joybelle
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Post by joybelle on Dec 12, 2023 1:49:52 GMT
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joybelle
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Post by joybelle on Dec 24, 2023 5:53:07 GMT
My friend in NZ just posted this on FB...thought it worth sharing. (Aust and NZ have a PAV rivalry about who actually invented it too LOL.) We in OZ did of course Cheesing  |
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joybelle
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Post by joybelle on Jan 26, 2024 10:50:02 GMT
Well today 26th Jan...is Australia Day. It's a date that is falling out of popularity due to the fact it is often now called 'Invasion Day' when in 1788 the British put a flag on the shores and claimed it was uninhabited! (Our indigenous Aboriginals had been here for 60,000 yrs, one of the oldest cultures on the planet) and like many countries were treated badly and slaughtered, or rounded up into camps/missions or used as free labor. We are now in serious discussions to 'change the date' to something more appropriate for modern times. Plus we have only been celebrating it on that day since the 1930's when some bright spark decided we would make it national instead of different days in different states. We do however still celebrate what we have become..not that cruel past. So in the spirit of being a Proud Modern Australian...here are some unique words we use...(and we actually do!) (Bonza, Sheila, and Strewth are not used much these days..but most Aussies say the others regularly.)  |
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joybelle
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Post by joybelle on Feb 1, 2024 8:04:24 GMT
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joybelle
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Post by joybelle on Mar 1, 2024 16:02:54 GMT
 They are completely bare today  No sparkling mineral water..no soft drinks (soda pop).. We are out of CO2 Guess we will just import the whole bottles from somewhere?? Who knows. Here is a cut and paste. 'We are working with our suppliers to minimise the impacts for our customers, and we hope to have products back on our shelves as soon as possible,' the spokesperson said. Australia's carbon dioxide market relies on two multinational suppliers: the British company BOC and French firm Air Liquide. A spokesperson from BOC said shortages of CO2 have occurred due to issues with local manufacturers and global supply routes which are affecting the transportation of the substance to overseas markets. 'BOC is prioritising supply for critical medical, safety and water treatment customers,' the spokesperson said. 'We are working collaboratively with customers, our CO2 suppliers and other industry stakeholders to manage the situation'. The spokesperson said the company is committed to increasing production of C02 to meet the needs of consumers which includes the construction of a C02 processing facility in Victoria to be built by the second half of 2024. Supplies of beer, however, are understood to be unaffected by the shortage. The latest supply headache comes as concerns were previously raised over a shortage of carbon dioxide by food industry leaders in Australia last year. The Australian New Zealand Industrial Gas Association, the peak industry body representing gas companies in both countries, expressed fears the shortage was another sign of Australia's weak food supply chain. The agency said shortages are often caused by outages at production facilities and Australia's reliance on overseas producers. Carbon dioxide is captured in large quantities often at major industrial sites such as power plants and natural gas-processing facilities. It is removed by burning fossil fuels, such as coal, and is captured from the gases emitted during this process before it is stored. CO2 can also extracted directly from the atmosphere through the air.  |
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joybelle
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Post by joybelle on Mar 7, 2024 8:34:49 GMT
Aussie lingo (language) at it's finest  . (but it's true...we understand all of this)  Watch till the end when he puts it all together. He probably should have eaten a 'sanga' (sandwich) before he went to the 'bottle'o' (liquor store) to get the 'rumbo'..may have helped and not needed to call the 'ambo' (ambulance) ! We are too lazy to say whole words ..and most Aussies use all these words when speaking.  And we call our McDonald's 'Macca's' www.facebook.com/reel/842329111031885 |
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Jo
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Post by Jo on Mar 7, 2024 16:35:43 GMT
joybelle, I ran across this, written by Douglas Adams of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy fame, again the other day. Now I can ask a real Aussie, "How true is this?".
DOUGLAS ADAMS’ GUIDE TO AUSTRALIA
Australia is a very confusing place, taking up a large amount of the Bottom half of the planet. It is recognisable from orbit because of many unusual features, including what at first looks like an enormous bite taken out of its southern edge; a wall of sheer cliffs which plunge deep into the girting sea. Geologists assure us that this is simply an accident of geomorphology and plate tectonics, but they still call it the “Great Australian Bight” proving that not only are they covering up a more frightening theory, but they can’t spell either.
