In August 1914, General Foch of the French High Command had but one view on war with Germany - attack, attack, attack. With this in mind, I played my first game of competitive chess for Petersham Royal something or other chess club, the other night. Chess clubs are the same the world over, full of grumpy old men. In this case mostly grumpy Italians.
The arrival of a new Crocodile Dundee film is an appropriate time to comment on the Aussie character. Natasha and I can confirm that your typical Jason, Craig, Brett, Bruce, Amy or Kylie are as thick as planks!! In our "vast experience" of different work environments, productivity has increased enormously. Aussies are extremely slow at carrying out simple tasks and not prone to thinking for themselves, a characteristic that requires management in their title! Their work communication level is appalling. They tend to hold the opinion that experience gained at work is to be treasured like a new baby (p.s. did ye hear that I am now an uncle!) and not to be shared with others for fear they might become obsolete - and believe me, they would!! My present work is with the bank Westpac, as is Natasha's but in a different location in the CBD (city business district for the uninitiated). The pay is mediocre but adequate.
Australia is very much multi cultured - strange concept for an Irishman to appreciate!! Vietnamese, Russians, Thais, Indians, Maoris - generally meaningless. All the same with that horrible twang in their voices!! Funnily, they don't place any importance in their origin. Who they are now and who they are doing now is enough of a connundrum without introducing complications like the past to them!!
Life here rotates around footy and barbies. Most words here are abbreviated. The English language is not what it used to be. Even street signs have abandoned apostrophes for the sake of simplicity. Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights are for tinnies and take outs (not the Irish equivalent involving a bullet!). Incidentally, Pokies are an Australian phenomenon onto themselves - gambling machines everywhere - and everyone seems to play them - a nation of gamblers!!
Incidentally, like General Foch, my attack policy ended in trench warfare and peetered out into a miserable draw against my aryan opponent!! |
