OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 27 Sep 03 - 12:27 PM

well, we had another great night at the Dog tonight - only one to go, then you will almost be here.

Lots of great singing tonight & the small but perfectly formed audience sang with it's usual skill (even tho lots of the regulars has sent in notes from their mums). One of the excused regulars found the event she was attending not to her taste, so she turned up at 11pm for the lst half hour. The bloke who had left his jacket last month also turned up late & despite my reminder almost left if behind again, damn, I wanted to keep it.

Incidentaly tonight The Shiny Bum Singers were part of a political extravaganza in Canberra, our nation's capital. I can only quote the advertising bumf - .............. SMARTARSES BUMS & SHORTARSES - A night of Political Satire featuring The House Howlers, The Shiny Bum Singers and Shortis & Simpson. The House Howlers is a choir formed from members of the Press Gallery at Parliament House. Wordsmiths all, they have a bottomless bucket of material from their observations and "hands on" experiences with the pollies who run this country and from which to pluck their contribution to this night of expression of political commentary. If any of you don't know of The Shiny Bum Singers (Work Songs of The Public Service) then you probably shouldn't be on this list. John Shortis & Moya Simpson complete the triumvirate (Yes folks it's Caesar, Crassus & Pompey all over again). From the apolitical & atheistic world of small business (the satirical cabaret industry is definitely not your BHP) comes John's biting lyrics with the lark-like liltings of Moya. From the cesspit of parliament itself to the engine room of the leviathan that is the Public Service to the tenuous world of the Man (& Woman) in the Street, we make no excuses for what may transpire this night.......... Jeeez I went on a bit then didn't I??? ...........

I wonder if the Washington or London press galleries have choirs?

sandra

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 08:15 AM

Well, we do have a group called the Political Steps. They use show tunes to parody the news out of Washinton, DC. The original members were all congressional staffers but now I believe they make their living doing their show. They are pretty funny.

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 08:25 AM

well, you can't keep a good idea down. I wonder if other press galleries/ex press galleries have copied the idea?

What have you been up to? Work (that 4-letter word?)

sandra

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 08:14 PM

Yeah, we're into the final stretch to the end of the fiscal year. We worked through the weekend and have today and tomorrow to get it all finished up. Late hours and no life till Wednesday.

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 08:39 PM

Spend them millions, Brett. We taxpayers are counting on it.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 30 Sep 03 - 03:45 AM

Charley, I am working on my itinerary. I am trying to match mine to your last post above with your itinerary. I figure we can spend a few days at Port Arthur and then meet up again in Sydney. Because of the trains I'll have to leave Port Arthur earlier than you and Judy if I am to get there in time for the Loaded Dog. I'll probably leave on Tuesday (11/18), spend a night in Brisbane, and then get to Sydney on Friday (11/21).

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 30 Sep 03 - 10:00 AM

BRETTTT!

port douglas, port douglas, port douglas!

You're clearly burnt out but I know, I think, well, maybe we'll all end up on the same continent at the same time, at least in Sydney. Sigh, it's such a big world.

Them Brisbane folks do sound interesting.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 30 Sep 03 - 08:17 PM

OK, OK, Port Douglas. Do you know some place there where we can sit and drink and play some music? You're going to have to work pretty hard at Flowers Of Bermuda. I see it as my revenge on you for putting so many chord changes in your songs.

Anyway, I expect we can spend a few days together at Port Douglas and then in Sydney. I expect you to show me the sights.

Last night we were hard at it until 8:30PM. But now it is the new year and the pressure is released. I can once again have a life.

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: JennieG
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 06:10 AM

Geez Brett if it's Port Arthur instead of Port Douglas - that's at the other end of Australia!
Bob: not all funnel webs are found on the leafy North Shore. There have been biteys found at Condell Park in the Wild Western Suburbs, you know. Made front page on The Torch a few years ago. Biggest excitement since Neville Wran lost his seat in a by-election......
Cheers
JennieG home again from a nice wet drive to Goulburn and Crookwell

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 07:09 AM

I have been studying my tour book and looking at the internet sites. I'm a little unsure about spending time in Port Douglas. It doesn't seem to be my kind of place. But I think Charlie, Judy, and I can find something to do.

Tell me, what is the difference between a hotel and rental apartments? It doesn't really matter to me. I'm not traveling to see the interior of hotel rooms. I may just stay at hostels and avoid all the decision anxiety of finding and choosing a hotel.

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 09:08 AM

Brett - A hotel = a room with bathroom included, an apartment would have several rooms including a kitchen & living room. As Oz is the destination for backpackers there are lots of cheap hostels around.

