Flies etc
May 22nd, 2007, 06:27 PM
#22
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Sally, we wouldn't do that to a visitor from the Left Coast, now, would we?
But I forget when you're visiting - the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) leaders' meeting will be happening in Sydney in September, and guess who'll be there? (Hint: middle initial 'W').
But I forget when you're visiting - the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) leaders' meeting will be happening in Sydney in September, and guess who'll be there? (Hint: middle initial 'W').
May 22nd, 2007, 06:34 PM
#23
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Sally, now I see, you'll be in Canberra Oct 6-7. Sydney first? You might get lucky and miss the circus.
APEC meetings are notable for not very much, I think, except a bunch of presidents, PMs etc. parading around dressed in some variant on the host country's national costume. They invariably look like idiots. This time I'm looking forward to seeing them decked out in shorts, thongs (i.e. flip-flops), tee-shirts and floppy hats. Or maybe Joh Howard can lend them some of his old "trackies", complete with Vodaphone logo.
APEC meetings are notable for not very much, I think, except a bunch of presidents, PMs etc. parading around dressed in some variant on the host country's national costume. They invariably look like idiots. This time I'm looking forward to seeing them decked out in shorts, thongs (i.e. flip-flops), tee-shirts and floppy hats. Or maybe Joh Howard can lend them some of his old "trackies", complete with Vodaphone logo.
May 22nd, 2007, 07:51 PM
#24
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Neil, DH worked in Australia for several months on about five different occasions in the 1980s. It was generally acknowledged at the facility where he worked that Aerogard was originated for the Queen. An urban legend maybe?
May 22nd, 2007, 10:54 PM
#26
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Sally, you're probably safe. According to today's Sydney Morning Herald the city can expect traffic delays during the meeting:
"Twenty-one state leaders, up to 42 ministers and about 400 international business leaders, 6000 delegates and support personnel and 1000 media representatives are expected to arrive in and depart Sydney between August 30 and September 11 for the APEC Leaders Week."
Sounds like a fine junket for all except the locals - but they had a trial run a few months ago when Dick Cheney visited and traffic was halted on the Harbour Bridge to allow his motorcade to sweep across in order to have lunch at the Prime Minister's humble digs on the north side of the harbour. I'm not making this up.
I should add that a lot of Canberrans are still seething about Dubya's imperial progress through Canberra a couple of years ago, which prevented Australians accessing their own Parliament House while noisy FA-18s made a non-stop racket overhead. I still don't know how they expected to spot Osama from that altitude.
"Twenty-one state leaders, up to 42 ministers and about 400 international business leaders, 6000 delegates and support personnel and 1000 media representatives are expected to arrive in and depart Sydney between August 30 and September 11 for the APEC Leaders Week."
Sounds like a fine junket for all except the locals - but they had a trial run a few months ago when Dick Cheney visited and traffic was halted on the Harbour Bridge to allow his motorcade to sweep across in order to have lunch at the Prime Minister's humble digs on the north side of the harbour. I'm not making this up.
I should add that a lot of Canberrans are still seething about Dubya's imperial progress through Canberra a couple of years ago, which prevented Australians accessing their own Parliament House while noisy FA-18s made a non-stop racket overhead. I still don't know how they expected to spot Osama from that altitude.
May 22nd, 2007, 11:04 PM
#27
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Betsy, on the "when all else fails, read the instructions" principle I Googled it, and the story is that in 1963 the inventor, a CSIRO scientist (that's the government research body Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, a government research body) had the bright idea of using the Queen as a guinea pig. As it happens it never got near the royal skin, but some of her staff tried it out durng a round of golf and gave it the thumbs-up.
As the following story explains, the inventor, Doug Waterhouse, innocently told an enquirer from the pesticide company Mortein how to make it. Why? Well ... he asked. So neither Doug nor his family ever saw a cent from one of the country's biggest selling products.
www.abc.net.au/tv/newinventors/txt/s1501018.htm
As the following story explains, the inventor, Doug Waterhouse, innocently told an enquirer from the pesticide company Mortein how to make it. Why? Well ... he asked. So neither Doug nor his family ever saw a cent from one of the country's biggest selling products.
www.abc.net.au/tv/newinventors/txt/s1501018.htm
May 22nd, 2007, 11:11 PM
#28
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Neil,
I was caught up in that charade when the esteemed Mr. Cheney & his cavalcade charged across the Bridge and was seriously underwhelmed by the resulting gridlock, I can tell you!
Security, I understand, but this was ridiculous. Why not stick him in a water taxi, hover a couple of choppers overhead & let the rest of us get on with it?
I hardly think the main traffic routes in any country OUR "Top bod" visits would be frozen to give him "adequate security"!
I can't begin to imagine the fiasco, public holiday notwithstanding, that the APEC circus will bring!
I was caught up in that charade when the esteemed Mr. Cheney & his cavalcade charged across the Bridge and was seriously underwhelmed by the resulting gridlock, I can tell you!
