Aussie Readers discussion
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2022/2023 - Chat about whatever you like: the weather, good stuff, bad stuff, family or pets!
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it opened last week so close to one if the first
Diana wrote: "Last night my great niece (6) tested positive for Covid. We were all with her yesterday so had to be tested. All negative but I couldn’t get a RAT test anywhere so went and had a PCR and am waiting..."Hope it comes back negative for you Diana.
Brenda wrote: "Unfortunately PCR tests are coming back negative when they're actually positive. My daughter's neighbour had 3 negative PCR and a negative RAT before it went positive and she'd been sick (and at wo..."Dreadful that the results can’t be relied on to be right, Brenda. Hope everyone recovers quickly.
Helen wrote: "For some good news my youngest daughter went into hospital today to be induced for her first baby and my 9th grandchild they are expecting to have their baby tomorrow which would have been my Mum's..."Congratulations Helen. Hope all goes smoothly for the new grandchild.
Brenda wrote: "Unfortunately PCR tests are coming back negative when they're actually positive. My daughter's neighbour had 3 negative PCR and a negative RAT before it went positive and she'd been sick (and at wo..."I hope they're all recovering well Brenda. It seems to be affecting people differently, with even younger vaccinated people feeling quite ill.
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Dale wrote: "Diana wrote: "Last night my great niece (6) tested positive for Covid. We were all with her yesterday so had to be tested. All negative but I couldn’t get a RAT test anywhere so went and had a PCR ..."Yes, negative result for me. So day off tomorrow then back to work on Thursday. We have a really good team this year so I feel ok about going back.
I have a new granddaughter born3 34pm this afternoon Elsie Elizabeth on what would have been my Mum's 94th birthday all well one very happy Nanna even if I have to wait till the weekend fir a cuddle
Helen wrote: "I have a new granddaughter born3 34pm this afternoon Elsie Elizabeth on what would have been my Mum's 94th birthday all well one very happy Nanna even if I have to wait till the weekend fir a cuddle"
Congratulations! That's wonderful news.
Brenda wrote: "So far they're pretty much okay Carolyn. The boys were over it quite quickly - only about 48 hours of real sickness - but with my daughter, it's taking her longer. And her hubby is following behind..."Hope they continue to improve Brenda..
Diana wrote: "Dale wrote: "Diana wrote: "Last night my great niece (6) tested positive for Covid. We were all with her yesterday so had to be tested. All negative but I couldn’t get a RAT test anywhere so went a..."Glad your results were negative Diana.
Congratulations Helen. That is lovely news.
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Phrynne wrote: "Congratulations Helen! My mother's name was Elsie. It is nice to see it coming back into use again."Thanks Phrynne, it is lovely to the names coming back Elsie was my great grandmothers name and my grandmother and mothers middle name :)
Congratulations Helen, I love the name too. Enjoy your cuddle on the weekend.
Diana wrote: "Congratulations Helen, I love the name too. Enjoy your cuddle on the weekend."Thanks Diana
Congratulations Helen, wonderful news and lovely to share your Mum's birthday!
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3 34pm this afternoon Elsie Elizabeth on what would have been my Mum's 94th birthday all well one very happy Nanna even if I have to wait till the weekend fir a cuddle"
Congratulations Helen! Excellent news :)
Helen wrote: "I have a new granddaughter born3 34pm this afternoon Elsie Elizabeth on what would have been my Mum's 94th birthday all well one very happy Nanna even if I have to wait till the weekend fir a cuddle"
Congratulations Helen. Wonderful news and a beautiful name.
I started a new job today - working at Minotaur, which is a pop culture megastore that does comics, manga, sci-fi/fantasy books, and lots of pop culture merchandise. It's so much fun! Feeling very lucky :)
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The following has been written by the late Douglas Adams of "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" fame.
"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 into the girting sea.
Geologists assure us that this is simply an accident of geomorphology, 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 landmasses and sovereign lands are classified as continent, island or country, Australia is considered all three.
Typically, it is unique in this.
The second confusing thing about Australia is 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.
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.
The last confusing thing about Australia is the inhabitants.
A short history: Sometime around 40,000 years ago some people arrived in boats from the north. They ate all the available food, and a lot of them died.
The ones who 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. They also discovered a stick that kept coming back.
Then, around 200 years ago, Europeans arrived in boats from the north.
More accurately, European convicts were sent, with a few deranged people in charge. They tried to plant their crops in autumn (failing to take account of the reversal of the seasons), 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 their 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 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 sour lot. Instead, they are genial, jolly, cheerful and always willing to share a kind word with a stranger. 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" or "Godzone" (a verbal contraction of "God's Own Country"). The irritating thing about this is... they may be right.
