Heavenly Beverley : At Last! A Semblance of Normality...

Having recovered from the rapid disappearance of most of January, I have heartened by signs of order returning into my life. Most of those who enjoyed a holiday break over Christmas are now back at work. Yesterday I was delighted to see school uniforms appearing at Midland Gate. The private schools have taken possession of their students for another year. Public school indictees will be herded into their classrooms next week. Parents all over the country will (mostly) heave a communal sigh of relief. Except for those soft-hearted ones, particularly whose children attend boarding schools.

As for me, I was never sentimental. I couldn't wait for my own darlings to start school. They were all pretty excited as well. Which was wonderful to watch. Pity school didn't always offer such optimism and joy for the kids. But first days were different. I'd wave them in delightedly and then vanish for the six-hour window of time to myself.

Other keys to the resumption of normality are television programming's steep improvement (ratings have started again) with treasured shows commencing and eagerly awaited new series on the near horizon. The Weekend Australian newspaper has returned its glossy magazine to its rightful place in the middle of this broadsheet. I have been reunited with Nikki Gemmel and Phillip Adams once more. In fact, Phillip's first piece for this year was a delicious reminiscence of Australian Prime Ministers since Robert Menzies. He has yet to catch up with current PM Scott Morrison. Personally, I think Phillip's witty repartee would be lost on ScoMo.

My favourite article in the Weekend Australian's Review was this week's Forum. Deirdre Mackin produced a genuinely funny and affectionate quick summary of Australia's tourism gems.

Deirdre describes those who have moved to Tasmania as people who "...don't know what they are, but they know they like it. ...They keep bees, craft their own beers, and share their garden produce with the chef who swapped a two hat restaurant in Melbourne for a converted pig shed in the hills".

Apparently, Canberrians have never forgiven Bill Bryson for comparing Our Nation's Capital with waiting to drop off the mortal coil. She describes local baristas who have discovered beards and cyclists who wear a tad more than Lycra. Both could be related to Canberra's winter weather.

Native Queenslanders are rapidly being swamped by those from South of the Border. Further North, a new slogan has been introduced (Tropical Queensland) "...to assure visitors they're going to get hot, but not necessarily lost. Or eaten." Deirdre only touches on the drought and mines briefly.

South Australians undertake a lot of waving and shouting to reassure tourists the state still exists. This is in spite of natural wonders, wineries, beaches, architecture and stunning scenery. And they have bees, just like in Tasmania. The problem for South Australians is that they only ever seem to make the news after giant storms flatten power lines, or experience extremes of weather or a shark attack off their coast, which is renowned for sharks.

Deirdre doesn't have much of an opinion of Western Australia. She describes Perth "...as being closer to Bali than Sydney..." and that "...they will never let you forget how they are ripped off by the GST." Which is true. A challenge for WA is that the state is huge.

Image result for western Australia superimposed on Europe

Distances are somewhat difficult for some travellers to get their heads around. From Albany in the state's south to Wyndham in the far north Kimberley is over three and a half thousand kilometres. From the coast to Giles on the Northern Territory border, west to east is seventeen hundred and fifty kilometres. Or thereabouts. The best way to tackle WA is probably to pick a region and explore that thoroughly unless time is not an issue.

"Melbournians will be tolerant of the consequences of popularity because...they are inclusive, progressive and mightily aware that other states. aren't. Go there for the flat whites and the comedy festivals, but leave before you become smug."

Deirdre didn't have much space for Sydney in her article. Perhaps, unkindly, she suggested her friend had asked about other areas of Australia because he had started his trip there. Ouch...

And Northern Territorians missed out altogether!

In spite of the fact that the Weekend Australian is a News Corp publication and some of its content is definitely suspect, I will continue to buy the paper because of some of their columnists. Vale Deirdre Macken, Nikki Gemmell and that living Australian Legend, Phillip Adams.

This post has tended to go all over the place. Rather like my mind. I shall conclude with my thoughts on Australia Day. Every year, there is the same angst between black and white. So far, all that has been produced is a great deal of hot air and bad manners by some. I have hope though. I came across a rejigging of our truly dreadful National Anthem, "Advance Australia Fair". New lyrics, new anthem, same music...

Check out "Blkfullaent" on Facebook as I couldn't work out how to save the video to this post!

And remember to have a great day...