Category: Australiana

Has The Chariot jumped the shark?

A few days ago, our respected and treasured third moderator raised a reasonable objection to certain crass acronyms which have, of late, become prevalent in posts and comments within The Chariot.   As the site’s undisputed coward, I swiftly sidestepped the issue and tossed it upstairs to our leader, who rather uncharacteristically sat on the fence, pleading ethnic corruption.

I fear that I may have detected some disappointment emanating from the South African branch office.

However, as so often happens, the matter has serendipitously arisen elsewhere, and Annabel Crabb (the ABC’s chief online political commentator) has leapt into print to explain.   One doesn’t have to read the full article on The Drum or know who Craig Thomson is – although he is currently a reviled political cause célèbre in Australia – to gain an understanding of the contemporary language pool in which Boadicea and I now swim.

Here is an extract from Annabel’s article –

… But I love FFS, for its pithy and very Australian blend of implied obscenity with genuine, palms-to-the-skies, you’ve-got-to-be-kidding exasperation.

Jumped the shark?   Look it up, FFS! 😀

It’s a step in the right direction

  • Hilditch – OUT!
  • Chappell – OUT!
  • Nielsen – OUT!

Perhaps.   When you read the small print, they can still apply for the new positions.   Let’s pray that they’re not thick-skinned enough to do so.

Sutherland’s still there, more’s the pity.   But it’s a start, and not before time.

Read more in The Brisbane Times & FoxSports.

Coming to Australia

Australia is a Great country.

I was a bit woozy, having been travelling for about 23 hours at the time, but I am pretty sure that, when I signed my Incoming Passenger and Quarantine forms on the plane, I did tick the box to say that I would make the above statement on all possible occasions. Not that I disagree with it too much.
Continue reading “Coming to Australia”

The Farmer’s Tale

Second last day in Oz and we’re spending the arvo chilling in the back garden with a few cold tinnies – my shout before Donald gets started again.

This morning, we went to the Noosa Farmers’ Market. A local Sunday institution and the real deal. You actually have to have grown, bred or made the stuff yourself before you can sell it there.

I did a quick circuit, bought a gourmet pie for later in the day (lamb and rosemary aka a ‘jolly jumbuck’) then sat down with a coffee as Mrs M set off on lap two. Another guy sat down beside me and said that he was wife-waiting. When I said I was too, he leapt on my accent and asked if I was Australian. Continue reading “The Farmer’s Tale”

How to Acquire an Australian Accent

I was planning to post a blog about crabs and oysters today and had made some progress towards getting it straight when Donald’s post advising Mr. Mackie about acquiring some proficiency in Strine reminded me of a happening from many years ago, it has something to do with oysters albeit indirectly and may have a significant bearing on Mr. Mackie’s endeavour.

Many years ago when my old dad was still alive, he and my mother came to visit us in Maryland, he and I decided that we would take a couple of days on our own and sail down the Bay visiting a few fishing places en route. A few days after setting out we were a hundred miles or so down the eastern shore and stopped for a night at the town of Tilghman on Tilghman Island. This quiet little place is the home port for ten or twelve skipjacks, wooden boats of forty or fifty feet in length employed in the oyster dredging business and one of the last fishing fleets powered solely by sail. Continue reading “How to Acquire an Australian Accent”

Australian Customs

Obviously, after I’ve spent a whole three weeks Down Under, I will be able to give you a fully informed and exhaustive commentary on every aspect of Australian customs. But, I haven’t been yet and can’t do the in-depth and incisive stuff until I have. Watch this space.

In the meantime and for the avoidance of doubt, this post is actually about the Australian Customs Services. I’ve been googling them and digesting information from my fellow cherished authors (FCA). As a result, I’m worried about getting into the place at all. Continue reading “Australian Customs”

Old Petrie Town


Today we decided that it was about time that we explored our local neighbourhood, so we made the five-minute trip to Petrie Old Town, which nestles in the North Pine Country Park, about 2 kms northwest of modern-day Petrie (which is pronounced, rather confusingly, “Pea Tree” – please don’t ask us why).

It was Boadicea’s plan to explore the Museum, but we were disappointed to discover, on reaching the door, that it was only open Wednesday to Friday.   We began to retrace our steps to walk around the reconstructed old town, but we were stopped by a cheery “Come in, come in … please do come in”.   The curator explained that a school party had visited this morning and that since he was still here, he’d be glad for us to fossick. Continue reading “Old Petrie Town”