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	<title type="text">What&#039;s Doing</title>
	<subtitle type="text">&#34;Where every concept pleases, and only man is vile.&#34;</subtitle>

	<updated>2024-03-15T10:11:33Z</updated>

	<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://andrew-todd.com/diary" />
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	<generator uri="https://wordpress.org/" version="6.4.5">WordPress</generator>
	<entry>
		<author>
			<name>Andrew Todd</name>
							<uri>http://www.andrew-todd.com/</uri>
						</author>

		<title type="html"><![CDATA[The View from Lunch]]></title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/2024/03/15/the-view-from-lunch/" />

		<id>https://andrew-todd.com/diary/2024/03/15/the-view-from-lunch/</id>
		<updated>2024-03-15T10:11:33Z</updated>
		<published>2024-03-15T10:11:33Z</published>
		<category scheme="https://andrew-todd.com/diary" term="General Musings" /><category scheme="https://andrew-todd.com/diary" term="photo" />
		<summary type="html"><![CDATA[I had lunch with a couple of old friends today and this was the view from our table. Life is good sometimes.]]></summary>

					<content type="html" xml:base="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/2024/03/15/the-view-from-lunch/"><![CDATA[
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/img_1039-1024x768.jpg" class="wp-image-2070" srcset="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/img_1039-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/img_1039-300x225.jpg 300w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/img_1039-768x576.jpg 768w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/img_1039-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/img_1039-1568x1176.jpg 1568w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/img_1039.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A view of Circular Quay including a cruise ship</figcaption></figure>



<p>I had lunch with a couple of old friends today and this was the view from our table. Life is good sometimes. </p>
]]></content>
		
			</entry>
		<entry>
		<author>
			<name>Andrew Todd</name>
							<uri>http://www.andrew-todd.com/</uri>
						</author>

		<title type="html"><![CDATA[Tax Based Fact of the Day]]></title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/2024/03/06/tax-based-fact-of-the-day/" />

		<id>https://andrew-todd.com/diary/?p=2066</id>
		<updated>2024-03-06T04:02:18Z</updated>
		<published>2024-03-06T03:59:24Z</published>
		<category scheme="https://andrew-todd.com/diary" term="General Musings" />
		<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Here&#8217;s your fact for the day, courtesy of Richard Dennis &#8211; “The (Australian) Federal Government collects more from HECS-HELP repayments than it does from the petroleum resource rent tax”. Click on the picture above to read the whole article.]]></summary>

					<content type="html" xml:base="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/2024/03/06/tax-based-fact-of-the-day/"><![CDATA[
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.themonthly.com.au/share/213502/2dZbyx1W"><img decoding="async" src="https://www.themonthly.com.au/sites/default/files/styles/front_image/public/Denniss_0324_1140x700.jpg?itok=V8p4wztf" alt="A picture of the Australian Treasury building in Canberra sourced from the original article at the Monthly."/></a></figure>



<p>Here&#8217;s your fact for the day, courtesy of Richard Dennis &#8211; “The (Australian) Federal Government collects more from HECS-HELP repayments than it does from the petroleum resource rent tax”. Click on the picture above to read the whole article.</p>
]]></content>
		
			</entry>
		<entry>
		<author>
			<name>Andrew Todd</name>
							<uri>http://www.andrew-todd.com/</uri>
						</author>

		<title type="html"><![CDATA[My 2023 Retrospective]]></title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/2024/02/10/my-2023-retrospective/" />

		<id>https://andrew-todd.com/diary/?p=2062</id>
		<updated>2024-02-10T00:16:22Z</updated>
		<published>2024-02-10T00:16:22Z</published>
		<category scheme="https://andrew-todd.com/diary" term="General Musings" /><category scheme="https://andrew-todd.com/diary" term="Music" />
		<summary type="html"><![CDATA[It&#8217;s February, so I&#8217;m a little bit late to add to all of the reviews of last year posts, but when did timeliness ever matter here? I could go through what happened in the year but that would probably bore you dear reader, never mind me &#8211; and I lived through it. Instead I’m going &#8230; <p class="link-more"><a href="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/2024/02/10/my-2023-retrospective/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text"> "My 2023 Retrospective"</span></a></p>]]></summary>

