Like so many blog entries, recently, this is my fourth attempt at writing the first paragraph. I think this goes against my "blog because you have something to say; not because you want to say something" principle. Ah well, I have other principles, I suppose.

There are things I wanted to say, such as congratulations to JD for winning the Murray's Mint League over at Peter Hatton's excellent Fantasy Formula One Grand Prix website.

2006 was one of the most exciting seasons in Formula 1 that I can remember. I'm glad I bought a television in time to watch the first race, even more glad that I got tickets to the Melbourne Grand Prix (and got to meet Sir Jack Brabham) and pretty chuffed that the last race of the season was worth getting up in the middle of the night to watch! The last race was really entertaining to watch. It was good to see Michael Schumacher going wheel-to-wheel with his replacement at Ferrari while fighting his way back through the field after that unfortunate puncture incident. I was delighted for the three on the podium. I think that they'll be the drivers to watch in 2007.

The 2007 season starts in Melbourne in March. My father-in-law has already booked his flights to be here for the race weekend (and indeed St Patrick's Day). I shall be booking the grandstand tickets in Early November, so anyone wishing to join us (a couple of readers have expressed an interest) should let me know very soon! I think K will be leading a shopping expedition for F1 widows while we're at the qualifying but she's not around to confirm at the moment.

While I'm blogging (for the one hundredth time this year, apparently), here's another mention for Skype: apparently a large number of Skype users are not getting their free phonecalls, which I mentioned last Thursday. Have any pajLog readers experienced this?

Also last Thursday, I mentioned Torchwood. K and I sat down to watch episode one the other evening. To be honest, it just wasn't my bag. I'm sure it's very good and all that, but I've never been into the CSIs or the Buffy/Angels of this World and Torchwood just didn't do it for me. I'm kind of glad, because I like not watching TV.

While I have not been watching TV recently, I have been studiously playing my bass. Music geeks may be interested to know that I have put some flat-wound strings (these, specifically) on the acoustic and it sounds so much better than it did with the standard round-wound and it feels much better under the fingers into the bargain. The lessons are going well and at home I have been playing along to some of James's songs and one of Alastair's, which is good fun.

James and Alastair, along with Andrew, Kris and Chris have recently formed a band, which is great because they're some of the most talented musicians I know. I recommend that you keep an eye on the Ether City website for news of their first gig and I also recommend that they put up a tune or two on either their website or the Ether City MySpace doings.

Now that the hail has stopped, the sun is shining high above Melbourne and the birds are singing cheerfully in the eucalyptus trees, I think it's time for a walk. I spend too much time with computers. You wouldn't think so, given the state of this website, but I do. I hope you all have fabulous weekend, and don't forget to adjust your clocks! Melbourne will go from being 9 hours ahead of London today to 11 hours tomorrow.