Later...

Apologies for the lack of posts, but after reading Christine Nixon's bid to blame Rupert Murdoch for her shortcomings, the laughter came on so strong that several minor organs were ruptured.


Actually, that's not entirely true.

Grandfather Bunyip is booked in for a brain scan after his recent stroke, so it looks like the rest of the day will be spent moping in hospital waiting rooms and attending to other family matters.

There is more to say about our former police commissioner. If not tonight, certainly tomorrow.

UPDATE: The medicos report that Grandfather Bunyip's brain is more or less where it should be, working reasonably well and that there are no signs of fresh blood vessels about to burst. He celebrated the news with several glasses of Stone's Green Ginger Wine.

The Unsinkable Grandfather Bunyip

MANY THANKS for the prayers and good wishes, which Grandfather Bunyip credits for what his no-longer-quite-so-worried kin regard as a near-miracle recovery. The old fellow was sent home yesterday with instructions to never, ever take an aspirin, not to drive and, above all, to avoid bending over. He agreed to everything and was set free.

Grandmother Bunyip is also much relieved. She had been fretting that the object of her affection might have lost some of his smarts, but the great survivor put that fear to rest when he looked up from a copy of today’s Phage, shook his head in wonderment at the editorial and asked a very simple question:

“If that witch wants to tax carbon dioxide, why isn’t she putting a tariff on goods from China?” he asked.

It is a riddle that demonstrates why Grandfather Bunyip is unlikely ever to be offered a post in the Gillard cabinet. Slurred speech and all (it is getting better every day), he remains far too smart to meet that lot’s standards. Mind you, so his little dog, whose only talent is licking its bottom and stealing the cat's dinner

Once again, many thanks for readers’ prayers and expressions of concern. There is quite a bit of rehab and speech therapy to come, but the Grey Eminence is very definitely on the road back.