The Man from Snowy River

This poem is famous in Australia and was written by someone with the incredible name of Banjo Paterson. Infact I think there are a few lines from it on a $10 note. Anyway what I find strange is why they would call anything here "Snowy". I don't know if you remember the Fosters Beer advert a few years ago where the Aussie bloke falls off a cliff and his mate can hear him at the bottom shouting "Snowy! Snowy!"

The bloke throws himself down the steep and rocky hillside cutting and breaking himself to help his mate who's still shouting for "Snowy". Battered and bruised Snowy gets to the bottom of the dusty cliff only to find his mate in a tree and who seems quite unpreturbed and when Snowy says "what!" the bloke in the tree replies "I can see the pub from here!"

So as you can see there is a bit of a theme regarding snow here - perhaps it's tongue in cheek because when I was speaking to one of the wardsmen/porters the other day he told me that he's never seen real snow! WHAT! Even in this day and age he's still not had a run in with the white stuff.

Now Australia does have some ski resorts but there are a bit unreliable like Scotland's snow and they're are a decent half day drive from Sydney in the Snowy Mountains so I guess if you have no interest in winter sports then it's entirely possible that you could go for a few years in New South Wales without seeing any snow - but the bloke is in his late 40's or 50's so I don't know how you could avoid it for so long?

Another reason against staying in Australia for good I guess.

How embarrassing!

Now everyone is used to their parents bringing out baby photos and carrying out other humiliating acts with the soul purpose of getting back at you for all the nappies they had to change and all the times you woke them up at night as a screaming infant. But my folks took it to new heights the other day when we were going on a Jazz Cruise of Sydney's Harbour.

The details are on the 365. Have a read and feel the pain...

Update

So the folks have been here for 10 days now and I think that they are enjoying themselves. We've managed to do quite a few new things but as they are new I've posted a lot of the chat on the 365 so have a read there is you are interested.

How to look like a twat!

It's easy. All you have to do is get one of these Indiana Jones style chapeaus and then put it on your head like illustrated. Man I look like the coolest dickhead ever to walk the planet and I'm sure you'll all agree.

In all seriousness when the sun is blazing here you have to wear something on your noggin and this fits the bill. I bought it out at Jervis Bay at a crappy local market and can't say that I regret it. I've been looking at these for months but the weather has been so bad that I figured I'd never have the opportunity to wear one so never invested but during the weekend away with the folks the sun was out in force and I thought "Hey I've not bought anything Australian the whole time I've been here except for some Roo steaks so why not!"

Actually it made a massive difference as the brim protects your face and neck and the top of your shoulders from the sun in a way my baseball cap never could (that last bit makes me feel like I'm having an affair with this sleek leather number). However, the real selling point was when the guy at the stall said, "You're from Scotland aren't you? Well this hat's water-proof!" Awesome. And to think that the only down side is that I have to put up with looking like a total tool and an Australian to boot (it's unfortunate that it doesn't make me look like Indiana Jones too). Even Dad looks better in it that I do! Don't he look purty?

Well so what? I feel cooler than the Man From Delmonte ever did and I don't even have to wear a linen suit.

Mum and Dad hit the shores of Oz

So Mum and Dad arrived on Friday and have been enjoying the sites of Sydney for the last few days. So far we've spent the weekend in Jervis Bay and we had a couple of days of glorious sunshine at a beach house with the most chilled atmosphere and incredible views. I think it was just what they needed after a week in Singapore where they spend all their time feasting and partying with the Singaporean gentry (if you believe the stories).

We had a quick stop in to a winery on the way back to Sydney and then continued north to Palm Beach to the set of Home and Away which Isla has been going on about visiting for ages. After the obligatory photos we ground through the city traffic and checked them into a hotel in Darling Harbour. Today I met up with them at the Hotel and after and hour of trying to locate them in the complex and then urging them to hurry up for ages we finally headed into town. We walked around Darling Harbour and then caught the open top bus tour so that they could see the sights with the least amount of walking.

During the tour we got off at circular quay and walked round the quay to the Opera House and then back through the Rocks where we stopped for lunch at a little Italian restaurant that Isla and I have eaten at a few times. Unfortunately they had stuffed themselves during the free breakfast at their hotel and I was then only one that ate anything. After that we got back on the bus and then saw the rest of the city.

Once we'd been round the whole tour we made our way up to the QVB and had some tea. Well I say tea but I'm not sure if Jasmine Monkey King counts as tea but it was tasty in it's Green-tea-ness. I can feel the anti-oxidants working already! Soon I felt the need to leave them to shop in the city so said my good-byes - afterall we have an early start tomorrow morning as we are going to The Hunter Valley again in the morning for some wine tasting. Dad's tee-total so it should be fun... for mum and I at least...