Roland Butter

A very wise man once said: "I think we've probably written the Aussies off a little too early". Michael Hussey still is (self-evidently!) a pretty good batsman. If one team is going to roll over, I don't think it's going to be Australia.

Stop acting like a drongo, Frankie! Flamin' galah .....

I've just bought my Christmas present to myself - a signed (by the man himself) first edition copy of Stephen Sondheim's Finishing the Hat, which contains the lyrics from all his work between 1954-1981, his musings on the songwriter's craft and lots more besides. I don't think I'll ever get round to reading it - I'm just going to sit there and look at it in awe.

Can't get too excited about this one, Kylie. Whoever wins, they'll have beaten a bunch of distinctly average opponents. But for what it's worth, I think we've probably written the Aussies off a little too early. No Warne, who's the best spinner I've ever seen, and no McGrath, who's not far off the best fast bowler I've ever seen, but still plenty of Aussie spirit.

Quiet year for you, then ....

Louise, my little book-recommending chum!! How are you? Come back and join us - I miss your rapier-like wit PS If you get your husband to do the hoovering, it'll give you more time to spend on here

Pickwick Papers is probably my favourite book full stop. It's episodic, certainly, but don't forget that in its original form it was published as a serial. I read it again about a year ago, and it still makes me laugh.

You'll enjoy What was Lost, Ruth, I'm sure. I've recommended it to many people, and I can't recall anyone who's been disappointed. In fact, I think it's the only book I've cared enough about to do a proper review on here. Hope you like it - it's a lovely book, touching but uplifting as well.

Well, that's an iconoclastic view, for sure. He almost certainly isn't even his own Mum's favourite President. But, against my better judgement, I'll bite: In a field where the runners include George Washington, Abe Lincoln, FDR, Eisenhower and Kennedy, why Bush?

Just started Denis Johnson's Tree of Smoke. I quote the blurb: Set in South-East Asia and the US, and spanning two decades, this is the story of Skip Sands, a CIA spy who may or may not be engaged in psychological operations against the Viet Cong; it is also the story of Skip's uncle, the Colonel, who is CIA as well, and either misunderstood or mad; and then there's Eddie, Voss and Jimmy, who Skip runs into - or from - every now and again: he doesn't know whose side they're on, but he does know it's not necessarily his. Two chapters in, so it's early to say (it's a 600 page monster), but could be a good read.

Me too, Sara! I want to see the Neville Brothers at Tipitina's while munching on a po' boy ... Will you book the tickets or shall I? (Note to Pontalba: is Tipitina's still there?)

Sorry, Lucy, I missed that somehow. That's a pretty good cv - you should be proud of your aunt. As someone who never got beyond "Second Tree" in the school play in primary school, I always have immense respect for anyone who makes a career out of acting.

Melissa. The chances of that would be about one in ten million, Noll. So you should have gone up to her and given her a slap. Just to be on the safe side ...

Tell us more, Lucy.

Show and Tell - Al Wilson

Spirit in the Dark - Aretha Franklin

Apples Peaches Pumpkin Pie - Jay and the Techniques

If you ever come to London, you and I will have to sit down over a cup of coffee and you can explain to me how someone whose tastes mirror mine so closely can come to have such bizarre political leanings Have a little sandwich for your birthday, pickle! That's a great one, too - Tim Spall as Aubrey the chef is brilliant! John Salthouse, the actor who played Tony in the legendary Abigail's Party, was at school with my older sister.

That was an excellent film, Paula. Mike Leigh's new one, Another Year, comes out tomorrow, and I'm planning to see it at the weekend.