One Eye to the Needle

By the end of the day I have stuck Sarah Lucas' cover of G2 on my notice board, "GOD IS DAD". No harm in reminding the children, constantly. Today Sam, "yes I've got everything dad", forgot his wallet, his locker key, bus pass, jarvis card and religious studies folder. He remembered the note I typed for him this morning that his religious studies homework had been left in his trouser pocket and washed and reincarnated as a thousand pieces of white bits that I am still trying to pick up.

In my latest attempt to clear up everything, I came across these Maori proverbs (written down around the time of the Lions tour in the spring)

"Strip away the bark and expose the heartwood"

and, more enigmatically,

"No matter what colour the cotton may be, there's only one eye to the needle"