Good, that's out of the way then. Now, to the triple j Top 100.

For those unaware triple j is a radio station from the ABC stable, aimed, supposedly, at youth.

Each Australia Day the station lists the top 100 songs from the previous year. Sitting around drinking, but not pretending to make love to canines, is part of the 'Australia Day experience,' we were once told by a person of the appropriate age.

We've always found it rather quaint. Young people, social media junkies the majority of them, intently listening to the radio just like their great great grandparents would have done in the 1920s and 30s. The more things change ect, ect.

It's been some years since this correspondent has been forced to listen to triple j - the marriage before last, in fact. To be honest we sometimes wondered how many of those tuning into triple j's Top 100 could actually count to 100, or at least count down from 100, but that's beside the point.

Apparently the top five of the Top 100 usually sparks heated debate. This year was no exception it appears.

We've been told on expert authority by one of the 20 somethings employed here that Hoops by someone or something called The Rubens did the lap of honour last Tuesday.

"It was a very controversial decision," we were told.

We don't know how the coveted No 1 spot was decided.

In fact we have more interest in the results of the general election in Burkina Fasco (aka Upper Volta) than we do in what triple j's No 1 song is for the year or how it is worked out. That's because we're old and probably senile.

However, Editor Bell, who is considerably older than this correspondent, weighed into the topic, giving her robust thoughts on The Rubens and their No 1 hit, Hoops.

We can't recall whether she was jubilant, surprised or devastated at the choice, for we weren't really listening.

However, once her lengthy lecture was over, we did offer the following: "With the greatest respect Editor Bell, aren't you a little bit long in the tooth to be worrying about triple j's Top 100.''

There was a pause. A brief lull. Just like the eye of the cyclone, we guess.

Then EB let fly with a vintage invective spray aimed in our direction. It was classic stuff and we would have recorded it had we known how to work the voice memo on our iPhone.

We were described among other insults as a 'mucking banker' and a 'half wit' (or words similar) during a brief but spirited tirade.

"What's more I saw The Rubens last year. Live," she added, triumphantly.

"They were the support act at The Springsteen Concert.''

"At least Springsteen is close to your age," we replied (actually we whispered that. We're nothing if not a coward).

We can report that there has been no further discussion about triple j's Top 100 since and that's probably a good thing for our on-going employment here.

However we have made a mental note not to make any comment, positive, negative or otherwise on the subject next Australia Day, no matter how controversial the choice is.

We'll just plead ignorance. We're good at that.