March 13th, 2021Just sayin’…

First up we finally decided to go back to a fortnightly paper. So that was pretty big. We had been holding off until the end of this autumn, then the end of the financial year, but then we just thought: “You know what, let’s just do it.” And we did. And the sun came up the next day and all was well.

I think it is the right move. We will get some semblance of a life back, like being able to head to Cairns for a wedding in May, and with advertising starting to come back, we can make The Local bigger and better again. Well, I would like to think it has always been better, but I do like those big editions of 48 pages or so. And you need a fortnight to read all that.
Then I have been watching the vaccine roll-out. A tad slow I think privately but then in public you have to say how lucky Australia has been and we can just wait quietly for the jab. They have started at Kyneton so that’s good news and then there are apparently quite a few people in regional Australia who won’t be rolling up their sleeves. Which is also good because there will be loads of spare vaccines but bad because we won’t reach that all important herd immunity.

Oddly, as I watched all those photo opportunities for the vaccine I thought how lucky it was that it’s one that goes in your arm and not in your arse. I know all publicity is good publicity but I am not sure how many world leaders would have been happy to take part in those shots. Pardon the pun. “Your Majesty, if you could just lean a little to the right and try not to clench…” Scotty from Marketing, proving he is as ocker as the next bloke, would probably be OK with flashing his bum, as long as Jenny said it was OK. Kyle would agree, always check with the wife.
Then there was the interview. I watched for about an hour and then switched over to Suits. Better acting. Joke! I don’t really have an opinion on Meghan and Harry’s life. It has probably been a rough ride and I am sure their mental health has suffered. I hope they get the help they need and can bunker down for a while in their 8000-square-foot, $US14.65M Californian home and don’t get too caught up on cleaning the nine bedrooms and 16 bathrooms.
Hmmm. But then that race card. That seems a bit too much to swallow. I mean, the Royals can’t be racist, can they? Oh, hang on, Google Prince Philip + gaffes.
1986: “If you stay here much longer you’ll all be slitty-eyed.” To a group of British students during a royal visit to China. 1995: “How do you keep the natives off the booze long enough to pass the test?” To a Scottish driving instructor. 1999: “It looks as if it was put in by an Indian.” Referring to an old-fashioned fuse box in a factory near Edinburgh. 2002: “Still throwing spears?” Question put to an Australian Aborigine during a visit.
A strange week but I am very happy to be a plain old Australian and not a royal in England or America. Time to go and clean the bathroom. Just sayin’…