She's a bit blowy

 

In Australia the weather is 'She'. Often a whole conversation will start with "She's a...." and then a description of the weather. Sometimes it's an understatement...  e.g. "She's a bit blowy" in a force-10 gale and "She's a warm one" in weather so hot you think you're going to faint.

All Aboard The Six White Boomers Bus!

Each year for the last 15 years the bus depots in Brisbane have had a competition between themselves. They each dress up one of their buses for Christmas. This is the winning bus from this year's comp courtesy of the Bowen Hills depot and I think yule agree they have gone that extra mile. We've got tinsel on every pole, gum nuts and gum leaves, a huge Aussie flag and a fleet of kangaroos (Six White Boomers, no less) all roped up to a "sleigh" piled with presents at the back. There are all sorts of Australian Christmas references like...

 

A day at the beach! Inflatable palm trees, a bucket and spade, junk food and tinnies! 

There's even a thong tied up to one of the railings: 

(That's the footwear variety)

And let's not forget the native animals riding up the front - kangaroos, an emu, a kookaburra, a platypus, a wombat... and a few other things I don't recognise... all festively draped in tinsel!

I was having a chat to the driver (Hi Lyn!) and she said passengers love it. Everyone smiles. People take photos and really get into it. Some of the drivers dress up as Santa - it's hilarious.
One woman even told her that she hadn't been looking forward to Christmas until she got on the bus.

In case you were unaware of the Aussie classic hit "Six White Boomers" well I have a little treat for you here.

The Origin Species

 

If you're not from Queensland or New South Wales, there's every chance you don't know or care about the State of Origin competition. It's a good-humoured rivalry if the atmosphere on Caxton Street is anything to go by. Queensland versus New South Wales in a three game Rugby League play-off. Players' "state of origin" is based (I think) on the first team they joined as a professional.

Last night's game was the first of the three and was held at Suncorp Stadium. The next game will be held down in Sydney in June and third back up here again in July. I didn't manage to catch the game. It was a preventative measure as my eyes usually get sore from all the eye rolling.... but it sounds like it was a nail biter. Queensland won! Hooray! 

(This is when you adopt the bulldog stance and loudly growl "QUEENSLANDER!!! RRRRR!")

Gerni

Six weeks ago I'd never heard of a Gerni. Now the relationship is like family.

Round these parts a Gerni is a high-pressure water cleaner. It's a brand name used to describe the generic product - like Band-Aid, Kleenex, Hoover etc... and it's also a verb.

"I'll bring my Gerni over and have you cleaned up in no time"
"Give that a Gerni, will ya?"
"Yeah, love, you can Gerni the garden wall but watch out for me marigolds"

They were a ubiquitous piece of kit during the immediate aftermath of the floods and as we continue with our clean-up, Gerni-ing down the side of our flats was like welcoming an old friend. It's very satisfying. And in the blazing heat, it's quite nice to get sprayed with the water...despite some of it being filthy. Although it wasn't my Gerni so I didn't get a go. When it's your Gerni, you call the shots. Others are relegated to sweeping the water in the right direction and occasionally pointing at bits that have been missed. And then watching as it magically becomes shiny and clean.

Making A Day Of It

Australia Day celabrations down our way followed a very traditional formula. One of the small side streets got blocked off with wheely bins and the ubiquitous game of street cricket ensued. Anyone who wanted to play was in regardless of gender, age or ability. 

Naturally, someone fired up the barbie and we all had a feast.

And as the sun went down and the music was turned up, some of us slipped off to watch the tennis, some of us went to bed and those that were left partied on into the warm Brisbane night.

5 Things You Get In Brizzy:

1. Single storey houses - brick.
2. Old Queenslander houses made from wood.
3. Hills Hoists (rotary washing lines with adjustable height).
4. Hills/Views.
5. Palm Trees.