Security, I understand, but this was ridiculous. Why not stick him in a water taxi, hover a couple of choppers overhead & let the rest of us get on with it?
I hardly think the main traffic routes in any country OUR "Top bod" visits would be frozen to give him "adequate security"!
I can't begin to imagine the fiasco, public holiday notwithstanding, that the APEC circus will bring!
May 23rd, 2007, 03:36 AM
#29
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It's only the "leaders" of the USA that merit such over the top treatment, of course.
Can you imagine the city being brought to gridlock by the top Chinese rep? Or Queenie, or JH, or the Presidents of France, Germany, etc. etc.
No - only the USA.
Appreciate the USA has a Pacific Coast but the whole shebang would be more civilised (and possibly more constructive) without them. And if they want to come then let them come without the paralysis that they will bring with them.
BTW is he with the middle initial "W" putting in an appearance, or will he send a minion?
I'd prefer a minion as long as it isn't Cheney.
Can you imagine the city being brought to gridlock by the top Chinese rep? Or Queenie, or JH, or the Presidents of France, Germany, etc. etc.
No - only the USA.
Appreciate the USA has a Pacific Coast but the whole shebang would be more civilised (and possibly more constructive) without them. And if they want to come then let them come without the paralysis that they will bring with them.
BTW is he with the middle initial "W" putting in an appearance, or will he send a minion?
I'd prefer a minion as long as it isn't Cheney.
May 23rd, 2007, 05:46 AM
#30
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Prosy - no need to curtail rural excursions entirely. Some OK, some less so. I can remember working in towns reasonably well inland, and the little b....'s were up your nostrils, in your ear canals, the lot. Didn't dare open my mouth outdoors to speak. But only SOME places are that bad!
May 23rd, 2007, 06:49 AM
#31
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Bokhara, DH is a Fodorite "shortcut" for Dear Husband or Darling Husband. Could be used for Disgusting Husband, if appropriate, I guess. DH is commonly used on the Europe and US boards, maybe not so much on the Australia board.
May 23rd, 2007, 12:48 PM
#32
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....and all this time I thought it stood for "Dead Head".
chimani, I believe Bush will put in an appearance.
The Chinese president, Hu Jintao, did visit Canberra after Bush, and like Bush was invited to address Parliament. Kevin Rudd, now Opposition Leader, was the only MP able to chat with President Hu in Mandarin, I recall. Overall, no great fuss, no major traffic disruption.
chimani, I believe Bush will put in an appearance.
The Chinese president, Hu Jintao, did visit Canberra after Bush, and like Bush was invited to address Parliament. Kevin Rudd, now Opposition Leader, was the only MP able to chat with President Hu in Mandarin, I recall. Overall, no great fuss, no major traffic disruption.
May 23rd, 2007, 04:00 PM
#34
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Thanks Betsy. I take it then, that the DDs, DSs etc are "Dear Daughter, Dear Son" etc. You're right, it does appear to be an American thing - I don't think we Australians are much into such sweet epithets for our families. We'd just say "my husband, son, daughter," whatever.
May 23rd, 2007, 06:05 PM
#35
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Bokhara, I've never seen the DH, DW, DD, DS, etc. designations anywhere except on Fodors. Guessing they must be colloquial expressions only used in Fodorville and maybe on other message boards. As far as I know the abbreviations aren't used in conversation, at least not in my conversation circles.
May 28th, 2007, 05:37 AM
#38
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Oh dear, I was wrong to think DH and DW stood for (respectively, if not restpectfully) dickhead and dimwit.
Would Arthur Daley then have spoken of HI (for 'her indoors'), or my very good friend - who shall remain nameless - of TWO ('the war office')? LOL.
Would Arthur Daley then have spoken of HI (for 'her indoors'), or my very good friend - who shall remain nameless - of TWO ('the war office')? LOL.
May 28th, 2007, 08:19 AM
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We visited Uluru in April 2004, and the flies were terrible. In one photo, my white shirt appears black because of all the flies! They drove us MAD and at times we were miserable.
The locals said that the flies are terrible some years and barely noticeable some years. Unfortunately, the time we were there was a particularly bad time. The flies would go away once it became dark each evening. I was initially disappointed at the Sounds of Silence dinner, because as sun was setting we were still being swarmed, but once the sun set, they were gone. The dinner was fabulous, and not to be missed...flies or not.
We traveled from Perth across to Queensland, and the only time we encountered the flies was Uluru. Thank goodness! That was more than enough!
The locals said that the flies are terrible some years and barely noticeable some years. Unfortunately, the time we were there was a particularly bad time. The flies would go away once it became dark each evening. I was initially disappointed at the Sounds of Silence dinner, because as sun was setting we were still being swarmed, but once the sun set, they were gone. The dinner was fabulous, and not to be missed...flies or not.
We traveled from Perth across to Queensland, and the only time we encountered the flies was Uluru. Thank goodness! That was more than enough!