The first of the confusing things about Australia is the status of the place. Where other land masses and sovereign lands are classified as either continent, island, or country, Australia is considered all three. Typically, it is unique in this.
The second confusing thing about Australia are the animals. They can be divided into three categories: Poisonous, Odd, and Sheep. It is true that of the 10 most poisonous arachnids on the planet, Australia has 9 of them. Actually, it would be more accurate to say that of the 9 most poisonous arachnids, Australia has all of them. However, there are curiously few snakes, possibly because the spiders have killed them all. But even the spiders won’t go near the sea. Any visitors should be careful to check inside boots (before putting them on), under toilet seats (before sitting down) and generally everywhere else. A stick is very useful for this task.
Strangely, it tends to be the second class of animals (the Odd) that are more dangerous. The creature that kills the most people each year is the common Wombat. It is nearly as ridiculous as its name, and spends its life digging holes in the ground, in which it hides. During the night it comes out to eat worms and grubs. The wombat kills people in two ways: First, the animal is indestructible. Digging holes in the hard Australian clay builds muscles that outclass Olympic weight lifters. At night, they often wander the roads. Semi-trailers (Road Trains) have hit them at high speed, with all 9 wheels on one side, and this merely makes them very annoyed. They express this by snorting, glaring, and walking away. Alas, to smaller cars, the wombat becomes a symmetrical launching pad, with results that can be imagined, but not adequately described. The second way the wombat kills people relates to its burrowing behaviour. If a person happens to put their hand down a Wombat hole, the Wombat will feel the disturbance and think “Ho! My hole is collapsing!” at which it will brace its muscled legs and push up against the roof of its burrow with incredible force, to prevent its collapse. Any unfortunate hand will be crushed, and attempts to withdraw will cause the Wombat to simply bear down harder. The unfortunate will then bleed to death through their crushed hand as the wombat prevents him from seeking assistance. This is considered the third most embarrassing known way to die, and Australians don’t talk about it much.
At this point, we would like to mention the Platypus, estranged relative of the mammal, which has a duck-bill, otter’s tail, webbed feet, lays eggs, detects its aquatic prey in the same way as the electric eel, and has venomous barbs attached to its hind legs, thus combining all ‘typical’ Australian attributes into a single improbable creature.
The last confusing thing about Australia is the inhabitants. First, a short history: Some time around 40,000 years ago, some people arrived in boats from the north. They ate all the available food, and lot of them died. The ones that survived learned respect for the balance of nature, man’s proper place in the scheme of things, and spiders. They settled in, and spent a lot of the intervening time making up strange stories. Then, around 200 years ago, Europeans arrived in boats from the north. More accurately, European convicts were sent, with a few deranged and stupid people in charge. They tried to plant their crops in Autumn (failing to take account of the reversal of the seasons when moving from the top half of the planet to the bottom), ate all their food, and a lot of them died. About then the sheep arrived, and have been treasured ever since. It is interesting to note here that the Europeans always consider themselves vastly superior to any other race they encounter, since they can lie, cheat, steal, and litigate (marks of a civilised culture they say) – whereas all the Aboriginals can do is happily survive being left in the middle of a vast red-hot desert, equipped with a stick. Eventually, the new lot of people stopped being Europeans on Extended Holiday and became Australians.
The changes are subtle, but deep, caused by the mind-stretching expanses of nothingness and eerie quiet, where a person can sit perfectly still and look deep inside themselves to the core of their essence, their reasons for being, and the necessity of checking inside your boots every morning for fatal surprises. They also picked up the most finely tuned sense of irony in the world, and the Aboriginal gift for making up stories.
Be warned. There is also the matter of the beaches. Australian beaches are simply the nicest and best in the entire world. Although anyone actually venturing into the sea will have to contend with sharks, stinging jellyfish, stonefish (a fish which sits on the bottom of the sea, pretends to be a rock, and has venomous barbs sticking out of its back that will kill just from the pain) and surfboarders. However, watching a beach sunset is worth the risk.
