Ssssshhhh - don't tell the Ger-Man...

But I have developed a bit of a crush.

His name is Kevie. (Not usually the sort of name to get hearts all a fluttering – but - there you go.)

Kevie is a rather special bloke. He may not be conventionally drop-dead gorgeous - but in his own way-he’s rather cute. And he has a witty, self-depreciating sense of humour – which as we all know - is always a very attractive trait in a man.

And Kevie doesn’t take himself too seriously. He has on many occasions been heard to make jibes about his hairstyle and general lack of dress sense. I think Kevie’s a bit hard on himself as (in my opinion) he really doesn’t scrub up too badly.

Kevie does, however, seem to take what he does quite seriously. And he also seems (in my opinion) to be doing it quite well. Over the last 6 months or so, Kevie has achieved some quite remarkable things. Here are but a few examples:

• Making a visit to the “historic family home” and having a quiet, gentle chat with “mum” to sensitively break the news to her that, because we’re all grown up now, it might be time for us to start seriously planning to “leave home” for good.

• Honoring a promise and signing a high profile pact. And also understanding (unlike those that came before him) that sometimes the vision, principle and commitment of these things is (similar to marriage contracts) more important than the specifics contained within.

• Humbly admitting past mistakes, even for truly appalling atrocities. Taking full responsibility, sincerely asking forgiveness and thereby paving the way to restoring a sense of resolution and rightful justice. (Always something to make a girl swoon a bit .)

• Getting himself invited into a very wary country to speak directly to the young future leaders (fluently in their own-tongue) about how they may be being perceived by the wider world and (ever the diplomat) planting seeds on how it’s up to them to improve things in the future.

But more than this – Kevie has restored both my faith in, and my hope for, the future of my “mother-land”. (Both had been sorely tested over the past decade.)

He has ensured that I can safely continue procrastinating on filling out the application forms (that have been sitting on my desk for the last 3 years) for a legitimately entitled passport from my “father-land”. (And thereby, also saving me from any future dilemmas about how to pronounce 'fish&chips' and having to choose who to back in the rugby…)

Yeah, I think I’ve really developed a bit of a “thing” for Kevie.

Pity my sister got in first:

My Darlink sister with kevie (at a policy development conference prior to last November’s Rudd-slide).


Explaination (for those not familiar with recent developments in Australian politics) Kevin Rudd is the Prime Minister and since coming to power last November he's:

1) Officially met with Queen Elizabeth II about Australia's intention to become a republic.

2) Signed The Kyoto Protocol.

3) Formally apologised to the Stolen Generation (for decades it was government policy to forcibly remove aboriginal children from their families).

4) Addressed leading university students in China ( in regard to human rights).