Fire, fury and the first amendment

Our politicians are still in holiday mode, apart from the occasional Turnbullian thought-bubble about another postal survey, this time on the republic. At this rate, the greatest achievement of his prime ministership will be saving Australia Post.

But our American cousins are back into the fray for 2018, courtesy of the juicy excerpts from Michael Wolff's new book, Fire and Fury – a title that could equally describe the response so far to Wolff's revelations from deep inside a White House apparently riven by infighting and dysfunction.

Illustration: Reg Lynch

He claims that Trump wanted to lose, and Melania cried when he won, while Ivanka's dead keen to be president. We also learned why POTUS is so fond of Big Macs – he thinks that constantly eating Macca's protects him from being poisoned, except via the slow, inexorable march of heart disease.

The Twitter insult comic-in-chief, whose skin is as thin as it is tangerine, has been apoplectic. He's tried to sue both the publishers and former chief strategist Steve Bannon, who's suing right back – I've ordered the book on my Kindle so I can read it before the lawyers get to it.

Michael Wolff's new book has some hair-raising revelations of chaos in Donald Trump's White House.Credit: YOUTUBE

This stoush has softened the blow that the Game of Thrones final series won't arrive until 2019. There's more than enough intrigue and backstabbing in Washington to keep us entertained in the meantime, with Trump as Joffrey, Bannon as Walder Frey and Ivanka as Cersei. Who knows, perhaps she will end up on her daddy's Ironic Throne someday?

Stepping back in time at the SCG

The first day of the Sydney Test had it all – blazing sunshine, punters dressed as Warnie, a protracted rain delay, and best of all, a late flurry of English wickets. I'm not convinced by the drab box the Trust wants to build next door, but the SCG itself remains an absolute gem.

We aren't great at heritage in this city, but we did well to keep those old stands. To step into the Members' Bar is to travel to a genteel era, where everyone wears collared shirts and long trousers, and beer's served in real glass. The only sign of 2018 is a pool table-size TV above the antique bar.

But when you leave, you're back in today's poorly-planned NSW. You can take the Tibby Cotter Bridge, which takes you too far south for Central, or trudge slowly down narrow, crowded Fitzroy St. Even if you can find a cab, the roads are choked, and the bus queues outside are even longer than the beer queues inside.

Author Michael Wolff has triggered a fresh round of fire and fury with his new book on the Donald Trump administration.Credit: CAROLYN KASTER

So I fumed when Fairfax tweeted a picture from the SCG Test of 1951, with crowds piling onto trams directly outside on Driver Avenue. How much pain we've endured to restore a fraction of what was once the Southern Hemisphere's biggest tram network?

You're terrific, Muriel

I finally caught Muriel's Wedding this week, and what a rare pleasure to be able to offer unqualified praise for something associated with an Australian movie! But it's all great – the dayglo sets, the flamboyant costumes, and especially the music, which blends cheesy-cool ABBA hits with powerful contemporary tunes worthy of an album by co-writer Kate Miller-Heidke. The only downside is that this production wraps up on January 27, and has completely sold out.

In Broadway and the West End, big musicals like this premiere with open-ended runs – sadly, Sydney has so few theatres suitable for big productions that they fill up months in advance. Book of Mormon's heading to the Lyric, and the Capitol will soon host another great '90s movie-turned-musical, Priscilla.

Muriel could run all year if it had a home – every tourist would be desperate for tickets. Surely some of the developers throwing up huge towers all over the CBD could be enticed to include new theatres in their masterplans? Barangaroo would be the perfect home for PJ Hogan's musical – it's right next to the Harbour Bridge which features so prominently in the set, and the area's plans for skyscrapers and mega-casinos everywhere is 100 per cent Porpoise Spit.

This need will only grow greater, I predict. In light of the success enjoyed by Muriel and Priscilla, we can expect a raft of new Aussie movie-musicals soon – The Castle's an obvious choice, and I can't wait to see Nicole Kidman headlining the stage version of BMX Bandits.

The fasting and the spurious

Thanks to all who responded to last week's question about how you've kept your weight loss resolutions. Many suggested intermittent fasting – some backed Michael Mosley's 5:2 plan, but most advocated the version where you don't eat between dinner and lunch – Kirsten said she'd lost 20kg this way. "Coffee and lemon water is fine," Mark tweeted encouragingly. I've tried this, and tended to eat so much between midday and 8pm that I didn't lose all much – but glad others have had more success.

Rachel suggested we "eat proper meals, include foods you like, and stop when you're not hungry. Exercise for fun." If it was that easy, I'd have a six pack – but I'm glad it worked for you, Rachel! Paul suggested a meal delivery service, and Mike said he'd lost 18kg by posting his journey on YouTube – a DIY version of The Biggest Loser? I'm not nearly that brave, but good on you.

I've been enjoying great meals with long-absent friends a little too much to report progress at my end, but I'm sure I'll get back to my gym schedule this week. Or next week. Or some week… sigh.

[e-mail] or tweet @domknight