OCTOBER / SEPTEMBER 2002
Wednesday 30 October 2002
It's TOO HOT.  Before the day really heats up, I execute my previously mentioned plan to sneak up on those pointy-headed, squeaky-winged birdies and scare the living daylights out of them. 

After this successful mission, decide to check out under the house again to see if anything has changed since last time.  Good way to stay out of the heat too.  Nope, all is the same.

Later: Man from next door pops his head over the fence and asks what I was barking at earlier.   "Not the birds, I hope".  While I'm sitting there contemplating whether to surprise him by speaking or just continue as a normal non-speaking dog, he continues - "you've been under the house again too, haven't you?".  Have you noticed that seemingly sane humans carry on the most absurd one-sided conversations with animals especially when they aren't expecting an answer?

Hmm, guess the cobwebs and dust gave me away on the under-the-house excursion, not that it's off limits or anything.  He offers to clean me up . . . *A PAT SESSION!* YESSS!!!!

Tuesday 29 October 2002
Hmm, I've become a bit obsessed with listening to Tim Hall's music.  Find myself humming his songs and they go round and round in my head.  During our rest time before tonight's show, I was sitting under the bed, humming away and an upside down head appears at the side of the bed. . . "would you please go and tunelessly hum in some other part of the house?".  No prizes for guessing who that was.

In a fit of Beagle Naughtiness, as I leave the room I pick up one of her socks, determining to hide it somewhere interesting.  A voice says "I saw that, now put it back where you found it".  Oh well.

Monday 28 October 2002
Having slept all day, Mistress Hellen is now bright as a button in the middle of the night.  She suggests a game of tiddlywinks - I hide under her bed until she gives up and sleeps again.  I thought we'd agreed to no more tiddlywinks (a dangerous game in this household) now that the computer was working again.

In the afternoon John from the band Parker rings.  He's going to send their latest music to me.  I played them a few weeks ago on the show.

Sunday 27 October 2002  (back to top)
Shared a muffin for breakfast.  Mistress Hellen is off colour today.  She spent most of the day asleep - maybe it’s some sort of Springwood fever.  Michael had phoned and said he'd been asleep most of yesterday.  Maybe they both caught the same bug.

Sat at Command and Observation Post 2 in the front room, watched the birdies and listened to various new music we’ve accumulated, including Tim Hall’s album and enjoyed memories of last night.  Must go & see him again.
Also kept an ear out for Mistress H sneaking up on me.  Don't want a repeat of the incident the other day.

Saturday 26 October 2002
Spend some of the afternoon working on creating new web pages just to see what I can achieve.  I'm really enjoying this creativeness.  Settle for an afternoon nap and when we wake, Mistress Hellen announced we could have muffins for breakfast.  I remind her that it’s 6:30pm, not am and that we’re going to see Tim Hall and Sarah Blasko perform.

Off we go into the city for Sarah and Tim.  Become horribly lost, catch sight of our destination but are swept along in the traffic and end up kilometres away.  Struggle our way back to the area and park a goodly walk away from the pub.  Nice walk - just the thing required on a cold night.  Meet Sarah briefly after her set.  Introduce myself to Tim, who is enthusiastic and friendly.  I very much enjoyed his performance - if you've not seen him, find him and have a listen. 

Tim is accompanied by Sam Dixon (who has a NEW bass!!!) and Terepai Richmond, who has never played these songs before and is drumming from listening over and over to Tim's album.  Great atmosphere on stage between these bods.  Terepai is almost as happy as Tone Orange's drummer.  Or maybe I've just never noticed drummers before.

Friday 25 October 2002  (back to top)
Yippee!!!  We're off to Springwood tonight to see Tone Orange.  In case you’ve never heard of them, they won the Hornsby Battle of the Bands.

Hmm, not many people, but I’ve seen bands with less audience.  I have my suspicions that some folk just plain got lost on the way.  Fortunately, Mistress Hellen and I had Michael with us as our local guide.  I introduce myself as they are setting up.  Enthusiastic and great performance.  I liked the way they flowed from one song to another without some of the blank moments that I’ve seen other performers present.

