Sunday, November 03, 2002

 
The sleeping pill knocked me out but didn't stop the dreams. Had another nasty one last night. I'm in a big shopping centre. I'm feeling uncomfortable as those things always give me the willies anyway. Carmen and Martin are there. Carmen is talking to several people and they're having a great time, laughing and joking. Martin and I are just kind of hanging around, not knowing what to do. I go up to Carmen's group and try to talk, but I can't. Then they're all laughing at me, I pretend to laugh too to join in, but they just laugh some more and I try to talk but I can't. I turn around to look for Martin and he's just looking like a dork, no use at all. Now my mouth won't open at all and everyone's laughing at me.

I screamed and woke up.

posted by Simon 4:59 pm

 
Another nightmare from last night I've just remembered. It was most unpleasant. I was being chased by Alan Ramsey. He had a big fat rolled up copy of the Saturday Sydney Morning Herald and was obviously intending to inflict harm on my head with it. I'm having trouble getting away - my legs are dragging. Then Mark Latham appears in front of me. At first I'm relieved to see him, but then he too has something in his hand and it's also a big big SMH and he proceeds to belt me around the head and body with it.

I fell down and tried to get up, mindful that Mark might start using his boots. Then I woke up.

I'll take a sleeping pill tonight. Good night.

posted by Simon 12:57 am

Saturday, November 02, 2002

 
Slept poorly last night. An awful dream: I'm running after Carmen for some reason and I just can't get going. I really need to catch her but my legs won't do it for me. I woke up in a sweat.

Consequently I'm feeling out of sorts today.

I phoned Martin just after lunch. He said he doesn't see what all the fuss is about the ASIO raids as the people are "un-Strayn" ["un-Australian" see deciphering Martin) anyway.

You really shouldn't judge Martin. As I've said before it's all about being a true Labor man to him.

I wrote this before, but can't get the archive to work:

In the NSW Bearpit in the early eighties, two men commanded universal respect. One was a Country Party bloke who's name escapes me. I say "Country Party" because he left the party when it became the National Party. The other was Jack Ferguson, Nifty's deputy from the Left, who died last month.

Both these people were admired for the sincerity with which they held their beliefs and the courtesy they showed others. They were seen to have Integrity with a big I.

Jack's sons are, of course, my good friend Martin and his brother Laurie. They too yearn for a golden age when Labor boasted the cream of the working class etc.

I bring all this up because it helps to explain Martin's attitude to things like immigration and Aborigines. He's often said to me that the " .. gest stake yever dwas ting dof Tstray lis" [The biggest mistake we ever made was getting rid of White Australia Policy]

You may call this racism, but to him it is just upholding the values dear to his father and "real" Labor. It also explains his fascination with Pauline Hanson. When she was an MP, and Martin from time to time said things like "Mate, 'd ke to ver blood ood ving" [Mate, I'd like to give her a bloody good serving], it was not just physical: it was a meeting of minds.

As I've said before, I love him like a brother, but he's a worry sometimes.

Don't judge him too harshly, though.

posted by Simon 6:35 pm

Thursday, October 31, 2002

 
Dennis ("oh yes, yes, yes Prime Minister!") Shanahan is at it again.

Let me quote:

The popularity of John Howard means more people are now prepared to see him as the man who acts out the national story, the leader prepared to say what is the national spirit – "tough as tungsten" – and the man who can put an arm around a grieving relative or be bear-hugged by one. It is a side of Howard that has not been appreciated, although it has been present for years.

.... Howard has been publicly hugging for a long time – there was the doctor who lead the treatment of the victims of the Port Arthur massacre, US Secretary of State Colin Powell and the US ambassador to Australia on September 11, Tom Schieffer and, of course, the families of the Bali bombing victims

Someone's got a little crushy-wushy and wants a huggy-wuggy.

posted by Simon 4:39 pm

 
Alan's been quiet lately. Perhaps Mark told him to hold his fire for a while. Or maybe he's preparing the mother of all assaults.

Just between us, dear Diary, I hope Bracksie comes a cropper this November/December. That clown Doyle would make a hopeless Premier, and come the next election a hopeless Liberal Premier would be nice to have around. If we can nobble Bob Carr next March that would be even better.

My mate Martin, who I'm sure I've told you about, is a very good mate indeed. He and his brother Laurie don't look anything alike at all. This is something that you never ever mention when around the Ferguson family.

Martin would never knife me. I think Mark might one day. And Carmen, although never mentioned in those lists of leaders in waiting so favoured by journalists, is just itching to do it. I'm watching you Carmen.

posted by Simon 2:34 pm