TIPS TO SURVIVING AUSTRALIA
Don't ever put your hand down a hole for any reason - WHATSOEVER.
The beer is stronger than you think, regardless of how strong you think it is.
Always carry a stick.
Air-conditioning is imperative.
Do not attempt to use Australian slang unless you are a trained linguist and extremely good in a fist fight.
Wear 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. And don't forget a stick.
Even in the most embellished stories told by Australians, there is always a core of truth that it is unwise to ignore.
HOW TO IDENTIFY AUSTRALIANS
They pronounce Melbourne as "Mel-bin".
They think it makes perfect sense to decorate highways with large fibreglass bananas, prawns and sheep.
They think "Woolloomooloo" is a perfectly reasonable name for a place, that "Wagga Wagga" can be abbreviated to "Wagga", but "Woy Woy" can't be called "Woy".
Their hamburgers will contain beetroot. Apparently it's a must-have.
How else do you get a stain on your shirt?
They don't think it's summer until the steering wheel is too hot to handle.
They believe that all train timetables are works of fiction.
And they all carry a stick.. 😊 🇦🇺
Krystal wrote: "Exciting news Helen, congrats!! :D"Thanks Krystal :)
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The following has been written by the late Douglas Adams of "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" fame.
"Australia is a very confusing place, taking up a large amou..."
And all of it true:)
Brenda wrote: "A little bit of humour to share :)The following has been written by the late Douglas Adams of "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" fame.
"Australia is a very confusing place, taking up a large amou..."
Love it :)
Krystal wrote: "I started a new job today - working at Minotaur, which is a pop culture megastore that does comics, manga, sci-fi/fantasy books, and lots of pop culture merchandise. It's so much fun! Feeling very ..."Enjoy the new job Krystal.
Brenda wrote: "A little bit of humour to share :)The following has been written by the late Douglas Adams of "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" fame.
"Australia is a very confusing place, taking up a large amou..."
Good for a laugh Brenda.
Brenda wrote: "A little bit of humour to share :)The following has been written by the late Douglas Adams of "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" fame.
"Australia is a very confusing place, taking up a large amou..."
Love it!!
Brenda wrote: "A little bit of humour to share :)The following has been written by the late Douglas Adams of "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" fame.
"Australia is a very confusing place, taking up a large amou..."
😂😂 Love it.
Krystal wrote: "I started a new job today - working at Minotaur, which is a pop culture megastore that does comics, manga, sci-fi/fantasy books, and lots of pop culture merchandise. It's so much fun! Feeling very ..."Wow that is very cool. I love Minotaur! Congratulations 👏🏻
Great to see Ash Barty win the Australian open. She is a gem and lovely to see Evonne Goolagong Cawley present the cup. Two icons of Aussie women’s tennis. Well done Ash. You are a champion.
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Brenda wrote: "A little bit of humour to share :)The following has been written by the late Douglas Adams of "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" fame.
"Australia is a very confusing place, taking up a large amou..."
I do think beetroot is a must on a burger, but I've never carried a stick - although it sounds like it could be useful!
Not a dry eye here last night seeing Ash Barty win. She is so deserving and so humble, unlike certain other Australian players of the opposite gender!
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Well said:)
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The following has been written by the late Douglas Adams of "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" fame.
"Australia is a very confusing place, taking ..."
Yes I agree Carolyn :) Beetroot is messy though ;)
Valerie wrote: "Not a dry eye here last night seeing Ash Barty win. She is so deserving and so humble, unlike certain other Australian players of the opposite gender!"Couldn’t agree more Valerie. We turned it off after the presentation to Ash. No way we wanted to watch the loud mouth men.
Dale wrote: "Krystal wrote: "I started a new job today - working at Minotaur, which is a pop culture megastore that does comics, manga, sci-fi/fantasy books, and lots of pop culture merchandise. It's so much fu..."Congratulations Krystal. That sounds like the dream job!
Brenda wrote: "A little bit of humour to share :)The following has been written by the late Douglas Adams of "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" fame.
"Australia is a very confusing place, taking up a large amou..."
That is excellent, and very true! Thanks for sharing - I had never read that before :) Funny when you read about your country from the point of view of someone who is not from here, really makes you think!
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If anyone's looking for more 'feel good' TV, check out Muster Dogs on ABC iView. Just lovely. Got totally hooked five minutes into the first episode.
Leonie wrote: "If anyone's looking for more 'feel good' TV, check out Muster Dogs on ABC iView. Just lovely. Got totally hooked five minutes into the first episode."I’m enjoying it with my youngest cat (she’s a big TV watcher), and also listening to the audiobook this week. It’s a great show
Oh yes, I loved the first episode too, what a great show this is going to be! Have long admired how the dogs just know what to do with sheep etc, so clever :)
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Will do :) She is in the new Maitland Hospital