Monday, 2nd October,2006
We finally worked out what had brought people to Canberra in their droves.
It was porn alright.
FLOWER porn. Some enormous flower fest called Floriade.
Now I know some of you may be salivating at the thought that I may have taken countless pics of the underskirt of a tulip bulb or something,but to be perfectly honest,despite the gazillion people crossing streets and clogging up a perfectly good running path with their cumbersome plastic pots and talk of blooming wisteria,I didn’t take any,because I couldn’t actually SEE where all the flowers were.
Instead,we spent our final day sniffing round the halls of old Parliament House.
I would say my earliest awareness of the existence of Parliament House was when good old Gough Whitlam, the labour prime minister,was dismissed in 1975 and the decision of his dismissal and his famous ‘becawz,nothing will sayve the Guv-enor Gen-eral” was delivered on these very steps.
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k160/sylvie_011/oldparl.jpg
Iam not sure that I remember the actual event,or seeing the brilliant piece of journalism delivered by Norman Gunston re-played over and over the following years.
A retired former ‘public servant’ gave us a quick tour of the house and it turned out he had been a speech writer for quite a few Australian Prime Ministers.
A fellow tourist asked himwho was his favourite and he quietly confessed that he found Howard a ‘dream’ to work for because he only had to provide him with point notes.
Well. I’m sure some of you can imagine my forked tongue desperately trying to lurch out of my mouth an impale his nostrils.But I held it in.
Until we reached this office.
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k160/sylvie_011/hawkeoff.jpg
This was the office of the Prime Minister.The last one to occupy it was Bob Hawke and it’s been left exactly as he had it.
Note the simple furniture? The lack of grandeur?
Course he made up for the lack of it in his office with his sensational hair.
I really like that it was kept so simple though and I bet Howeird wouldn’t go for it and probably has a golden toilet in the shape Bush’s c…
I’m sidetracking.
ANYHOW,there we were,commenting about the fact that the office had 2 windows facing the street,when Mr Retired Public Servant comments on the Aboriginal Embassy siting just outside the office.
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k160/sylvie_011/abemb.jpg
This has been there the past 32 or so years and is constantly occupied by a group of Aborigines.It is a tribute to their commitment ,their politicisation and the important issue of landrights.
Do you know what he said?
‘after so many years, you would think they would just get over it”
‘Well,maybe they’re not OVER it because the issue and its broader implications haven’t been resolved”,I hissed.
Well,not exactly a hiss,more like a raspberry.
Time to head for SY-NAH-DEY!
5:00pm
We have reached Sydney and couldn’t resist a drive over that amazing bridge.
(That’s our mascot, Pirate Pete!)
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k160/sylvie_011/bridge1.jpg
The car was filled with”Let’s stay at Manly”
“Let’s go to Bondi”
“Go to the rocks!”
“Which way’s the bloody coast?”
“Did someone fluff?”
“Where’s the pub?”
I think we will be staying just out of the city,somewhere!
It was porn alright.
FLOWER porn. Some enormous flower fest called Floriade.
Now I know some of you may be salivating at the thought that I may have taken countless pics of the underskirt of a tulip bulb or something,but to be perfectly honest,despite the gazillion people crossing streets and clogging up a perfectly good running path with their cumbersome plastic pots and talk of blooming wisteria,I didn’t take any,because I couldn’t actually SEE where all the flowers were.
Instead,we spent our final day sniffing round the halls of old Parliament House.
I would say my earliest awareness of the existence of Parliament House was when good old Gough Whitlam, the labour prime minister,was dismissed in 1975 and the decision of his dismissal and his famous ‘becawz,nothing will sayve the Guv-enor Gen-eral” was delivered on these very steps.
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k160/sylvie_011/oldparl.jpg
Iam not sure that I remember the actual event,or seeing the brilliant piece of journalism delivered by Norman Gunston re-played over and over the following years.
A retired former ‘public servant’ gave us a quick tour of the house and it turned out he had been a speech writer for quite a few Australian Prime Ministers.
A fellow tourist asked himwho was his favourite and he quietly confessed that he found Howard a ‘dream’ to work for because he only had to provide him with point notes.
Well. I’m sure some of you can imagine my forked tongue desperately trying to lurch out of my mouth an impale his nostrils.But I held it in.
Until we reached this office.
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k160/sylvie_011/hawkeoff.jpg
This was the office of the Prime Minister.The last one to occupy it was Bob Hawke and it’s been left exactly as he had it.
Note the simple furniture? The lack of grandeur?
Course he made up for the lack of it in his office with his sensational hair.
I really like that it was kept so simple though and I bet Howeird wouldn’t go for it and probably has a golden toilet in the shape Bush’s c…
I’m sidetracking.
ANYHOW,there we were,commenting about the fact that the office had 2 windows facing the street,when Mr Retired Public Servant comments on the Aboriginal Embassy siting just outside the office.
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k160/sylvie_011/abemb.jpg
This has been there the past 32 or so years and is constantly occupied by a group of Aborigines.It is a tribute to their commitment ,their politicisation and the important issue of landrights.
Do you know what he said?
‘after so many years, you would think they would just get over it”
‘Well,maybe they’re not OVER it because the issue and its broader implications haven’t been resolved”,I hissed.
Well,not exactly a hiss,more like a raspberry.
Time to head for SY-NAH-DEY!
5:00pm
We have reached Sydney and couldn’t resist a drive over that amazing bridge.
(That’s our mascot, Pirate Pete!)
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k160/sylvie_011/bridge1.jpg
The car was filled with”Let’s stay at Manly”
“Let’s go to Bondi”
“Go to the rocks!”
“Which way’s the bloody coast?”
“Did someone fluff?”
“Where’s the pub?”
I think we will be staying just out of the city,somewhere!
posted by Wanda Ring at 8:27 AM
3 Comments:
Not only am I being entertained, but I'm actually learning things about the Australian government.
Clearly this blog should be part of the elementary school curriculum....DanQ
This blog needs more cow bell.
torque
My new favorite pictures are of the subway nestled in landlocked Holbrook and the Aborigine Embassy. :)
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