Australia Chit Chat Discuss Australia in the General forums; No mate, we're not all crocs an' snakes an' deadly spiders. So what are we? And why this post? Last ...

[jeff]

No mate, we're not all crocs an' snakes an' deadly spiders.
So what are we?
And why this post?

Last one first. In private mail to a very dear mate from FB, I reckoned that , despite the carnage that currently ravages our country, we're just such lucky buggers, dead set. War has barely touched our shores (my regards to the survivors of the bombings from WW2), and our health system hasn't totally imploded - yet. And most of us do it pretty soft.

Next. Australia isn't all that big. Neither is our population.
Ever asked yourself why?
Think about it.
Most of Australia's land mass is rs. (sorry, that stands for ratshit. My bad.)
It's harsh and unforgiving, all bound up in a (strewth, I hate this. What's the word for enchanting, enthralling, captivating?) giant package, loosely tied.
Sure, My Lady and I travel remote areas alone, but we have three (or more) factors to support us, namely a familiarity with the environment, a satellite phone, and a resignation that our vehicle may be forfeit. Visitors to Oz must, Must be aware that distances are huge, support is non-existant, and you'd be bloody lucky to see another vehicle in the short term

Which brings us to the first point - "Hostile Beasties".
Sure, our land abounds in the buggers.But I think it's called 'Natural Selection".
Fellers, don't worry about it. If you are very, very academic, then you will hide in your Origami castle.
On the other hand dumb schmucks like us seem to survive, eh.
To those of you who drive on ice roads............my admiration. Sand and mud I can sort.
Ice? no mate, not for this little black duck.
To each their own, and ain't that a fact.
Luddite jeff.

[egalecki]

Australia is one of the places I've always wanted to visit. It seems to be such a mix of things all rolled up into one. I suspect it would take more than one trip to get a good feel for the place!

No ice, huh? That sounds pretty good right now. The groundhog saw his shadow and winter's still upon us...

[jeff]

Elisabeth, I reckon you got it pretty right. Australia ain't too bad, and I'd love to tour Africa and South America, but that seems unlikely. For us (my Missus shares your name, by the way), Indonesia (Java) is like a second home. Apart from that, we could easily live out our greying years just mucking about in Oz.
Yes Lizzy, I reckon our place will do at a pinch.
Sometimes it seems unjust.
Sin loi,
Jeff.

[jeff]

Lizzy, your phrase "the Groundhog saw his shadow----.
That sounds delicious. May I ask of the legends behind the words?

Bed time this end.
Mushy Brained.

[egalecki]

Groundhog Day- February 2. The date upon which some arbitrary person decided to harass a poor hibernating groundhog out of sleep, to see if he got pissed off. If he doesn't see his shadow, winter's over. If he does, there are 6 more weeks of winter. I believe that "seeing his shadow" means that he rushes back down the hole from whence he was prodded. Guess what happens more often than not??

However, if you check your dates for this hemisphere, six more weeks from the beginning of Feb. is right around when things should moderate anyway, so, I'm afraid it's all hooey.

For the record, Punxatawney Phil is the poor critter's name. Or one of the poor critters- I believe there are more than one these days. I dunno how they reconcile it when New York's says it's over but Punxatawney Phil says it isn't. Crabby rodents at 20 paces, anyone????

For more on this uniquely American tradition, see the movie "Groundhog Day" with Bill Murray. A truly funny movie. One of my favorites!

[asudavew]

No groundhogs down under?

[jeff]

No Dave no: just us rats, plus the odd mongrel.(Yours truly, eg.)

Thanks for that Egals - love it to bits. You damn near qualify as an Honorary Mongrel.

Onya Lass.

Luddite Jeff.

[Ken524]

Jeff,

Your description of Australia makes me want to visit even more. Perhaps one of these days I can build up enough seniority to get a Sydney route.

[sarah h]

For the record, Punxatawney Phil is the poor critter's name. Or one of the poor critters- I believe there are more than one these days.

Up here, we have Wiarton Willie!

Doesn't really matter what he sees or doesn't though - winter lasts more like eight weeks past Groundhog Day, regardless. So six more to go ... AAARRRGGGHHHHHHH!!! (picture that as a kind of 'Charlie Brown' reaction)

Oz, Indonesia - they sound wonderful, especially at this point in a Northern winter. It did warm up enough to get my oven door unstuck though.

Sarah

[gjbingham]

Glad you're happy mucking around in the outback and surrounding lands Jeffy. Let us know how the fish out of water likes London! Perhaps you should review Crocodile Dundee for a few tricks before you travel.
Onya!