Tax refund

My wife got an unusual letter from the Tax Office the other day. It said that they had reviewed her tax return from last year and that this letter was an 'Amended Assessment'. Since my wife didn't receive any income in the last financial year, she didn't pay any tax. This Amended Assessment lists my wife's income as $0.00 and the tax payable on that income as $0.00. This is no different to their original assessment, but just to ram the point home, they enclosed a refund cheque for 'nil'.

That's right. The government spent 50 cents on a stamp to send us a cheque for nil. Your tax dollars at work, people.

But that's not all. Yesterday my wife got another Amended Assessment letter from the Tax Office. It was identical to the previous one. Income: $0.00. Tax payable: $0.00. Another refund cheque for 'nil'. So far they are up to a dollar in postage to send us nothing.

When we deposit these cheques, I wonder how long they will take to clear.

The latest model

Looking much like all of the previous models, the newest arrival seems quite relaxed about joining the clan.

Born 9 July 2007, weighing 3.9kg (8lb 9oz), and 52cm long.

Mother and baby are doing well. Father is a bit frazzled from looking after the rest of the tribe and making daily trips to the hospital.

Oh Brother

Whenever I eat a meat pie, I always put some tomato sauce on the top and smear it around with my index finger. I have been doing this for as long as I can remember, although it makes my wife grimace in much the same way that she does when I lick the dirt off the soles of my shoes.

I had a pie at my brother's house one time, and as I went through my sauce smearing ritual, I noticed my brother and his wife exchange glances that silently conveyed a complete conversation. Her look said to him, "You've got to be kidding me! I can't believe what I'm seeing!" while the look on his face said, "See?! I told you! It's perfectly normal behaviour!"