It's getting closer!!

sandra

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 09:33 AM

Well, Brett, I think there's this place near Port Douglas called Crocodile Charley's which has a room or two, next to their pool. Very inexpensive as I recall. Breakfast is included but it doesn't say whose...

A place with air conditioning is useful in Port Douglas this time of year, maybe any time of year.

"Flowers of Bermuda"? You're on your own, my friend!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 10:13 AM

G'day JennieG,

Funnelweb spiders in the western suburbs ... must be an effect of the gentrification of my old working class haunts!

Anyway, where I grew up, in the Chullora end of Geenacre, we had lots of redbacked spiders - and a good supply of trapdoor spiders ... but I never saw any convincing funnel web. (And, Judy & Charley ... definitely none in Annandale!)

Regard(les)s,

Bob

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 07:20 PM

Aw c'mon Charlie, live a little! Flowers is a fun song and the banjo would add so much...

Thanks for the definition Sandra. Do they let apartments only in whole weeks or can you get one for less than that? Or does it depend on the landlord and time of year?

By the way, I was looking at hotel prices (in Port What-ever-it-is) and they seem to be lower after October. Are we going to be there off season? Won't the gales and snow storms impact our snorkeling?

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 08:39 PM

Hey Brett!

This is the Southern Hemisphere ... by our reading of the seasons, late November is the last week of Antipodean Spring ... but that only applies to the temperate regions - Port Douglas is in the tropics and inclined to be less temperate. Generally pretty good weather up there at that time of year, if somewhat sultry (Hey ... you're in Guam!) ... but it is heading for the cyclone season!

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Hrothgar
Date: 02 Oct 03 - 05:48 AM

Just a small warning - if "hotel" means an older country pub, you might find yourself sharing a bathroom. A motel will generally have a room with a bath included.

A flash modern hotel will have the bath included, plus other facilities, depending on stars - and if you fellers can afford five star accommodation, you don't need any help from us!

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 02 Oct 03 - 07:02 AM

well, I'm in it for the adventure. If I wanted a private bath I could stay home.

Attitude makes the difference between ordeal and adventure.

How about some basic info. Coin operated laundries? Public transportation in the towns? A dictionary of Australian words and phrases so I can communicate with the natives?

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 02 Oct 03 - 07:54 AM

G'day Brett,

I suspect that Port Douglas won't have too many old bush pubs ... it's pretty much an up-to-date tourist spot with all bells and whistles. (That said, it may well have 'backpacker' accommodation and inexpensive facilities.)

There is an "Aussie Glossary" in the Quick links, on Mudcat (on which I collaborated) ... but is is of a more folkloric bent than you would need to deal with the tourist belt types at Port Douglas. (And it might be a bit difficult to keep connected to the Mudcat while haggling over the laudromat facilities in Far North Queensland!) Have a browse through it anyway ... it may help.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 02 Oct 03 - 09:36 AM

Brett - I have no idea about renting rooms/apartments/hostels - my holidays were spent with relatives, & are now spent at Folk Festivals!

See if you can get hold of the Lonely Planet guide to Australia or something similar.

This link comes from Folk Australia - one of the best sites in Oz - run by Mudcatter Valda! There is a section on advice to performers planning tours
http://folk.mountaintracks.com.au/Folk_Australia/tour_help.html#links

that's were I found this link to the Australian Tourist Commission
http://www.australia.com/ProcessSplashResults.aust?C=US&L=en

I assume there will be links to the different state Tourist agencies - Tourism Queensland & Tourism New SOuth Wales & other intersting sites.

sandra

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Oct 03 - 03:05 PM

Or Brett could just pitch a tent on that nice beach at Port D. I'm sure there's no bunyips that far north. Of course there was a headstone on the beach that we stumbled across the last time we were there on behalf of a former member of Parliment, with words to the effect that "here he lies as usual"!

Cheerily,
Charles Noble

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 10:47 AM

re "Political Steps"

CNNN on the ABC is now presenting the news to song... :-)

Robin

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Oct 03 - 02:54 PM

Robin, looks like you're already here!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 04 Oct 03 - 11:51 PM

I was reading in Bryson's book about the Big Lobster outside of Melbourne. He mentioned a number of other Big _____s. Are there any between Cairns and Sydney?

Also, I've been wondering about renting a car. There is a folk club northwest of Brisbane I might be able to get to. Not sure if the train runs up there. Is there anything special I need to know or do to rent a car?

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Hrothgar
Date: 05 Oct 03 - 06:47 AM

If you want to rent a car in Brisbane, I have a friend in the business.

Where is the "folk club northwest of Brisbane"? If it's Mount Isa, it's 1700 miles northwest ...

