The house is now empty after a wonderful time spent with friends over New Year. We always take a group photo, which always seems to be a record of the development of our kids, and the increasing decrepitude of we adults-

The other thing this photo reminds me of is the end of another Christmas/New Year break. A new year is upon us, and work begins again.

This year may (or may not) bring changes, but for now, the grind will grind on.

Andy and I were laughing about the feeling of needing to psych up for work. Almost like the New Zealand rugby team performing the Hakka-

So, by way of my own little hakka, I wrote some words. Imagine them being performed by men like those above.

Aaarrrrghhhhhhh

Grrrrrrrrrrrr

Scowl me out that stress-face

This holiday must fracture

Stoke the furnace, sound that bell

This man must manufacture

Aaarrrrghhhhhhh

Grrrrrrrrrrrr

Scrape the windscreen, warm the car

Before we once again commute

What was that bloody password?

I must again reboot

Aaarrrrghhhhhhh

Grrrrrrrrrrrr

A million unread  e-mails

Have scleroted up my in box

The undrunk mug of coffee

Is waiting for a detox

Aaarrrrghhhhhhh

Grrrrrrrrrrrr

There are those who are waiting

To mire me up in memos

Their words have little meaning

And even less good purpose

Aaarrrrghhhhhhh

Grrrrrrrrrrrr

I should have been a cave man

His was a better planet

The things we folk must do

To slay this seasons mammoth

Aaarrrrghhhhhhh

Grrrrrrrrrrrr

Smash some windows, kick some cats

Shout at the television

Tomorrow we must rise again

To earn some long division