As a result of all this hardship, dirt, thirst, and wombats, you would expect Australians to be a dour lot. Instead, they are genial, jolly, cheerful, and always willing to share a kind word with a stranger, unless they are an American. Faced with insurmountable odds and impossible problems, they smile disarmingly and look for a stick. Major engineering feats have been performed with sheets of corrugated iron, string, and mud.
Alone of all the races on earth, they seem to be free from the ‘Grass is Greener on the other side of the fence’ syndrome, and roundly proclaim that Australia is, in fact, the other side of that fence. They call the land “Oz”, “Godzone” (a verbal contraction of “God’s Own Country”) and “Best bloody place on earth, bar none, strewth.” The irritating thing about this is they may be right.
There are some traps for the unsuspecting traveller, though. Do not under any circumstances suggest that the beer is imperfect, unless you are comparing it to another kind of Australian beer. Do not wear a Hawaiian shirt. Religion and Politics are safe topics of conversation (Australians don’t care too much about either) but Sport is a minefield. The only correct answer to “So, howdya’ like our country, eh?” is “Best {insert your own regional swear word here} country in the world!”. It is very likely that, on arriving, some cheerful Australians will ‘adopt’ you on your first night, and take you to a pub where Australian Beer is served. Despite the obvious danger, do not refuse. It is a form of initiation rite. You will wake up late the next day with an astonishing hangover, a foul-taste in your mouth, and wearing strange clothes. Your hosts will usually make sure you get home, and waive off any legal difficulties with “It’s his first time in Australia, so we took him to the pub.”, to which the policeman will sagely nod and close his notebook. Be sure to tell the story of these events to every other Australian you encounter, adding new embellishments at every stage, and noting how strong the beer was. Thus you will be accepted into this unique culture.
Most Australians are now urban dwellers, having discovered the primary use of electricity, which is air-conditioning and refrigerators.
Typical Australian sayings:
* “G’Day!”
* “It’s better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.”
* “She’ll be right.”
* “And down from Kosciusko, where the pine clad ridges raise their torn and rugged battlements on high, where the air is clear as crystal, and the white stars fairly blaze at midnight in the cold and frosty sky.
And where, around the Overflow, the reed beds sweep and sway to the breezes, and the rolling plains are wide. The Man from Snowy River is a household word today, and the stockmen tell the story of his ride.”
Tips to Surviving Australia:
* Don’t ever put your hand down a hole for any reason whatsoever. We mean it.
* The beer is stronger than you think, regardless of how strong you think it is.
* Always carry a stick.
* Air-conditioning.
* Do not attempt to use Australian slang, unless you are a trained linguist and good in a fist fight.
* Thick socks.
* Take good maps. Stopping to ask directions only works when there are people nearby.
* If you leave the urban areas, carry several litres of water with you at all times, or you will die.
* Even in the most embellished stories told by Australians, there is always a core of truth that it is unwise to ignore.
See Also: “Deserts: How to die in them”, “The Stick: Second most useful thing ever” and “Poisonous and Venomous arachnids, insects, animals, trees, shrubs, fish and sheep of Australia, volumes 1-42”
Douglas Adams
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Post by lurkercat on Mar 7, 2024 18:18:52 GMT
And another odd thing about Australia, men from Australia on holiday abroad (or at least as far away as New Zealand) always travel in groups of 5. At least that was my experience when I went to NZ to ski (but instead spent most of my time touring the most beautiful and geographically interesting (and friendliest) country I've ever seen!). Every single Australian man I met on my trip was traveling with exactly 4 of his friends. Seemed decidedly odd in the consistency with which this occurred. And wow, do both Australians and New Zealanders talk FAST. I had to ask far more people there to slow down so I could understand them than I did in Mexico (where my Spanish is rudimentary at best, while my English is presumably my native language)....but my brain just really struggled to keep up.
