Somebody at Shell has been wasting company time looking at my page. But I don't mind, I've got a sneaking suspicion I saw him in Mentone today.

I ate the duck

"With a bit of luck

A duck

Will come into your life

When you are at the peak

Of your great powers,

And your achievement towers

Like a smoking chimney stack,

There'll be a quack

And right there at your feet

A little duck will stand;

She will take you by the hand

And lead you

Like a child with no defence

She will lead you

Into wisdom, joy and innocence

The little duckI wish you luck"

I didn't write it, Michael Leunig did. It was only over breakfast I realised that the whole opening ceremony had been based on the leftiste's duck poem. Hence the Nicholas Webster carrying a duck across his adventures at the MCG. They should have put one of his cartoons across the stage, because I haven't seen them for a while in The Age.

M2006 Kicks Off

Fire from the skyscape, fish on the water and various accoutrements inside the MCG greeted athletes from 71 nations, and viewers across the country and world. Yours truly was not "united by the moment". I sat to watch it with others, and we all agreed there were some pretty crass notes. The first was the new Nikki Webster (could we call him Nicholas?) who skated around town, and ended up being stuck on the makeshift Arts Centre spire. The rescue attemps by bumbling Koalas may have been cute, but had me droning. Nicholas was also lifted up on wires, and hopefully won't succomb to the same kind of tall poppy syndrome that befalled Nikki. Last I heard her record company had dropped her. Actually, I saw the before and after pictures of a shoot she did; you can't hide those freckles.
The second crass event, that really wasn't a surprise, as it got out before Steve Bracks' media ban, was the tram floating down from the stands, sparking its way down. Schoolkids exited and made for the edge of the circle.
Gesticulating during Advance Australia Fair. Oh the shame. The government guidelines state the anthem should not be modified, parodied or otherwise demeaned. The choreographers may have overstepped the mark a little.
The arrival of the athletes and a solid road greeted the Australians as they came out. John Landy as the final baton holder was a decent choice.
The finale, and the cringe factor doubled when Delta rose from the caverns under the stage (couldn't you guys just leave her down there!). One of those soppy, inspirational songs, in the born to try mould. cough hack.

Torvill and Dean Mania

For all of those searching for a performance of Bolero, and there are many of you. Just click here