Writing in HP today from Melbourne

End of spring, hot weather makes its unpleasant appearance--heat will consume Aussies for 3 months. Old people in poor health are vulnerable and some would die--common knowledge. Bush-fire warnings. Black Friday would be long remembered--many were killed and Queen Elizabeth sent her condolences to the mourning nation. A few arsonists caught nearly every year!

The beaches will be crowded--Down Under has wonderful beaches.  Bare-chested females will attract curious eyes of males, especially the young ones'
(I am an old man but casting a look costs nothing and my wife doesn't mind the least--she would say--Your eyes might fall off if you gaze too long!). But I love to look at the kids playing on the beach or dipping their feet in the water.  How avidly do they look for pebbles
and shells!  Mothers' shouting---Kids, don't venture too far--wear your hats! We have the largest incidence of melanoma  Couples rest under coloured umbrellas (the stalls that lease these make good money!)--we are a nation of beer-drinkers and our pubs with history dating to the early 1800's ! Billions spent on grog--we produce great wine (thanks to nature and the pioneer-growers and wine-makers from Europe)--foreign tourists must visit our vine-yards and wineries--they would not regret--great restaurants
exist alongside, mostly owned by the winery-owners.  A$ 50 to 60 pp
starter, main and wine of your choice but sadly no music...

How dreadful is our transportation system! Not the place to discuss this. Sydney has a quick tram to the airport but we poor long-suffering Melburnians  have been left out--yesterday the authorities announced--work will begin within A DECADE--****** off, I would be long dead!  50% of trams to where I live don't have air-con (we use the term Air) and I dread travelling to the city--I don't have a driving-licence--tests are very demanding--one woman took 60 times over 30 years and failed--true story!

Don't wear flowers on your hair when you come to Australia--Aussies aren't romantic people--too frank, abrasive, caustic (not all), with
dry humour, they love to swear, women included, everyone is a mate
(pronounced as MITE), BTW, English is quite out of date here-
we have our own lingo--Stringe....unique in the English-speaking world... Newspaper editors should take English tests-
its (the genitive case) is written it's; in REGARDS** to, spectacular? fire for ferocious--people die in fires--what's so spectacular?
don't know the word schadenfreude?,  forecasted??? (business news),
I shouldn't go own lest I weep....

don't read sonnets to Aussies--don't talk literature or philosophy-
talk about beer, footy, the bets on horses, they dislike the intellectual-
everyone is MITE, FAIR DINKUM, LARRIKIN....

We have a national anthem-ADVANCE AUSTRALIA FAIR with tune that's un-singable and lyrics so bad that you would spew....
Those Olympic winners of ours mumbled when they were expected to sing)
Another national anthem? Have a national poll on a new one?

A Republic without the Queen? But many still adore her...politicians who favour a R. are unhappy.

Why did I come here from another land?  
It's fate--I am a fatalist all through.

Somehow, Down Under has its charms..its quirky features apart.
Made many good friends.

I live the day--I write in HP....I live a very simple life in the eastern suburbs, keep a rose-garden...no rearing of pigs, chooks...
Quarrel with my long-suffering wife about once a week.. it has become a habit but we forget in 5 minutes!

I have little to complain about life in Down Under

11 am, Melb time, 27th Nov