January 26th

Australia Day [following Burns Night]

Just realised how long since I set foot in Oz, even on a visit - not in this century - so what do I recall of that time?

Businesses and schools used to finish up the week before Christmas.  November was usually poor weather, December mixed, Christmas Day was usually fine but sometimes not, after Boxing Day, people would go to the camping places or holiday homes. Boxing Day was often to see the relations you'd missed on the 25th.

The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race started on Boxing Day, there was motorsport but I'd watch the downhill skiing in Europe.

The four weeks from late year to Australia Day were holiday at the beach or maybe in the bush [forest].  Too hot to be elsewhere.  Slip, slop, slap was the rule - shirt, sunscreen, hat. I would sail everyday, mostly with crew.

Chuckles

It's his birthday today.  I heard that the funeral was on Jan 20, an auspicious day in the US. All hail to our ghostly member here, his presence still very much felt. Now for something which some may consider weird:

We're getting into the realm of metaphysics here, are we not?  And one place this has come out in recent days is with Martin Scriblerus, with Anna Raccoon and Raedwald.  As you can see, one philosophy holds that they're gone, matey, the other that they still exist and therefore are still members of that 'club'.