In the Wilderness

Izzie's got to get a last fix of ratty goodness. But how has Pork Pie Pete managed to take possession of the tail that so rightly belongs to the King of Rats? And that's not the first time that he's got it


But the Izzie shouldn't be so bitchy - ungrateful serpent that she is. Two days in a row we get big fat cheques from the Feds and all we do is whinge
Today was the tax return. 285 silver sickles will come in most useful around Christmas time. But yesterday's was the biggie. Not quite a cheque but a letter from Canberra confirming that Izzie's evil green rebate of $$7,680 has been pre approved. It won't actually be paid until certain conditions are met and proof provided. But basically this letter is the green light needed for the next stage of converting the Lair into a power plant
The electricity company needs to grant approval and install a special meter and only then will the mob at the Solar Shop install all those pretty photovoltaic panels
The rebates will probably soon go up now that the green Mr Sheen will soon be the Leader of this wide brown land but there's a trade off between time and money. 8,000 today is worth more than 10,000 tomorrow. And may be future incentives to go solar could take the form of higher prices paid per unit of electricty sold to the grid rather than increased government contributions to initial capital costs.

And today was reason for yet more nostalgic indulgences. It was a full moon night of Tuesday 27th November 2001 when Izzie took her first peek into a Potter book - acquired from the local university library. Had no idea at the time just what a life changing adventure was in store. So this anniversary was just the excuse the Izzie needed to start reading the series again from the very very beginning
Was getting all nostalgic and wistful and it is most fascinating to read again in the light of 20/20 hindsight

But recent events have also added a strange twist to the story of the boy who lived
Professor Minerva McGonnagall is bemoaning the lack of restraint during festivities while she has spent all day sitting on a wall in her cat incarnation
"Oh yes. Everyone's celebrating, all right" she said impatiently. "You'd think they'd be a bit more careful, but no - even the Muggles have noticed something's going on. It was on their news"........
"You can't blame them" said Dumbledore gently "We've had precious little to celebrate for eleven years"

Izzie so so had a fit of the giggles. Even Petunia joined in the festivities this time. (Vernon was a boring old fart and just went off early to bed - probably dreaming of drills)

But somehow - it seems easier to cast characters from the Rat's Cabinet into the Star Wars world than the Potterverse. As much as the Izzie loathes the Lying Rodent - he would be far more worthy of the role of the Emperor than the utterly incompetent Voldemort who's got nothing behind him but a bunch of spin doctors in KKK costumes