Thursday, April 26, 2012

Apologies for Bad Manners

THERE WAS some trouble with the computer, that was to start with, or more correctly, that was the second of the day’s trials, because the round of golf, which had not gone well at all, concluded on a worse note with a fit of sweating and coughing.  The machine required $100 and two days to fix, and good manners really should have obliged a little post by way of explanation. Apologies for its non-appearance, but there were family matters in need of attention.

Young Master Bunyip has been moving house and the opportunity to drive a biggish truck and bark orders at young people carrying furniture was too tempting. By the time he was settled, several days had passed since the last post, but then author David Foster intervened. He is not everyone’s tastes -- the fascination with castration makes you wonder – but there is so much fun in his books, you forgive Foster for the many moments when you cannot be sure if he is engaging in satire or succumbing to one of the impulses that upset this ABC reviewer. Six books later, the Professor still isn’t sure.

The obstacle now blocking a return to full-strength posting is a promise of assistance given long ago to a friend. It has now come due, so the next month or so will see much time away from the Billabong. There will be a few posts over the weeks to come, but they will not be regular, and their appearance will be governed more by the rural availability of a sound computer connection than a desire to hold forth. By June things should be back to normal.

33 comments:

  1. No apologies needed. Just to know you are OK is all that is required!
    You have been missed but everyone should understand there is life beyond one's computer.

    JMH

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  2. Welcome back. I thought you might have overdone the celebrations after the Bulldogs beat the Mighty Demons.

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  3. From bushland (or perhaps, riverine) myth to national legend. A Bunyip adopts radio-silence for a few days, and the readers are sending get-well cards! For me, I am pleased to see the return of Prof Bunyip. Apology accepted: even a professorial Bunyip has real life obligations to attend to. But maybe you could pass the hat for a reliable computer.

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    1. My sentiments, almost, entirely. Were the hat to pass my way I would be happier to think my cuppla quids would see their way towards the refurbishment of the Billabong cellar.

      Cheers Proff !

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  4. Prof. Please don't feel that you need to apologise. We really shouldn't have been so inquisitive.
    It's good to have new that you are well.
    And we look forward to more missives from Billabong in due course. In the mean time, as AB writes, patience is the order of the day

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  5. Am glad you're well and will continue to blog. I've missed you. xx

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  6. Well, the blogosphere has been abuzz with worry about a certain Professorial Bunyip, so it's good you finally posted!

    Check out Catallaxy/Bolt's blog for information on an outing... so funny.

    Take care, Prof.

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  7. glad to see you're well, Mr Bunyip.

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  8. Steve D of Glen WaverleyApril 26, 2012 at 10:54 AM

    Thanks for the explanation. It helps with the withdrawal symptoms (slightly).

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  9. Welcome back Prof, was just worried someone had drained the billabong.

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  10. I thought Slipper might have tempted you out of your Bunyip hole but you didn't take the bait.

    Good to see you up your wit is sorely missed in these trying times.

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    1. Thanks for your concern, Dakingisdead, but if you could avoid mentioning my Bunyip hole and Peter Slipper in the same sentence, that would be appreciated.

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    2. So much then for a week's stockpile of witticisms ...

      Cheers

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  11. I hadn't realised so many others felt the same as I had by your absence. You were missed, but quite understandably.

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  12. That's a relief. Panic was setting in with the thought of your early demise.

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  13. Speculations most horrible in your absence. Was The Bunyip hanging from meat hooks in the Fink Clink, gonads wired up to Mrs Milne's olde wind farm? Even worse: as a small concession, were his feet allowed to dangle in a tank of water, with ten pound trout nibbling at his toes?

    None of the above thankfully, and rightful order is restored in the blogosphere..

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  14. Just relieved to hear you're well, Professor. Fears were you'd been bundled into an unmarked van in a back alley of the Billabong.

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  15. Good tou are back ,missed your blogs.
    I had visions of you in a dark roombeing brainwashed by jooliar ,browmie and swannie with shortass conroyman providing the muscle. ( mostly in their heads ) .thankfullythat didnt happeh but keep a wary eye out as the election of destruction nears.anything for a win the alp motto.Keep up the good work Prof you are respected more than the entire
    Liebor pardy

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  16. Our superannuated chook, the last of her tribe, waits impatiently at the back door for her morning rations and gives me a pecking when I'm late. That's how it feels, Prof., when we don't get our daily rationalisms from you. Thank God you're back!

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  17. Another reader who was missing your biting insights. Glad all is well and you have not been spirited away in an attempt to keep your criticisms of the Mordy-Litigus tribe from your appreciative and grateful readership. Barring Numbers, of course.

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    1. "Barring Numbers, of course"
      What a good idea!

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  18. Thank goodness! I thought the secret free speech police had got you or you were drowning at the 19th or something! Go for it Prof, and we will see you when we see you.

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  19. Oh thank God you're here even though it's only for a little while. Have missed you dreadfully, my fur has lost its lustre and I've been taking it out on Brutus the dog. All is now in order once more. Thank you Professor

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  20. Even I missed you.

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  21. Ah, Professor, you are a gem. I thank God for your continued good health, and eagerly await your posts.

    The well wishes from your well wishers are one of the reasons I love teh intermanawebz; real communities can and do form and grow. Your little billabong is one such oasis in a desert of inanity.

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  22. Not to worry, Professor. Thank goodness you're ok, and life is chugging along nicely. I hope you get a few good games of golf in to make up for the not-so-good game of last week. Cheers!

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  23. Nice to see you back. Was worried for you.

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  24. Good to see you back, will enjoy whatever pieces you put up in the next few months.

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  25. Although much missed, I've always admired your attitude to blogging, Professor. A nice day and you go on a picnic, or play a round of golf. That's the way to live your life. It's called balance. And it's the picnic on a sunny day you're going to think about when your time's almost up, not the latest antics of this squalid Government. Good onya!

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  26. You bastard. I just snorted coffee through my nose!

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  27. Elizabeth (Lizzie) B.April 28, 2012 at 9:23 PM

    A little late myself Prof with the good tidings of your return to form, albeit on notice that till June the runs will be few.

    For the last three days I have been headed in the company of the Hairy Ape to Melbourne town, down the coastal road in an overladen turbo-charger containing my shoe collection and a cat plus a few thousand other bits and pieces I would not entrust to removalists, including most of my books. One of the great drives of Australia, and the road is more than reasonable these days. Closer and closer to Billabong territory I thought, and then lo and behold, there it was. A sign to a place called Bunyip!! We must be on the right track, I thought, and we headed to the town of Mornington and then to Brighton where we rest, , noticing on the way how many people were distressed by the greenery that says they are not allowed to have views of the bay; the bayside is totally littered with dead and dying flora, unwelcome council plantings. Why do greenie councils make criminals out of people merely wanting to maintain some semblance of their view? Dob 'em in for twenty thousand dollars said the Stazi signs. Surely some more reasonable solution could be found?

    Will come here when I can Prof, as I am very rushed lately.

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