What follows is my own opinion.  I know it is not everyone’s and I am truly glad to live in a country where I am free to vote for whomever I wish.  I am grateful to have a vote when so many women are denied this right.  …and I also appreciate the freedom to express my opinions here. 

Well, we’ve had a bit of a change over here in the past week….. there is a new Federal government and a new Prime Minister.

…and the emotions of the day, both in the queue at the polling booth (a really rude, racist man yelled at an elderly Asian lady, I just gave him my best teacher stare which seemed to shut him up …. and then later he followed the kids and I back to our car in order to hurl abuse at us) and the certainty that we were headed towards a new political era  ….  left me unable to calm down at the end of the day.

I was in tears as I watched the tally unfold. I was pacing the room and shouting at the television.   Really mature.  But really worried about the future of my country.

To add insult to injury, out voting system in the senate has a loophole which seems to have allocated seats to minor, single-issue, ridiculous parties that have an miniscule percentage if the primary vote, but preference deals have seen them somehow gain seats in the upper house. Motoring Enthusiasts Party anyone?  What about the Sporting Party?  Both of these single-issue groups have been handed seats in the upper house.  

It all makes me feel sad and worried about the future of my country.  It seems to me that we are taking a giant leap back 50 years.

…and I had no Greg to commiserate with me. Nobody to remind me that we survived years of this party in government before.  To tell me that things might not actually be as bad as I think they will be (he was ever the optimist but I can’t help but focus on the climate-skeptic, right-wing, compassionless characteristics that seem to underpin their policies).  

I know I will pull myself out of this downwards dip and I know that I need to distract myself from thinking too hard about it all.

But for the time being, I shall mope around and kick things ’cause sometimes, that is just what I need to do.

I just hope Greg lets me know he is commiserating with me before I break a toe…..