Well, we at Coode Street are braver than the media outlets and are willing to call the Australian Federal Election for 2004 for the Liberal Party. With 25% of the vote counted, it seems that John Howard & co will be returned with an increased majority. A dark day.

Sophie’s not feeling too well, the Australians look set to sweep to a devastating win against India (in India), and early voting suggests there is a 4.4% swing to the Liberal Party, making it seem likely that John Howard will win today’s election. These three things are respectively sad, brilliant and very depressing. Who knows how to feel on a day like today?

There’s no such thing as a quiet morning here. I was awoken by children climbing over me, gave them breakfast, and they’re now raging around the place. Reading the new Clive Barker ‘Abarat’ novel, which so far is a lot better than the first. I thought it was a fairly unimpressive book that relied too heavily on the artwork to carry the story, but Barker’s lifted his game with this one.

Have to vote today. Can’t say I’m too impressed. I think the incumbent government will be returned, but I could be wrong. Either way, I vote in a safe seat so the local member should be re-elected, pretty much regardless of how I vote.

I’ve also spent a little more time with the new REM album (hi Mark!). I was listening to it late last night and liked it a lot better than I did the other day. Maybe it’s because I like Stipe’s vocals. I stand by the idea that the band without Berry sounds structureless, drifting, but they do have moments.