Happy Australia Day!

Yep it's our nations birthday. So fun is going on all over Australia and we're going to join in for the free rides and food and fireworks later on tonight at our local show ground.

Here's some facts (for those who are interested) I didn't know some of this stuff when I was researching it for school. Jess, a good site with all sorts of history and activites is:
Australia Day 2008

You inspired me to get into it in the first place. Ha!

*Occupying an entire continent of some 7.6 million square kilometres, Australia is the sixth largest country in the world.

*Our ocean territory is the world’s third largest, spanning three oceans and covering around 12 million square kilometres.

*Our country is one of the most urbanised and coast-dwelling populations in the world. More than 80 per cent of Australians live within 100 kilometres of the coast.

*The most commonly spoken languages (other than English) are Italian, Greek, Cantonese, Arabic, Vietnamese and Mandarin.

*Australia's multicultural society includes its Indigenous peoples and migrants from some 200 countries.

*The Australian Flag was designed through a competition. There were five finalists with identical designs.

And I might add the national costume is singlet, shorts and thongs. Ha! click on the Aussie guy to enlarge and read some true blue slang.

My Dad sent me a link to a funny article. These were the best bits. (I'm only part Australian so I didn't "get" them all.)

You know you're Australian if …

You believe that stubbies can be either drunk or worn.

When you hear that an American "roots for his team" you wonder how often and with whom.

You understand that the phrase "a group of women wearing black thongs" refers to footwear and may be less alluring than it sounds.

You pronounce Melbourne as "Mel-bin".

You believe the "l" in the word "Australia" is optional.

You can translate: "Dazza and Shazza played Acca Dacca on the way to Maccas."

You believe it makes perfect sense for a nation to decorate its highways with large fibreglass bananas, prawns and sheep.

You call your best friend "a total bastard" but someone you really, truly despise is just "a bit of a bastard".

You think "Woolloomooloo" is a perfectly reasonable name for a place.

You understand that "Wagga Wagga" can be abbreviated to "Wagga" but "Woy Woy" can't be called "Woy".

You believe that cooked-down axlegrease makes a good breakfast spread.

You believe all famous Kiwis are actually Australian, until they stuff up, at which point they again become Kiwis.