I’m sure anyone with a teenager has experienced the scourge of My Space.

They get on that computer and pretend they’re doing homework, while all the time communicating and conversing with all the people they’ve been with at school for the entire day.

Unfortunately for Stella, her mother was at the computer when a message came from a young male who’s obviously enamoured with our daughter.

“I love you,” was the message that was received.

Within seconds Kym had replied, “This is Stella’s Mum... I love you, too.”

A sad day
I took the family up into the Mary Valley for an overnight farm stay.
On the way up, I couldn’t help but notice a big orange sign which said Garage Sale at the top of a long driveway that disappeared over the hill towards a property right smack in the middle of the proposed dam.

I had a mental picture of some poor bugger having to sell up his belongings because of a really bad government decision.

On the way back on Sunday, I noticed the sign had been changed to “half price today”.

I drove past thinking, “you poor bastard”.

We drove over the little bridge across the Mary River and headed up to the intersection and there he was, an old farmer taking down his home–made signs and putting them on the back of a Land Cruiser flat–top.

He turned and gave me a nod. I reciprocated with a half smile and an acknowledging point.

I felt gutted for him, God knows what he is going through.

Ordered to court
I had had the worst day known to man.

Not only did my car not start that morning, forcing me to get the girls from the office to push it into life and get it to the mechanics, I was then stranded with Kym and daughter Stella (who was supposed to be having a study day).

They took me to a movie that was a full 30 minutes into the screening before we’d even bought our tickets.

No wonder the plot confused me.

Then they went clothes shopping, while I sat there like Richard Gere in Pretty Woman.

That took an hour and a half.

“Can you drop me home now?” I asked.

“We’ve run out of time,” she responded. “You’ll have to come and get the kids from school with me.”

I did that and was leaving the school when a police car pulled in behind me, sat there for a while, put the siren on, motioned me to the side of the road and informed me I was driving with a suspended licence and promptly gave me a notice to appear in court.

What a great day!

The red tape
I knew my licence was active and not suspended and proved the same when I called the transport department.

They confirmed my points were not yet up.

“Well, what do I do about this summons to appear in court?” I asked.

“That’s a separate issue,” was the reply.

“You’ll have to contact the police station that issued you with the notice and inform them that your licence is in fact legitimate.

“If they need proof you’ll have to travel to Brisbane and get written evidence and hand deliver it to Nambour police station.”

How convenient is that?

I did ring the police station but there was no-one there except an answering machine.

I left my message, knowing full well the reason there’s no-one there is that they’re out there somewhere just waiting to get behind me again.

That car park
OH my Lord, I’m actually agreeing with Peter Beattie. I can’t believe it.

He said the allegation over a council vote on the plan for a Sunshine Coast car park left a “smell” hanging over the way business was conducted on the Coast.

What is it with the Maroochy Council?

From what I’ve read about the contract they’ve just terminated, I think it’s going to cost us ratepayers bucket–loads in compensation.

And all because of complete mismanagement of a project.

Next time you’re looking for a parking spot in Mooloolaba and you can’t get one, you’ll know who to blame.