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Oct 03 - 09:34 AM

Brett-

With regard to renting cars, it's good to remember that most Australians drive on the opposite side of the road. This practice makes the "round-abouts" a special challenge to navigate. I've found it helpful to have a navigator in the passenger seat who is willing to scream at the top of her lungs as we hurtle down the road; too bad that Judy frequently confuses right with left...

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 06 Oct 03 - 09:08 AM

As I don't drive, I can't agree or disagree with Charley's advice, except the bit about driving on the wrong - to you - side of the road. Maybe Hrothgar's mate might have some info leaflets or tips for driving n the wrong side of the road. Another possibil source of info is rental sites wich just might value their cars & customers enough to include such info on theor websites

Try www.yellowpages.com.au then "Car and/or Minibus rental" as companies often include their website in their ad. Choose Queensland, then I think it's non-metropolitan. I think Valda has a link for car rentals on her site (link given several days back)

sandra

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 06 Oct 03 - 05:27 PM

We had fun comparing notes with our nephew's Newcastle inlaws. They had rented a car in the States for the wedding, and they too turned on the windshield (windscreen) wipers as they tried to signal their first turn. What joy!

Oh, by the way, does the "Hole in the Wall" pub still exist on Kent Street in Pyrmont? It used to be the gathering place for sailors from ships laying at the wharves bordering Darling Harbour.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 06 Oct 03 - 06:51 PM

I spent a happy couple of hours last night compiling a list of towns where the trains stop. Then I cross indexed them with my Lonely Planets guidebook to Australia. Then I remembered my kids have been trying to call me and I got off the line.

There are lots of little sites to see out there as well as big fancy ones. I am more at home in a small town environment anyway.

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: GUEST,JudyB
Date: 06 Oct 03 - 10:24 PM

While it's true I have been known to confuse left and right on occasion, I'm not at all sure that right would be on the same side in Australia as it is in the US. After all, the Pacific Ocean is on the East, not on the West where it belongs - and the cars are on the other side of the road - who knows where right might be!

More seriously, because the cars are also opposite from here (in terms of which side the driver sits on), while there is a certain sense of having gone through the looking glass, once you get going, it all seems to make sense. There are quirks (we never did figure if the turn signal/wiper problem was because they weren't opposite while everything else was, or if they were opposite and we were expecting them to be on the same side as they were in our cars), but Charley didn't have much trouble getting the hang of it.

   Judy

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 07 Oct 03 - 08:18 AM

Charley - there is no Hole in the Wall pub listed in the Yellow Pages, all there is a coffee shop of that name in the CBD. Pyrmont had been gentrified so much in the past few years that it might exist under a more trendy name.

sandra

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Oct 03 - 08:31 AM

Thanks, Sandra! A gentrified Pyrmont will work fine in the song, along with a passing reference to Woolloomooloo. Now what would be the OZ equivalent of our "Victoria Secrets"? Or do they have an outlet or two in Sydney? I suppose if we have "Outback Steakhouses" in the States, there could be a "Victoria Secrets" meat-packaging outlet in Sydney.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, fine-tuning a song or two

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 07 Oct 03 - 06:53 PM

G'day Brett,

Back on 4 October you mentioned the "Big Lobster" and asked about other "Big" things scattered about Aus. I think someone may have mentioned elsewhere John Warner's cong about the "Big Merino Ram" down south at Goulburn ... but I just noted this in an e-mail from Kate, of the local group Touchwood (and who maintains the Loaded Dog's web site!):

MORE BIG THINGS
We're just back from a wonderful weekend at the Forbes Folk Gathering - congratulations to Rob and Olya Willis and their team for putting together such a wonderful event.
Apart from the fabulous music and dancing, we managed to get photos of a couple more "Big Things" for the cover of our forthcoming CD - this time the Big Gold Panner and the Big Fruit Bowl!.

I could list off a few of the well-known ones (like the first [?] - the "Big Banana" up at Coffs Harbour ... I hitch-hiked north to Queensland in 1964 - and slept one night in the bus shelter at the foot of the hill capped by this immense, lurid yellow, floodlit statue of a banana!) - but Kate may have a far more complete list ... and locations. I'll dig out her e-mail address and PM it to you.

BTW: Mudcat's Callie also sings in Touchwood.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 07 Oct 03 - 07:03 PM

G'day again Brett,

For some reason asking for a PM to "Naemanson" doesn't work (Message is [`]: "Member not found") so I'll give you the e-mail here ... it is the address from which Kate sends her promotional notices, so it's fairly well distributed anyway: [e-mail].

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 07 Oct 03 - 07:44 PM

Hi Bob,

Don't know why that didn't work. Weird. Thanks for the address. I'll drop her a line.