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joybelle
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Post by joybelle on Mar 8, 2024 3:28:06 GMT
Jo , Well some true some not so much. I will address a few points. That may have been more relevant back in the 60's/70's...but we have pushed our wildlife much further inland with our urban sprawl. Australia is roughly the same size as the USA..but we only have 26 million people! That's because the majority of the population live on the fringe of our coasts where they get sea breezes..and all our capital cities are on coastline. This is because LARGE parts of our land are pretty much 'uninhabitable' desserts. It's a hot arid country until we flood ! If you draw a line that covers about 200 miles around the inside edge..that's where most live. Then there is the middle...where we grow agriculture and farm..and the centre is just dessert and HOT!! To our shame we pushed our indigenous ppl into these parts back in the 1700's...and it's still that way We call them 'remote communities') At the top of OZ it is 'tropical' like jungle country...at the bottom end..more temperate and colder. (though the only cold parts are our mountains..which ONLY get snow for a winter season) if they are high enough. Up top they get dryer winters (but have a monsoon and cyclone season in summer)..and down south gets more like British winters..rainy and miserable . (but it's when our dams top up) and we don't get cyclones or tropical dangers. South is prob like California ..and north like Florida (but very humid and hot) Banana, Mango and sugar cane country Down south we grow potatoes, cabbage and carrots etc. The North have cane toads..the south does not. And nowhere but our mountains gets snow.That is the prelude to the 'critters' and 'wildlife'. Most Aussies have never seen a wombat (but description is accurate) except outside a fauna park. We pushed them inwards too as we cut down our 'bushland' (wilderness)...We do NOT have kangaroos, wombats, platypus and koala's roaming our streets..though the odd time they wander in (like bears do in US)..but they don't walk the streets. The middle part of OZ has a fair distribution of wildlife and we do have to avoid kangaroos on our roads in what we call the 'country' or 'bush'. They are MUCH more plentiful than wombats. OK..spiders..yes..aughhh. The deadliest spider is still confined to one capital city (Sydney). The 'funnel web'... and they WILL kill you. (there is an anti venom..but you have to be quick) They do eradication progams constantly. Our biggest danger in all parts are actually snakes..and they are usualy only found where there has not been an established housing estate..down south..but up North they are more plentiful. Most will kill you yes. Sharks..hmmm. We have around 3/4 shark attacks a year..but they are usually surfers who go past the breakwaters. If you just stick to the shallows its pretty safe. The deadly jellyfish and the stingers...are only found up north in the tropics mostly..not down south. They have to shut their beaches..we down south do not. Down south we do have lots of spiders too..but they just make you feel sick..not deadly. So we are pretty diverse..and our states have fierce rivalry..it's like USA..Northerners and Southerners...but reversed in temperature and culture to USA. But we are sparsely populated outside our cities...and if you venture out to the 'bush' or 'outback'..it's dangerous. Hundreds of miles of roads with no 'gas stations'..or towns. You must carry water, petrol, and supplies. Luckily now we have tech forms of trackers for locations if ppl break down or get lost to find them..they used to die  So yep..it is a dangerous country in lots of respects..but it depends where you live in the diversity. The only danger in most cities is crime not critters . Thanks for asking and being interested. We ARE the wide brown land indeed. ** I live about 2hrs drive inland from the Southern tip of the mainland where we are the 'fruit bowl' of the State. (because its hotter)... (We have tasmanian island/state too . they are the closest to Antartica) and right now all the mainland is having a 'late' heatwave (even the coast..but they only have 2 days of it before the sea breeze helps them out)..but our temps here inland are all around and over 100 degrees F for the next four days. Time for us to sit under our aircons/coolers even down South! Autumn has forgotton us .
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Jo
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Post by Jo on Mar 8, 2024 20:04:41 GMT
Oh, joybelle , I hope you weren't offended by my post. If so, I do sincerely apologize. I thought Douglas Adams wrote a funny but very affectionate piece.
In my mind, Australians are legends. We have the mythology of  Max, Crocodile Dundee and even Steve Irwin. Australians and their dauntlessness, audacity, humor and general joie de vivre are burned into popular culture. We all know all the words to that Men at Work tune. Where women glow and men thunder!