					<content type="html" xml:base="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/2024/02/10/my-2023-retrospective/"><![CDATA[
<p>It&#8217;s February, so I&#8217;m a little bit late to add to all of the reviews of last year posts, but when did timeliness ever matter here? I could go through what happened in the year but that would probably bore you dear reader, never mind me &#8211; and I lived through it.</p>



<p>Instead I’m going to concentrate on the best new (to me) music from 2023. I love listening to music, I can&#8217;t play for toffee but I can appreciate a good tune. When I&#8217;m working at home I have music playing (thanks Sonos!) and when I&#8217;m out and about I usually have my earbuds in and something playing on my phone.</p>



<p>I think it&#8217;s fair to say that I&#8217;m middle aged. Most people&#8217;s taste in music is set in their late teens and early twenties and I don&#8217;t think that I&#8217;m any different to anyone else. But what I&#8217;ve been trying to do in this age of streaming music services is to seek out new music, maybe by artists I already know and like but even better if it&#8217;s someone I&#8217;ve never really listened to before. To show how old I am I&#8217;m also going to list my favourite albums. These days the album is a strange concept but it is how I listen to music and I&#8217;m too old to change now.</p>



<p>Reviewing what I listened to and what I liked last year is a combination of music by new (to me) artists, new music by some of my favourites and the outlier is a record recorded in the early 90&#8217;s but not released until last year. Without further ado here are my top albums of 2023</p>



<ol>
<li><a href="https://www.gazcoombes.com/">Gaz Coombes</a> &#8211; Turn the Car Around &#8211; with a 5 star review in the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jan/29/gaz-coombes-turn-the-car-around-review-best-album-in-20-years-supergrass">Guardian</a> no less</li>



<li><a href="https://www.benfolds.com/">Ben Folds</a> &#8211; <a href="https://benfolds.bandcamp.com/album/what-matters-most">What Matters Most</a></li>



<li>Pele &#8211; <a href="https://amsterdam-music.com/this-time-next-year-peles-lost-third-album/">This Time Next Year</a></li>



<li><a href="https://wearejames.com/">James</a> &#8211; <a href="https://louderthanwar.com/james-be-opened-by-the-wonderful-album-review/">Be Opened By The Wonderful</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.dansultan.com/">Dan Sultan</a> &#8211; <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/listen/doublej/music-reads/features/dan-sultan-feature-album-interview-best-work-dark-times/102860506">Dan Sultan</a></li>
</ol>
]]></content>
		
			</entry>
		<entry>
		<author>
			<name>Andrew Todd</name>
							<uri>http://www.andrew-todd.com/</uri>
						</author>

		<title type="html"><![CDATA[Sourdough Delights]]></title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/2023/11/17/sourdough-delights/" />

		<id>https://andrew-todd.com/diary/?p=2058</id>
		<updated>2023-11-17T05:05:22Z</updated>
		<published>2023-11-17T05:05:22Z</published>
		<category scheme="https://andrew-todd.com/diary" term="photo" />
		<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Today&#8217;s loaf looks fantastic, very much hoping that it tastes as good as it looks.]]></summary>

					<content type="html" xml:base="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/2023/11/17/sourdough-delights/"><![CDATA[
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/23-11-17-12-23-59-0957.jpg"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="863" src="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/23-11-17-12-23-59-0957.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2059" srcset="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/23-11-17-12-23-59-0957.jpg 1024w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/23-11-17-12-23-59-0957-300x253.jpg 300w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/23-11-17-12-23-59-0957-768x647.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>



<p>Today&#8217;s loaf looks fantastic, very much hoping that it tastes as good as it looks.</p>
]]></content>
		
			</entry>
		<entry>
		<author>
			<name>Andrew Todd</name>
							<uri>http://www.andrew-todd.com/</uri>
						</author>

		<title type="html"><![CDATA[The Perils of Elevation]]></title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/2023/10/25/the-perils-of-elevation/" />

		<id>https://andrew-todd.com/diary/?p=2050</id>
		<updated>2023-10-25T02:38:31Z</updated>
		<published>2023-10-25T02:38:31Z</published>
		<category scheme="https://andrew-todd.com/diary" term="General Musings" />
		<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Positive aspects of an office on the 52nd floor &#8211; the views across a lovely harbour and city and even out to sea on a clear day. The negative aspect can be summed up as “fire drill&#8221;. No need for leg day at the gym this week.]]></summary>

