party on December 8th and all my family are flying in to attend... but it's in Sydney so Soph and I can't go if she is still pregnant. It would be perfect to be able to take Bean up to the party and show off our new baby to everyone at once! However we probably don't want to freak out Bean too much after just coming home from the hospital, so it would have to be in the next couple of days for it to be possible.

If the baby doesn't arrive early we then have to avoid the 18th December which is Soph's birthday (she doesn't like to share). After that, we're both desperate for our baby to not be born on Christmas Day , so if Soph is still pregnant by that stage she will be 8 days overdue and it will be a rather stressful day! Christmas Eve and Boxing Day aren't too much better, but probably acceptable.

So wish us luck as we navigate the calendar over the next 4 weeks!

Best. Election. Ever.

I had a fantastic time at my parents' election party last night. Every one of the guests was a staunch Labor supporter, which gave the party the same atmosphere as that of a bunch of friends cheering on a sporting team - we clapped and cheered every time Labor was recording a double-digit swing, or a Liberal minister looked to be in trouble. But it was the thought of Little Johnny sitting at home and watching the results go against him - both nationally and in his own electorate - that really made my night! How he must regret not retiring a year or two ago, he could have soaked up the adulation of his followers for a couple of months before handing over to Costello and going out a winner. And if/when Costello lost the election he would have looked even better! Instead he got the quick, embarrassing exit that his selfishness deserved.

At least now I'll be able to be a little more rational about who I vote for in elections. Up until now my loathing for Howard has made my voting a "what would be the worst for the Liberals?" strategy. Now I'll actually compare the policies of all the parties. Not that it makes all that much difference as I'm in the very safe Labor seat of Fraser, but it's the principle that counts! I imagine that Labor will win a second term unless they manage to completely screw up the country, but the election after next could be quite interesting!

Last Hurrah

A few months ago it was announced that Canberra would have a new public holiday on Melbourne Cup Day (the first Tuesday in November). Apparently under the new Workplace Agreement laws an old union family & community day was now illegal, so they needed something to replace it with. Given no one does any work on Melbourne Cup Day anyway it was clearly the best choice!

At about the same time the release date for a game I've really been looking forward to, Hellgate: London was announced as November 2nd.

And Sunday November 4th is my and Sophie's first wedding anniversary.

So it was fairly obvious that this would be the perfect time for one last hedonistic celebration before I get down to the serious business of raising children. I'm going to take Monday off and have a fantastic four days! Here's my plan:

Saturday will be the warm-up day. I'll be sleeping in, doing some shopping, playing some Hellgate, and watching the Arsenal vs Manchester United Premier League game.

Sunday is our anniversary and Soph has planned a brilliant day for us! We'll be sleeping in, having a decadent breakfast of fried food and pancakes and watching DVDs, all before a dinner at the Hotel Kurrajong, where we were married last year.

Monday I am proclaiming Justin Day. I'll be sleeping in, watching TV, movies and sport, playing Hellgate, eating as much junk food as I can get my hands on - I'll be pretty much doing whatever I want for the entire day.

Tuesday I'll be, of course, sleeping in, followed by Hamish's touch football and BBQ event. I'll then watch the big race, and I'll finish off the weekend with my favourite pasta from Zeffereli's.

This will be the last occasion I will be able to devote entire days purely to myself, and I plan to enjoy it as much as possible!