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What a weekend. The Press Gallery and a large number of government staffers are walking around kicking walls this morning because John Howard didn't get into the family station wagon yesterday and take a drive down to Yarralumla. I'm doing the same. The smart money was on an August 7 election but now it's an open book. The AG's department, DFAT and PMC are still working around the clock. Not that they need to after Iron (now Papermache) Mark's performance the other day.

Latham is doing SIlvermane Hawke's playbook but he seems to have the order mixed up. You only admit to a love for the ladies and shed a tear after being PM, not before. The Sunday program's much hyped expose was mind numbingly boring and had nothing new. Though i did like nine's package during prime time news that put Laurie Oakes' name under an image of Jana Wendt. Laurie never looked so good!

Access Economics stepped up and said that the government is now Mother Hubbard and the cupboard is bare after the baby bonus. Access Economics is a Labor think tank that perhaps needs to be working on an economic policy for the party rather than pointing the finger. Actually the whole Labor machine needs to start working on some policies. I really don't think "Feel Sorry for Us in 2004" is a campaign winner.

Howard was always a smooth operator. I now think he is waiting for that last child in detention to come out, the rain to start next weekend, the swimming to start at the Olympics and Labor to winge more before going to Yarralumla (i wonder if he will stop for finger buns at the bakery?).

And now for something important.

Saturday's test match in Adelaide between the Wallabies and the Pacific Islander Freight Trains was a cracker even if i did spend much of it hiding behind the sofa. I really do hope they get awarded more internationals. How nice would it be to have the South Africans, English and Kiwis go through them before they get to us? Their game was brutal and i was astounded that the media outlets all went with images of the wallabies breaking the line rather than the one below.

It was also Referee Andre Watson's last game. Andre has been a hated figure for Wallaby and Brumbies supporters for many years. His International career started with a Wallaby game and so it was fitting that it ended with one. Andre hated the Australian rugby teams and the Brumbies in particular. Yet he would always tell the teams exactly what he thought they did wrong. No ref communicates in the game like Andre did. My sideline seat is going to be a little less enjoyable without Andre five meters in front of me.



Clyde Rathbone looks like he spent a night on the town with Matt Dunning after being targeted by the Islanders and getting brutalised.

And finally it i game three of the State of Origin tomorrow night. Will the Blues be doing it for Phil Gould? Brad Fittler? To go ahead in the count 12-11? Ah who cares.