Down Under

Have just read The Last Continent again.

It is rather uncannily like Australia. Seriously! That's exactly what Australia's like.



(And this is the problem with trying to get an accurate idea of Australia while you're not here. We'll cheerfully attest to the most ridiculous stereotypes being absolutely one hundred percent true - if we like the person talking about the stereotypes. Whereas the same stereotypes coming from someone we're not happy with will be dismissed as stupid nonsense - and they really should actually talk to some real Aussies some time, because, come on mate, that's a bit over the top...)

(Also, drop bears are totally real.)

An Amusing (and alliteratively announced) Anecdote

I was on a tram this afternoon.

(A Note For The Inexperienced: Trams are about twice the length of buses, and the driver has a loudspeaker thingy for communicating with all the passenger over the sound system.)


And there was a baby in a pram, crying.

(A Note For The Differently-Inexperienced: Babies cry when they're upset. Usually loudly.)


This got annoying, after a while.

(Another note: Crying is not a fun thing to listen to.)


Finally, the driver picked up his loudspeaker thingy.

(A Reminder: I mentioned it earlier, see? Further up the page.)


And we got this announcement:

(One Final Note: This is the amusing part.)


"Err, no crying on this tram, please. Strictly no crying. Thank you."