Such a trial

Check out the Name Voyager - type in a name into this cool little tool, and it'll tell you how popular it's been over the last century, with a little graph and all. Well, how popular it's been in the US, but I think Australia is fairly well equivalent, with a few exceptions. My name and my brother's were chosen by my parents at the lowest peak of their popularity (by chance, I imagine, rather than careful planning), which would explain why we didn't share our names with anyone else at school. And if this gets you all interested in the popularity of names, this Wikipedia entry has various lists of popular names for last year, with links to each Australian state. Fascinating stuff.

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A matter I've head at work which has been lurching back and forth over whether or not the parties will agree to settle has staggered back towards "definitely not, I'd rather see that bastard burn in hell", and the trial is going ahead. On one hand, hooray! A three-day trial that I get to run with the barrister. It's exciting stuff. On the other hand, the trial starts right after the weekend we're moving in. Boo. And the week before we move - ie. this week, ie. the week starting tomorrow, oh my god - will be full of trial prep at work and frantic last minute "we forgot to pack that!" moments at home. I am determinedly looking on the positive side, and thinking that two exciting things happening at the same time means double the excitement. Lucky me.