They have the happiest drummer I’ve ever seen.  Ooo! And they mentioned me at the end of the show.  Michael leaned over and said he’d never hung around with any one famous before.  Chat with the band after the show.  They’re nice and friendly which I like.

Wednesday 23 October 2002
Unpleasant day in regard to weather.  Dust storms.  Spent most of the day observing the world from the safety of Command and Observation Post 1 in the back room. 

Monday 21 October 2002  (back to top)
Finally remember to check the rules of Tiddlywinking.  We were both astonished to discover there is a Scottish Tiddlywink Association.  Mistress Hellen (Scottish - of course), sends this link to Misses Elizabeth, her sister - so she can also be astonished.  In the laughter and discussion that followed this discovery, we forgot to check the rules about tiddlywinking and faces.  If this means nothing to you, please read earlier entries in this diary.

Mistress Hellen off to the first tap dancing lesson for the new term.  She arrives home with a bunged up arm after sliding over while walking, walking mind you, not dancing, over spilt soft drink that had dried to a highly glazed surface.  She said she was faring better than the other person who slid over on it while dancing and had to choof off home with a huge lump on the leg and a damaged wrist.  The joys of learning in a classroom that has been inhabited by school students during the day. 

Friday 19 October 2002
Off to visit Neeve for the evening and overnight.  She's near the beach so we all go down there after dinner.  We watch the water from a distance since no-one seems inclined to deal with the ritual of sand removal that is necessary after romping near and in the ocean.

Thursday 17 October 2002
YaY the PC is alive, thus proving that Mistress Hellen's magnetic personality is useful for something.  Last night she took off the cover, turned the PC on its side, fiddled around and then it booted up successfully. 

Hmm.  Best example of laying on of hands that I've ever seen.  Interesting. 

We now have a naked PC taking up far too much room, but it works!!!  It was just as well really, I don't think my body would stand up to more of Mistress Hellen's 'we-don't-have-a-working-PC-so-let's-do-other-things' activities.

Sporting a sore eye after a quiet game of tiddlywinks. Once I can see properly again I'm consulting the rules.  I'm sure there will be one stating "thou shalt NOT tiddlywink directly into your opponents face, much less, their EYE".

Mistress Hellen declared she was also going to consult the rules, to find the one about "thou shalt not put your FACE in the way of your opponents tiddlywinking activities".  Before the resurrection of the PC she announced she may take up knitting again.  If she can almost blind with one round plastic disk, imagine how much damage is possible with two pointed metal rods? Scary really.

Wednesday 16 October 2002
Still no PC.  Haven't had time to do anything about getting it fixed.  Now sitting at Mistress Hellen's rellies'.  Had to download all the website to their PC.  Discovered I hadn't changed the date on last week's playlist so all week it looked out of date. 

Back to updating my playlist.

Monday 14 October 2002
DISASTER DISASTER. Tonight the PC died. Put its little foot in the air & won't boot.  Too devastated to even whimper. 

Sunday 13 October 2002
It is, what Mrs-Mistress-Hellen's-Mum would say, a braw blanket drying day. (for those of you incapable of understanding Scottish......it's a GOOD blanket drying day)  Since I am neither a blanket, nor wet, I come back inside.

Later: Rain wakes us from our afternoon nap.  Jump around while Mistress Hellen brings in the washing at top speed.  We go back out to dance in the rain.  The gutters are overflowing so we jump around in the warm roof water - until it starts to hail.  As Mistress Hellen says "no good standing around *waiting* to be sconned by a flying icecube".

I'm still not a blanket - but I AM wet.  We watch the storm from the safety of the back room, all wrapped in towels and feeling very good.

