G'day all, we're back in Oz again after our awesome trip to the Land of the Long White Cloud and it's 40 degrees here at Henley Beach. It was a very long, very tiring journey home from New Zealand; on our last evening, we met up woth some of Howie's friends who were living in and visiting Christchurch. Needless to say, the ale did flow, and it meant that we missed the last bus to the airport and had to get a taxi there instead. After bindling Howie into the taxi...

When Animals Attack. The best bit of a visit to the zoo? Naturally, when your other half gets attacked by the animals. In the space of an afternoon, Howie managed to befriend a wallaby, get stalked by an emu and have his beard cleaned by an amorous parrot. Seriously. The day had already got off to a questionable start, because - for various reasons - by the time we got to the zoo, Howie was already hungry and we were barely talking to each other. Fortunately, H...

Howzat!Yes, it's crunch time at the Oval and it is pleasing to note not only that England won by an innings and 71 runs, but that the players the Barmy Army songsheet cites the most are, fittingly, Swanny and KP, although it's a pity they didn't have a bit more imagination when coming up with a song for poor Strauss, who's only got one and it mainly consists of shouting his name very loudly and mumbling something about playing dreamy shots. My personal favourites...

Do do doo do-doop do do dooo do-do do do dooo do doop do do doooo....If only I could write the BBC Cricket Theme tune in words without seeming mad. As you can see from our photo, the last couple of days have required us to consume much ice cream, generally because the temperatures here are soaring. Again - as in Sydney - the soaring temperatures and hot, sunny days have conincided with me getting gainful employment. This time, however, I am a little cricket wick...

Howie was trembling, his nerves shot to ribbons. As he stepped out into the mid-afternoon downpour, he looked up to the heavens and breathed a sigh of relief. The day had gone well. The fears and anxieties that had nudged him awake every half an hour the previous night had not evolved into truths. They had both come out of the chocolate factory intact. Howie turned to look at Jen, who was busily rustling in a thick, paper bag, endorsed with the logo of Haigh's C...