Biggles Flies Undone

Posted on by lazinoz

I suppose I’ll miss Old Blighty. The crisp January air, the home fire dancing, the final of University Challenge. But then I can do without the inevitable man-flu, my team tumbling down the league, the false spring days.

Australia is one of those mysterious Other countries for me – not a hazy Oriental desert, full of tightly woven souks, clandestine words and unknown alphabets. This is more an alternative universe, a parallel world. One where the sun is hot and goes round the wrong way, where Funnel Web Spiders snarl, Kangaroos bounce and Tasmanian Devils climb, and where the Humanoids have a boringly relentless can-do attitude.

So I’m on the couch and The Sage strokes his impressive beard – and asks me what my Best Hope is for these three months. Lord help me. I have simply no idea what will happen. Maybe I will love it, maybe not. Could be that weird accent will drive me mad. I’ve just got to try sailing, snorkelling and going walkabout. Yeah, me as a rugged Outdoors type. Hmm. Don’t wait for the photos.

I’ll be trying to play an Open Mic or two in Sydney, and of course we do have plenty of things planned. But no, I have not Set My Expectations. I have not got a list of Must Do’s – the diary is mostly empty.

So, let the moment take us.  Let us boldly go where we have not journeyed before. And let me hope I have enough to say that you come back for more – or even subscribe using the button on the top right. Or even – perish the thought – comment back on the posts.

Goggles – check. Insect repellent – check. iPad – check.

To Australia… Chocks away!

6 thoughts on “Biggles Flies Undone”

  2. Beware the sticky … as you rightly describe….the end-of-sentence-lilt! Upon my return home after ten months there, I was staying at my Mum’s. Her best friend Thelma was visiting. She popped into the room where I was sitting to collect the milk jug and returned to the kitchen. Apparently (despite the few words exchanged for me to pass her the jug) she’d re-entered the kitchen snorting to my mother “I do hope Ingrid gets rid of that awful accent quickly!”. Despite 8 weeks trekking in Nepal on my way home, walking with mixed nationalities such as a Dutch girl and an American called Clint during much of that time, the sticky ‘lilt’ had followed me home! Watch how you go…..!

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  4. Dang, bro. Jus’ put anotha steak on the barbie. Anotha ‘roo steak, t’is. (is that Aussie dialog?) Just remember when the 40 degree weather strikes; you could be floating down the River Ouce, past the National Railway Museum, like the rest of the population of NE Britain. Best of luck. Looking forward to your notes about life among the convicts. ❤ m

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