					<content type="html" xml:base="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/2023/10/25/the-perils-of-elevation/"><![CDATA[
<p>Positive aspects of an office on the 52nd floor &#8211; the views across a lovely harbour and city and even out to sea on a clear day. The negative aspect can be summed up as “fire drill&#8221;. No need for leg day at the gym this week.</p>
]]></content>
		
			</entry>
		<entry>
		<author>
			<name>Andrew Todd</name>
							<uri>http://www.andrew-todd.com/</uri>
						</author>

		<title type="html"><![CDATA[Two Birthday Boys]]></title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/2023/07/18/two-birthday-boys/" />

		<id>https://andrew-todd.com/diary/?p=2046</id>
		<updated>2023-07-18T04:57:38Z</updated>
		<published>2023-07-18T04:57:38Z</published>
		<category scheme="https://andrew-todd.com/diary" term="growing" /><category scheme="https://andrew-todd.com/diary" term="photo" />
		<summary type="html"><![CDATA[They may no longer be small, or boys for that matter. But here are the two offspring in a classic pose to celebrate their birthdays. One happened last week and the other is a couple of days away. Happy Birthday not so small offspring.]]></summary>

					<content type="html" xml:base="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/2023/07/18/two-birthday-boys/"><![CDATA[
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_0902.jpeg"><img decoding="async" width="532" height="1024" src="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_0902-532x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-2047" srcset="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_0902-532x1024.jpeg 532w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_0902-156x300.jpeg 156w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_0902-768x1478.jpeg 768w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_0902-798x1536.jpeg 798w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/IMG_0902.jpeg 998w" sizes="(max-width: 532px) 100vw, 532px" /></a></figure>



<p>They may no longer be small, or boys for that matter. But here are the two offspring in a classic pose to celebrate their birthdays. One happened last week and the other is a couple of days away. Happy Birthday not so small offspring.</p>
]]></content>
		
			</entry>
		<entry>
		<author>
			<name>Andrew Todd</name>
							<uri>http://www.andrew-todd.com/</uri>
						</author>

		<title type="html"><![CDATA[Sweet, Sweet Coffee]]></title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/2023/06/08/sweet-sweet-coffee/" />

		<id>https://andrew-todd.com/diary/?p=2040</id>
		<updated>2023-06-08T06:58:31Z</updated>
		<published>2023-06-08T06:58:31Z</published>
		<category scheme="https://andrew-todd.com/diary" term="General Musings" />
		<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Having recently returned from the UK I was delighted to be re-acquainted with my coffee machine. The combination of decent beans, decent machine, and a half competent barista was music to my taste buds.]]></summary>

					<content type="html" xml:base="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/2023/06/08/sweet-sweet-coffee/"><![CDATA[
<p>Having recently returned from the UK I was delighted to be re-acquainted with my coffee machine.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/23-06-06-10-02-45-0893.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="768" height="1024" src="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/23-06-06-10-02-45-0893-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2041" srcset="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/23-06-06-10-02-45-0893-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/23-06-06-10-02-45-0893-225x300.jpg 225w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/23-06-06-10-02-45-0893-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/23-06-06-10-02-45-0893.jpg 1440w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lelit coffee machine sitting on a kitchen bench</figcaption></figure>



<p>The combination of decent beans, decent machine, and a half competent barista was music to my taste buds.</p>
]]></content>
		
			</entry>
		<entry>
		<author>
			<name>Andrew Todd</name>
							<uri>http://www.andrew-todd.com/</uri>
						</author>

		<title type="html"><![CDATA[I Need to Work on Presentation]]></title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/2023/04/21/i-need-to-work-on-presentation/" />

		<id>https://andrew-todd.com/diary/2023/04/21/i-need-to-work-on-presentation/</id>
		<updated>2023-04-20T17:10:48Z</updated>
		<published>2023-04-20T17:09:55Z</published>
		<category scheme="https://andrew-todd.com/diary" term="photo" />
		<summary type="html"><![CDATA[I’m experimenting in the kitchen. This tasted very good but I definitely need to work on my plating skills. Next time I’ll add some potatoes as well.]]></summary>