Saturday 12 October 2002
Morning: Was sitting on Command and Observation Post 1 in the back room this morning, watching over the backyard and figuring out how I could sneak up on the squeaky winged, pointy headed birdies out there and scare the living daylights out of them by barking loudly.  Mistress Hellen sneaked up on me and yelled "BOO!!!!!".
Once I'd re-composed myself I asked her what on earth she was doing.  She replied "well that's what YOU were planning to do to those doves, wasn't it?".  Some days I think she can read my mind.  Now THAT's a worry.

Friday 11 October 2002
On with the human disguise and off to Cat and Fiddle with Mistress Hellen and Michael to see Ezmerelda and their web site launch. 
Had a great time bopping to the live music of a band I've enjoyed for a while.  Also very much enjoyed the support band 'Department'.  Was tempted to ask Department's bass player if I could try on his furry hat (which, incidentally, has a name of its own - but I forget what it is). 

Wednesday 9 October 2002  (back to top)
Early Morning: Discover that it's gone from 15 degrees above average to 15 below.  Pity, I was hoping to pick up some new listeners from people who couldn't sleep because of the heat.
Later: Suggest to Mistress Hellen that in light of the drought I can do my bit of water saving by not bathing.  She said that was very noble, because I'd be giving up my radio activities and inside-the-house activities too unless I could find another chauffeur and another place to stay.
In response to my puzzled look she explained that there was no way a smelly unwashed beagle was getting into the car nor running around inside the house.
Pick up Herbert - my favourite bathtime toy - and head off for a scrub. 

Tuesday 8 October 2002
Too Hot.  End of Story.

Sunday 6 October 2002(back to top)
Met Baxter, the 9 month old Beagle.  Mistress Hellen tries some photography.  End up with the obligatory photo of Beagle Nose traveling at great speed towards camera lens.   Apparently I did the same thing when I was a puppy. 
During some rough and tumble play, we discover that Baxter has taken a shine to Mistress Hellen's arms.  Not her legs, but her arms.  Takes all types, I suppose.  We all suffer the usual cuts, grazes, lumps and bumps associated with going wild in the backyard.  Game of tug-o-war almost ends in tragedy when Baxter lets go his end of the toy very suddenly.

Later: Decide to head to Manly, not for the Jazz Festival, but just ... well, because.  Baxter is staying behind because 1. we are going in a car Michael borrowed from a friend; 2. he is an unknown dog in terms of car sickness (and car farting); 3. we have no idea how he handles crowds; and finally, the most important one - HE HAS LOST HIS COLLAR!!! (dumb dog) so we can't attach him to us in any way.  I suggest sewing his lead to his neck.  Mistress Hellen does have some interesting facial expressions to give in some situations.

Later: Baxter's owners are due to collect him some time this evening.  We (*except* Baxter) spend time going round the backyard picking up his toys and gathering them in one heap.  Until we get smart and move them out of his reach, Baxter follows up our efforts by scattering them again.

If I thought Dearest Baxter was overly excited during the day, it was nothing compared to the excitement of being reunited with his REAL family. 

Saturday 5 October 2002(back to top)
Went to Parramatta to see Fresh Wax - it's put on by INDENT and features young artists. Good to meet more artists.  <dance dance dance> Olivia Eden, Jamison Young, Dylan Hayes and Me Lee's Mosaic.  Caught up with Kelly Ophel but forgot to collect her latest music offering <*rolls eyes*>   Gathered OTHER music for this week's show.

Also forgot to pick up information about INDENT & Fresh Wax. Too excited about meeting folk and wandering around.  Will have to fill in this information later.

Later: Mistress Hellen off to work.  I stay home.  Leave a pretty pattern in nose nuzzle splotches on the front of the fish tank.  After pondering the state of the world, decide to redesign my program flyer to be 1/4 page, not 1/2. Use less resources. 

Even Later: Clean front of fish tank while Mistress Hellen watches on.  Had to endure a lecture about not frightening the fish.

Friday 4 October 2002
On Sunday we're going to visit Michael & his daughter Courtney.  They're minding a 9 month old Beagle named Baxter.  Maybe I can knock some sense into him. 