My Lonely Planet guide has a list of the "big things" in the index. I may be able to go see one after all. There are, or used to be, similar things back home in Maine. There were cheese shops shapeped like a wheel of cheese with a wedge cut out of it. The door was in the wedge. There are still one or two of them around. There are plenty of gift shops with reproductions of lighthouses in all sizes. There is one place along the coast called The Nut House which is a gift shop and museum of sorts. It has some odds and ends outside to denote it from the other tacky shops along the coast. There are giant ice cream cones and a giant Santa Claus that shows up from time to time. But nothing like what I have read about in Oz.

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Hrothgar
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 03:59 AM

Judy,

Hold out your hands in front of you, palms away from you.

Keep the fingers together, and extend the thumbs at right angles.

The hand where the fingers are the vertical part of a capital "L", and the thumb sticks out to the right as the base of a capital "L", will be the Left hand.

Using this as a base for reference, you will be able to keep track.

Unless, of course, you people in the northern hemisphere have your hands on backwards.

Best of luck.

:-)

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 10:01 AM

Charley - Victoria's Secrets is a lingerie shop in Chatswood!

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 12:33 PM

Sandra-

Oh, good! If you've got a Victoria's Secrets shop than I won't have to bring any show-and-tell items to The Loaded Dog. I can just make a causal reference to its existence and sing the song. Neither Brett nor I look particularly good in fishnet pantyhose anyway.

Bob-

How are the musical gatherings doing on the tall-ship James Craig? Any possibility that we could gather a few of us aboard to sing some songs?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: GUEST,Judy B
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 05:22 PM

Hrothgar -

Thanks! That will be much quicker in traffic than digging through my belongings in search of a pen to see which hand I hold it in to write! :)

More seriously, that is one of the nicer reminder methods I've heard about, though I suppose it could be a problem for kids just learning left and right in that they might not be real consistent in the direction they make their letters.

Thanks again!
Judy

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 08 Oct 03 - 09:48 PM

G'day Charlie,

I have been a bit loath to remain active with the James Craig sessions, although I'm still providing some technical assistance - and have been mentioning the possibility that you, Judy and Brett would love to come along.

I'll PM you with a bit more information.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 12 Oct 03 - 11:08 AM

Charley - have you seen the Giant Cane Toad - it's at Mackay (Northern Qld)

sandra

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Oct 03 - 04:53 PM

No, my dear Sandra. We were raising cane elsewhere in Queensland. But thanks for the warning!

Hey, it's only a month before we fly out to Sydney! You've all been warned. Better make your plans now for fleeing to your weekenders!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: alison
Date: 12 Oct 03 - 07:54 PM

Heaps of big things on the main road between Sydney and Brisbane

Big prawn - Ballina
Big Banana - coff's Harbour
Big bull , avocado, & pineapple... off the road but well signposted
big oyster - Taree
and a petrol station diguised as "Ulhuru" just N of Newcastle

I live over beside the Olympic Stadium - so if anyone is out that direction give me a yell

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 08:45 AM

Here in Maine one of our coastal towns used to feature "The Big Lobster Trap" which always gave me this pleasing vision of summer tourists (we call them "summer complaints") scrambling in, getting confused, and then being hauled away for plundering.

We still have a 20-foot wooden statue of a Native American in front of a shopping plaza in South Freeport but I don't dare repeat what we used to call that, far too rude. Ask Brett.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 08:50 AM

Why Charlie! Too shy to explain the proper name for the indian in Freeport? It's the FBI, Friggin' Big Indian.

Also, don't forget Paul Bunyon in Bangor.

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 10:25 AM

Well if you aren't going to see the Big Cane Toad (& who would blame you, they are ugly critters with no redeeming virtues, I'll save the pic for you & maybe even laminate it so you will be able to admire it for years. I also must find the postcard of a wonderful, totally unbelievable Big thing - anyway here is an article about it - enjoy!


udderly unbelievable!

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 10:27 AM

I made a blue clicky!!

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Dahlin
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 10:30 AM

Brett
    You forget that the Indian is known as the BFI Big F-------
Indian. It shares those initials with a trash disposal company that has BFI on all of their dumpsters. What's with this Friggin word?

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: JennyO
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 11:17 AM

Congratulations on the blue clicky, Sandra. Udderly amazing!

Jenny

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 02:23 PM

Yes, Sandra, udderly bizarre!

Remind me to sing my ballad about the cow that sinks the Japanese fishing trawler, entitled "Cowardly Act." It's a moooving song.

And, yes, Brett, it's the BFI for us real Mainers.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: OZ Foray from Maine & Guam-Late November
From: Naemanson
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 11:37 PM

Well, Dahlin, for those who spend too much time in southern Maine, frigging is another version of the more popular word used in the south. F**k**g is the more vulgar and socially unacceptable word. *grin*

Hi to Jolene.