Ever since I found out about the infamous Australian drop bear (which you can see at :51 in the video), I've been fascinated with your wild life. It's just common sense that if it was as bad as rumor has it, you'd all be dead by now.
Only respect here, my friend. And  for clarifying a few points about your homeland.
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Jo
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Post by Jo on Mar 8, 2024 22:46:06 GMT
No I was not offended in anyway at all Jo. :) I was glad you had an interest :)
I am interested in Australia. Always have been but since I subscribed to Britbox and Acorn I've been watching several Aussie shows which have whetted my apatite for more info. One that I've enjoyed a lot is Darby and Joan which is filmed in Queensland. Unbelievably beautiful scenery especially the beaches. So then I have to look it up so I know where it is. Found out that Queensland is full of national parks which explains a lot of the breathtaking panoramic views in the show. And for whatever reason, I decided I needed to know more about Tasmania including looking at it on a map. Interesting history and I'm pretty impressed by their Green policies.
My brother's ex-wife's brother (if that isn't too confusing) married a woman from Australia and has lived there for the past 40 years. He considers it to be heaven and would never move back to the US. When they had their first child, he got paternity leave. That convinced him that Aussies are pretty damned civilized!
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joybelle
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Post by joybelle on Mar 9, 2024 7:08:36 GMT
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pennmom
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Post by pennmom on Mar 11, 2024 17:09:05 GMT
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joybelle
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Post by joybelle on Mar 28, 2024 5:06:16 GMT
WELL...YEP...LOL  |
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Post by joybelle on Apr 15, 2024 15:03:38 GMT
I can't find any videos...but was looking at FB and watched a comedian explain that only Aussie's say 'Hip Hip hooray' three times after singing 'Happy Birthday to you' before blowing out the cake candles. Someone says 'Hip Hip'..and then all shout 'Hooray' X3 (and it is also common to extend it after that with...) Why was he/she born so beautiful Why was he/she born at all (in a tune very similar to our National Anthem) Because he/she had no say in it.. No say in it at all And often then really extended by... Hooray for (insert name) Hooray at last (at adult parties) Hooray for (insert name) (He/she's) a monkey's arse. THEN the candles are finally blown out.  (I suspect the 'hip hip' has old British roots, and the rest Aussie larrikin lingo lol) |
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joybelle
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Post by joybelle on Apr 24, 2024 14:14:54 GMT
LEST WE FORGET 
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joybelle
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Post by joybelle on Apr 24, 2024 15:10:28 GMT
ANZAC DAY IN AUSTRALIA. (Australian & New Zealand Army Corps)The equivalent of Veterans Day in the USA. This is a tribute to our Vietnam Veterans. We had conscription 1964 to 1972..(the draft)..for those 19 turning 20yrs. Warning: Confronting and powerful. (LEST WE FORGET)
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joybelle
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Post by joybelle on May 16, 2024 14:31:26 GMT
fb.watch/s5QwxvurJH/I'm sorry this is only a link...(tech challenged lol)...but it's great Aust scenery, a whale giving birth, our feral camels left behind from early exploration (we have brumbies all over too)...and a classic Aussie song about colonisation. We are as big as USA...but only 28 million people. Tis indeed 'the wide brown land' (so most of us live on the coast 90%)
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Jo
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Post by Jo on May 16, 2024 15:43:48 GMT
<abbr> joybelle, Ran across this the other day and thought of you.</abbr> <abbr> 
</abbr> |
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No sparkling mineral water..no soft drinks (soda pop).. We are out of CO2
Watch till the end when he puts it all together. He probably should have eaten a 'sanga' (sandwich) before he went to the 'bottle'o' (liquor store) to get the 'rumbo'..may have helped and not needed to call the 'ambo' (ambulance) 
And we call our McDonald's 'Macca's'
Max, Crocodile Dundee and even Steve Irwin. Australians and their dauntlessness, audacity, humor and general joie de vivre are burned into popular culture. We all know all the words to that Men at Work tune. Where women glow and men thunder!
for clarifying a few points about your homeland.
(close enough) but then the Australian PoPo had to go and arrest him (see video below) so they'll prolly cancel the show :(