Baxter's Damage List so far is one photo album, one furry toy (magnetic) stolen from fridge door, backyard strewn with plastic bottles from recycling crate...and the worst, *worst* - one hole torn in Michael's waterbed mattress.  (he sneaked into the bedroom)  At first it was thought young Baxter had piddled in there.....but alas!!!  the waterbed is piddling. 

I don't remember being that destructive as a puppy.  Oh, except for...ah, never mind.

Thursday 3 October 2002
Time to catalog all the new CDs & put away all those lying around.  Discover we suddenly have 134 (give or take a few) Burt Bacharach CD listings.
Call Mistress Hellen.  Woah! Recently we decided to change the artist field on Burt's CD from Various to Burt.  Catalog software asked if we wanted to change all.  Didn't realise it meant ALL the CDs in the collection with 'various' as the artist.  Spend time cleaning up this mess.

Wednesday 2 October 2002(back to top)
At 2RRR, Minidisc player ceases to function at 2:15am.  Studio is sauna temperature.  Ezmerelda CD I requested from Music Library could not be found.  Messes up my show plans.
Later in day: Visit 2RRR during office hours.  Find Ezmerelda.  Socialise with all the people hanging around.
Another mishap during our tap dancing practice.  We've now moved ALL the sharp edged things away from our dancing area.  At least the turn, shuffle, hop, turn bit wasn't to blame this time.

Sunday 29 September 2002
YaY!!!!  Site is now suitable for public consumption. 

Saturday 28 September 2002
Worked all day to get web site on the internet.  Interesting learning curve.  Keep discovering things on the site that don't work now that it's actually on the net.  FTP program drove me bonkers for a while.

Friday 27 September 2002
On with the human disguise & off to Panthers to see Killing Heidi.  Really enjoyed the support band - Space from Alice.  They're from Melbourne.  Gave one of them my program flyer.  Hope they get in touch. 

Saturday 21 September 2002
Put on human disguise & went to The Harp Hotel to see DLAY play.  Had a great time.  Met with the band afterwards - they didn't recognise me at first - until one of them spotted my tail poking out.  Probably why the nice man on the door gave me a strange look.  He allowed me to leave some of my flyers for the show. 

Wednesday 18 September 2002(back to top)
We practice our tap dancing routine - that is, until we collide.  Mistress H stood on my paw and we both fell over.  Must work more on that turn, shuffle, hop, turn bit before one of us gets killed. 

Monday 16 September 2002
The car is ready and we're off home. 
Spot a 4 wheel drive with a sticker with upside down writing saying - "If you can read this, please turn me over" - not quite so funny after seeing a real upside down 4 wheel drive on Friday.

Sunday 15 September 2002
Lazed around.  Ate.  Ran around.  Didn't chase geese, ducks OR chickens. 

Saturday 14 September 2002
Checked out local shops in the morning.  Car breaks down on way back to friends' house.  Looks like this visit is going to be extended until at least Monday.  I don't mind - I'm having a great time.

Run around like something possessed with my new doggie friends.  Even Mistress Hellen ran - now that was something to behold.

There are geese & chickens & ducks that I'm not allowed to chase.  When we had lunch in the nearest major town, I wasn't allowed to chase the pelicans either <sigh>.

Friday 13 September 2002(back to top)
We're going away for the weekend!!!  Up North a bit to see friends (2 x humans, 2 x dogs) <dance dance dance>.

I wait until we're on the expressway to announce I'm hungry.  Good thing it's dark because I think Mistress Hellen gave me a very dirty look.
We decide to sing our way there so put on a Bushwackers tape.  Play 'when the rain tumbles down in July' about 15 times. 

Delayed on expressway because someone has turned their 4 wheel drive upside down....right in the middle lane!!!

Arrive & meet the humans & the dogs.  One is a German Coolie.  Hmm, interesting look.  We bark excitedly to each other until the humans start yelling for us to shut up.

The Beagle Diary
A fascinating (perhaps) insight into Streamer's life with and without Mistress Hellen.  The diary is updated frequently.