					<content type="html" xml:base="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/2023/04/21/i-need-to-work-on-presentation/"><![CDATA[
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/img_0794-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2036" srcset="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/img_0794-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/img_0794-300x300.jpg 300w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/img_0794-150x150.jpg 150w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/img_0794-768x768.jpg 768w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/img_0794-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/img_0794-1568x1568.jpg 1568w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/img_0794.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mexican Eggs on a plate </figcaption></figure>



<p>I’m experimenting in the kitchen. This tasted very good but I definitely need to work on my plating skills. </p>



<p>Next time I’ll add some potatoes as well. </p>
]]></content>
		
			</entry>
		<entry>
		<author>
			<name>Andrew Todd</name>
							<uri>http://www.andrew-todd.com/</uri>
						</author>

		<title type="html"><![CDATA[Stone Cold Sober]]></title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/2023/03/01/stone-cold-sober/" />

		<id>https://andrew-todd.com/diary/2023/03/01/stone-cold-sober/</id>
		<updated>2023-03-01T08:48:57Z</updated>
		<published>2023-03-01T08:48:57Z</published>
		<category scheme="https://andrew-todd.com/diary" term="General Musings" /><category scheme="https://andrew-todd.com/diary" term="photo" />
		<summary type="html"><![CDATA[For only the second time I was lucky enough to see Del Amitri live last night. They were spectacular. Although at my current rate I will see them again in my 80s.]]></summary>

					<content type="html" xml:base="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/2023/03/01/stone-cold-sober/"><![CDATA[
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/img_0723-1024x768.jpg" class="wp-image-2034" srcset="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/img_0723-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/img_0723-300x225.jpg 300w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/img_0723-768x576.jpg 768w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/img_0723-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/img_0723-1568x1176.jpg 1568w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/img_0723.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Del Amitri on stage at the Enmore Theatre</figcaption></figure>



<p>For only the second time I was lucky enough to see Del Amitri live last night. They were spectacular. Although at my current rate I will see them again in my 80s. </p>
]]></content>
		
			</entry>
		<entry>
		<author>
			<name>Andrew Todd</name>
							<uri>http://www.andrew-todd.com/</uri>
						</author>

		<title type="html"><![CDATA[Looking at a Lake]]></title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/2023/01/17/looking-at-a-lake/" />

		<id>https://andrew-todd.com/diary/2023/01/17/looking-at-a-lake/</id>
		<updated>2023-01-17T07:18:18Z</updated>
		<published>2023-01-17T07:18:18Z</published>
		<category scheme="https://andrew-todd.com/diary" term="General Musings" /><category scheme="https://andrew-todd.com/diary" term="photo" />
		<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Come and look at a lake they said. It’s blue they said. It’s a gentle 5km walk they said. Except the lake wasn’t blue, it was 5km each way, and the flies were worse than yesterday. Although we did get to skip across a river crossing. Tomorrow I’m going to stay in and watch the &#8230; <p class="link-more"><a href="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/2023/01/17/looking-at-a-lake/" class="more-link">Continue reading<span class="screen-reader-text"> "Looking at a Lake"</span></a></p>]]></summary>

					<content type="html" xml:base="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/2023/01/17/looking-at-a-lake/"><![CDATA[
<p>Come and look at a lake they said. It’s blue they said. It’s a gentle 5km walk they said. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/img_0653-1-1024x768.jpg" class="wp-image-2030" srcset="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/img_0653-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/img_0653-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/img_0653-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/img_0653-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/img_0653-1-1568x1176.jpg 1568w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/img_0653-1.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A lake in the Snowy Mountains</figcaption></figure>



<p>Except the lake wasn’t blue, it was 5km each way, and the flies were worse than yesterday. Although we did get to skip across a river crossing. Tomorrow I’m going to stay in and watch <a href="https://ausopen.com/">the tennis</a>. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/img_0657-1-1024x768.jpg" class="wp-image-2032" srcset="https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/img_0657-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/img_0657-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/img_0657-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/img_0657-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/img_0657-1-1568x1176.jpg 1568w, https://andrew-todd.com/diary/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/img_0657-1.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">My companions crossing a stream</figcaption></figure>
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