The first section of the following post should be read with background music 'God Defend New Zealand'
The second section is best read with 'Advance Australia Fair' on the turntable, failing that, 'Walzing Matilda' will do.
A little known third option for Australia is the, um, 'interesting' Rolf Harris version of Led Zep's 'Stairway to Heaven'
{La Marseillaise will not be tolerated at ANY point}
Hi Terry, I really expected the bite to come from that insult to your XXXX brew ! I wonder if I got away with it ??
Did I tell you i'm popping over the channel in a few weeks time ? must rem. to bring my own beer.....
I don't disagree with a lot you say {although you can't believe how much it pains me to admit I agree with ANY Aussie apart from my Dear Wife, who is standing over me as I type this}
but no-one was more shocked than us when the frogs were handed over, while I understand the trade situation, what price integrity?
I think if you ask ANY politician, integrity does have a price. For some it's f-all, for others it's quite high. Not many of the latter.
"The matter that caused me most difficulty was the Rainbow Warrior. I shall always be pursued by it.
Whenever I speak and ask for questions from the audience, the one I least want to answer and the one always asked, is 'why did you give the agents back?' If it is put to me as an issue of principle, I can only acknowledge that it was not dealt with as such. If it was not an issue of principle, I have to ask myself why I made it one, and I cannot answer that.
The two agents were charged swith murder but on appearance in court, charges were changed to manslaughter. Well before the trial the Fr. Govt had asked us what we wanted for release of their agents. I told the Fr privately, and said publicly, that our legal process must run its course. The agents pleaded guiltly and would not let their lawyer plea any mitigation. {I doubt the Fr Govt wanted its modus operandi thrashed out in court}
On appearance for sentencing, the agents were handed convictions and 10 yr sentences when the normal length for such a charge was 3 yrs.
I said the agents would serve out their sentence in New Zealand, not imagining the the Govt of Fr. would resort to extortion. but I should have known a Govt which sent agents to carry out an act of terrorism would resort to anything.
The Fr. reaction was to promise economic sanctions. In those days France had a veto power in the EC which would end our export of primary produce in Europe. It would have been a crippling blow. We could usually rely on British assistance but in this case it was clear the British were not inclined to intervene.
Negotiations opened and the Fr. offered aettlement - an apology, compensation, and to leave our export trade alone. In return, the agents would be released to French custody for 3 yrs......
....There was a general outcry when the agents were released to French custody on Hao Atoll, and more was to come when the Fr. breached the terms of the settlement and let the agents go home to France. Having said all I had, and having raised public expectations that the agents would stay here, I had to wear the contempt." From David Lange - My life Did NZ stay out of the Gulf War because of a justifiable moral stance (that I agree with) or because the government didn't want to upset it's European trading partners?
Absolutely everything do do with the former, and absolutely NOTHING to do with the latter. This country has far more to lose by taking the moral stance. {Does John wear lots of holes in the knees of his pants ?
}
Now, must get back on-topic...
These questions about Australia were supposedly posted on an Australian Tourism Website - Obviously the answers came from a fellow Aussie.
1. Q: Does it ever get windy in Australia? I have never seen it rain on TV, so how do the plants grow? (UK)
A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them die.
2. Q: Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street? (USA)
A: Depends how much you've been drinking
3. Q: I want to walk from Perth to Sydney - can I follow the railroad tracks? (Sweden)
A: Sure, it's only three thousand miles, take lots of water...
4. Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in Australia? (Sweden)
A: So it’s true what they say about Swedes.
5. Q: It is imperative that I find the names and addresses of places to contact for a stuffed porpoise. (Italy)
A: Let's not touch this one.
6. Q: Are there any ATMs (cash machines) in Australia? Can you send me a list of them in Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville and Hervey Bay? (UK)
A: What did your last slave die of?
7. Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Australia? (USA)
A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe. Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the middle of the pacific which does not... Oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Kings Cross. Come naked.
8. Q: Which direction is North in Australia? (USA)
A: Face south and then turn 90 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions.
9. Q: Can I bring cutlery into Australia? (UK)
A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.
10. Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA)
A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is...oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Kings Cross, straight after the hippo races. Come naked.
11. Q: Do you have perfume in Australia? (France)
A: No, WE don't stink.
12. Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Can you tell me where I can sell it in Australia (USA)
A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.
13. Q: Can I wear high heels in Australia? (UK)
A: You are a British politician, right?
14. Q: Can you tell me the regions in Tasmania where the female
population is smaller than the male population? (Italy)
A: Yes, gay nightclubs.
15. Q: Do you celebrate Christmas in Australia? (France)
A: Only at Christmas.
16. Q: Are there killer bees in Australia? (Germany)
A: Not yet, but for you, we'll import them.
17. Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Australia, but I
forget its name. It's a kind of bear and lives in trees. (USA)
A: It's called a Drop Bear. They are so called because they drop out
of gum trees and eat the brains of anyone walking underneath them. You can
scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking.
18. Q: I was in Australia in 1969 on R+R, and I want to contact the girl
I dated while I was staying in Kings Cross. Can you help? (USA)
A: Yes, and you will still have to pay her by the hour.
19. Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go? (USA)
A: Yes, but you'll have to learn it first.
20. Q: Please send a list of all doctors in Australia who can dispense rattlesnake serum. (USA)
A: Rattlesnakes live in A-meri-ca which is where YOU come from. All Australian snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled and make good pets.
21. Q: Are there supermarkets in Sydney and is milk available all year round? (Germany)
A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of vegan hunter gatherers. Milk is illegal.