Mucky, try a few drops of Tabasco. I forgot to mention that the galah is a protected species in Australia, so the recipe is now in disuse, but as it probably hasn't been gazetted as such in Wales you probably won't have that problem. (As a matter of interest the term "galah" is, or used to be, synonomous with "idiot" in Australia. There seem to be have been some doubts about the bird's intellectual capacity. Despite that I've noticed that they've mastered the art of hanging upside-down from electricity lines in the rain to get an all-over shower. Canberra galahs might be smarter.)

Allen - don't be mean about galahs - I've had one called "Chook" for about 10 years - he's the smartest creature I've ever owned ( I also have 4 dogs). Talks like mad and uses appropriate sentences at the right time, is a complete clown, and a terrific "watchbird". I didn't realise they are now "protected" although I have a permit to keep him - last I heard farmers had licence to poison and shoot them, along with corellas and sulphur crested cockatoos, but maybe that was only in Victoria.

Don't blame Allen, Pat, I'm the meanie. In self-defence, I didn't endorse those scurrilous views about galahs, may their tribe increase (er...on second thoughts, strike those last words).

I have to admit that I didn't check my facts as to whether they're a protected species or not. I just assumed that if tiger snakes and crocs are protected, native parrots would be too. Maybe this means that our more adventurous chefs can start to devise galah recipes - if they can figure out how to tenderise them.

Sorry Allen - the above was meant for Neil - we're going a bit troppo up here with 35C - about 99.9% humidity and an impending cyclone.

Lovely weather for galahs!

lovely weather for rocks too

Mucky, Could you sing a few bars of the anthem so we can all learn the tune?

Pat, Now that we know you have a galah, should we bring tabasco sauce for our stay w/ you on May 3?

and et al:
To get back to the origin of all this 2 threads removed regarding our place of residence before our exploration of Jenolan Caves:

We can stay in Oberon at either the Big Trout or Highlands motels for $AU 95 ( breakfast n.i.c.) or Victoria and Albert Guest House in Mt Victoria $AU 140 breakfast included. All 3 w/ private bath.

The advantage to staying in Mt Victoria. W'd be able to spend more time that day hiking around Katoomba area before dark. (are we advised not to drive after dark here vis a vis roos on the road?)

The advantage of staying in Oberon: we see a different area and the Big Trout.
Cast your votes. please
AndrewDavid

Hi, AndrewDavid!

Those prices are too high. Don't do either. It is NOT reasonable to spend $AUD95 on a motel (ambience: nil; character:nil; something to remember a year on: nil)if you have no pressing reason to visit the town. You can get a motel at Katoomba for $AUD70... it's no great shakes, either. but at least it's near someplace you want to be!

The Mt Victoria hotel would score well on ambience and all the things the motel would lack, but at $AUD140, it's just not competitive. I will go back to my ORIGINAL sugestion: Grandview Hotel, Wentowrth Falls. Ten minutes drive from Katoomba. Plenty of ambience without the high price tag. Sure, you will start off with a fifteen minute car ride before you pass Mt Victoria on your way to Jenolan, but that fifteen minutes constitutes a LARGE saving; check the website for the Grandview (www.thegrandviewhotel.com/) and see just how much. Can the Mt Victoria Hotel be that much better?

Hi Andrew/David - thanks all the same but we'll leave Chook off the breakfast menu although our local butcher knows the secret of tenderising any meat. Or so he says.

Neil - you're right again - all native birds are protected in NSW, the slaughter by farmers of the crop stealing variety was reported in a Victorian rural paper.