This my life now: I have strong opinions about Bluey

I have been watching a lot of Bluey, the story of an Aussie family of very cute dogs. And while it's not by choice, I have still managed to grow some very strong opinions about this kids cartoon.

• Muffin is the best character in the series, whether she is so tired that she's acting like the drunk from hell, or playing up the part of the grumpy granny - I now have to demand 18 lollies as part of any transaction.

• My second favourite character is the terriers, because when they ask if you need protecting, it's the most adorable thing in a very adorable show. 

• Words like Hammerbarn, tickle-crabs and monkeyjocks have now entered everyday usage in our household.

• I am also grateful for the 'biscuits' and 'cheese and crackers' expletives, because boy, do we have a couple of parrots in the house right now.

• I do feel a bit useless at my inability to create the kind of in-depth game around the house that you see in the taxi and train episodes. That looks like a tonne of work.

• The best moments as an adult is when you're watching an episode for the second or third time, and suddenly realise why one of the grown-ups is acting a bit weird, and it's quietly heartbreaking.

• Sometimes it's great to watch as an adult because it's just awfully clever, like the double narrative at Bingo's birthday party crashing together with an eternal explanation of what Nanas are for; or the episode spent waiting for takeaways (although you will want spring rolls); or the one where when a tiny existential crisis results in Bluey dreaming about her true reality as a cartoon character; or the one where Bingo's fears of growing old metamorphose into dreams about flying through the solar system 

• (The lovely wife always refers to this one as the Terrance Malick episode, but I always get distracted by how much the music for it sounds like the theme from the Rugby World Cup.)
  

• It does give hints, in six minute chunks, on how to be a better parent (you've still always gotta figure out most of it for yourself), but sometimes all you need is to be told you're doing all right, and that this is good enough.

• And you might have to give up playing rugby for a while, but you can still dream of scoring a good try.

• Also, the bemused and amused look on Bandit's face when the kids get into a swirling ice-cream dance and waltz around the park is one of the best representations of the joy of parenting I've ever seen anywhere.

• Unicorse is an absolute legend and a very, very bad influence.

• They dropped new nine episodes the other week, and it's as good as ever. Rusty giving his kid sister the easy catch in the cricket episode, because that's what truly matters, is really something, mate.