I've snuck home to Willoughby. Yup - houseminding on the upper north shore isn't all it's cracked up to be. Big house (which makes scary noises at night time), cold house (I've taken to going to bed very early cos it's the only place I actually feel warm), crazy cats, and empty cupboards (not even a bottle of soy sauce).

On the plus side I've snuck back to Willoughby in the sporty red car - which once I worked out how to change gear and what side the indicator button was one - was very cool.

Started the morning with a cafe and newspaper session - which then rolled into a bit of a pen to paper thingy. Planning to stick with the pen to paper bit. Need lots of new words to make up for a very disrupted writing week (the house minding computer is very noisy - so much so that I can't think when it's on).

Am critiqueing a collaboration written by a few friends, trying to tidy up a flash that I seem to have been working on for the last month, as well as trying to put a few thousand of novel type words on paper. Instead I'm blogging.

Chatswood and shopping tempts also - new jeans, underwear and make-up required (not to mention soy sauce!)

For months I've been fighting with my mouse. It's sticky and erratic and won't point where I want it to. I've tried taking off the back piece to clean the ball - but that's firmly stuck in place (broken fingernails in the attempt!)

Today, in a rare moment of IT interaction, I bought a new mouse. I have to admit I was a little flummoxed when I saw the range of mice that are available. Ones with balls, with lasers, cordless and wireless in fact almost everything but handsfree! What colour, what style, what price and, most importantly, would it actually plug into the back of my computer and work.

Well it's all plugged in now. The ease of movement, the gentlest of touches and arrow points where arrow should. Why didn't I do this months ago? Why did I let my fear of all things technical interfer with such mouse pleasure?

Which such success under my belt I might even buy tht USB cable I need for my printer. Two bits of technology in quick succession - I can feel my geekiness growing.