I go back to work tomorrow after two weeks leave with Emma and Brad. I'll post an update on what we got up to soon, but for now I just have to share what Boonie just said. The Australian Open tennis final is on the telly at the same time as the Australia V New Zealand one day cricket match. Boonie just shouted "Forget the Oz open, get the VB open"!

It's official, Akmal Saleh from the Glasshouse, JJJ and Thank God Your Here rocks. I wrote a story a while ago about how Emma spotted him in Hobart on New Years Eve and wanted to take a photo of him with her phone but by the time that I finally woke up to what was going on he had left. Emma was snodgy so I sent the following letter to Akmal;

G'day Akmal,

I got your email address from your website www.akmal.com.au

My 13 year old daughter spotted you at Mures fish restaurant on Hobart's waterfront early on New Years Eve.

She wanted me to take a photo of the two of you with her mobile phone, but I told her not to be so rude and that she should show some respect for the entertainment and enjoyment you have provided her via Thank God You Are Here and let you enjoy your meal (and the pretty woman you were with) in peace.

Now comes the good bit. This is where I hit you up for free stuff. Because I'm such a good bloke and because my daughter now hates me so much I reckon the least you can do is send her a signed photo or a signed poster, or anything really that is somehow related to you or the show. Even money would be good, but I know that you poor actors don't have any of that. This may in some small way atone for the hurt I caused her by refusing to take that photo.

I know you are a good bloke (your bald like me so you must be) so please send the stuff to; 

<Emma's address> 

I then promptly forgot about it never expecting a mega God like Akmal to take any notice of me or my email until the following poster turned up in the mail today!!!!!

I've been hanging at home for the past week because I tore a muscle in my shoulder, but too much alcohol, a bald head and sun are a bad combination. I'm sure the doctor that cut the last basal cell carcinoma from my forehead would be horrified if he saw how red I am today. I thought the picture below was kinda funny, however I'm sure the people in the plane at the time wern't laughing.

I ordered the new Beefy and Boonie talking dolls weeks ago and when do you think they finally turned up? Yep, the last day of the last test, but I was at work and the test finished early (tests are all four days now arn't they?) so it was over by the time I took them out of their box. I assumed that was it and I'd never hear them talk, until a few days ago when I flew out of the shower to see who was shouting in the lounge only to find Boonie asking Beefy to chuck him a VB. Beefy declined claiming that Boonie would probably drop it. They said a few more things during the day and then nothing. Tonight about 30 minutes before the 20/20 match started Boonie asked me to put the VB on ice because the cricket was about to start. YES! they are still alive. They obviously know that it's a 20/20 game because Boonie reckons he loves them because he can get to the pub quicker. They have chatted to each other a few times during the game and then I assume they will go quite until the next game. They have a little infrared thingy on them like a remote control so that they can talk to each other. Apparently they fired up on Melbourne cup day and started singing Christmas Carols on the 25th! This is fun, but it still scares me a little bit when you think you are the only person in the house and you hear "Ooh, Ahh, Glen McGrath" shouted out from the lounge room!