MAN ABOUT TOWN

Just a quick note to inform those of you who don't already know about it that I'm co-hosting Summer Breakfast on 3RRR for the next fortnight, starting tomorrow morning. Yes, I'm going to celebrate having 10 days off work by getting up at 5am in order to play tunes, read the news, and generally banter with two charming co-hosts: the dashing Declan Kelly in week one, and the super-sonic Camila Hannan in my second week. Feel free to tune in Monday-Friday at 102.7 FM or streaming at www.rrr.org.au for all the fun - as well as the tired, grumpy, why-the-hell-am-broadcasti ng-with-no-sleep lunacy of New Year'sDay; the bah-humbuggery of Christmas Day; and much, much more! Trust me, it'll be frabjous!

I'm speaking on a panel about GLBT media tonight at Collingwood's Glasshouse Hotel at 7pm if you feel like coming along. It's a free event, and is being recorded for broadcast later this week on JOY 94.9 FM. Bring your friends!

Played three full quarters in the Community Cup on Sunday at Junction Oval, and actually managed to touch the ball a few times, which is certainly better than my performance last year. Hmm, maybe the personal training sessions I've done the last four weeks are actually starting to pay off... It's even more remarkable given how many intoxicants and other substances I consumed the night before, in a binge that started with 'research' for a feature article on cocktails at Ginger, took in a friend's 50th birthday, the relocated Witness Protection Program Social Club, and ended at Control HQ. Last time I plan an early night before the big game! While the Megahertz put in a valiant effort, we didn't get across the line, but nonetheless a fun day was had by all, as far as I can tell, with about the only injury I know of on our team being a loose tooth in David Bridie's upper jaw. Huge crowd, three streakers, much fun. Ms Fits looked fetching as always, although I ...

Now in its 14th year, the Sacred Heart Mission Community Cup is an annual charity football match between some of Melbourne ’s best musicians – the Espy Rockdogs – and the Megahertz, made up of announcers from community radio stations 3RRR and PBS FM (including the exceptionally unfit author of this very blog). While the degree of skill on display at the game is more laughable than laudable, the annual match is a triumph of community spirit and participation, and raises more than $70,000 annually for St Kilda’s Sacred Heart Mission, which provides vital assistance for people who are homeless or living in poverty. In 2005 the 15 000 at the cup raised an astonishing $104 000 - let's see if we can beat that this year, shall we?! As well as the on-field talent, the off-ground entertainment features live performances by bands including Mach Pelican and The RocKwiz Orchestra, with special guests. Come on down to the Junction Oval, point and laugh at my skinny white legs, hang out with...

For some time now I've been considering the idea for a non-fiction book, for which I never seem to have the time to pitch to an appropriate publisher: a travellers' guide to what I consider the real Melbourne. The original idea struck me while browsing through a bookshop in the London suburb of Bloomsbury in 2005. "Fuck," my brain said, in its traditionally crass and vernacular way, "why the hell do Melbourne guide books tell tourists to visit such pissweak 'attractions' as Captain Cook's Cottage when there are so many more interesting sites to be seen off the beaten track?" Should I ever get around to writing or editing such a book, I'd suggest to tourists that they take a full-moon tour of the Melbourne General Cemetery for example, or drink in the front bar of the Espy watching the sun set over Port Phillip Bay. Others might suggest a visit to the Red Hill Market, or lunch on Victoria St, Richmond, followed by an afternoon at the Immigr...

I didin't make it to the 12th annual Melbourne Pride March on Sunday afternoon, but here are some pictures nonetheless...