BTW: (and I'm not sure you'll understand this - reflection on the level of education in your country- not you personally) but you don't have to add HTML colour tags to every sentence... once at the beginning and once at the end. They won't interfere with the colour of the smilies.

Fair point, as a convict I didn't have access to your fancy book learnings. This was a case of laziness rather than ignorance. My use of your cloak of invisibility didn't work first go (using your suggested technique albeit sloppily) so quick and messy edit with colour tags for all and sundry was warranted.

Anyway.... now NOT so great to be an Aussie (or at least not so great to be in Oz). I was on the Ferry last week in Sydney taking a leisurely cruise from the city to Manly when I saw an old workmate. He was on the rear deck having an after work beer with about 25 other ferry patrons. Apparently it is a nightly occurrence for many of the patrons. My mate offered me a beer, which I gladly accepted. 15 minutes later, as we approached Manly wharf, a couple of blokes stood up and produced badges proclaiming that they were police. Apparently, no alcohol consumption is allowed on board. Every single one of us was fined $300 dollars. Grrrrr! That's bit bloody steep if you ask me!

'kin hel.l... . That IS a bit bleedin' steep.

Crikey.

And let me tell you all this.... How can the poms claim anything is great?

Well..... we made you.

Maybe - but your big mistake was taking the handcuffs off. Couldn't help but steal the number one position.

It is a burden we will have to live with.

Good Better Best......I need therapy regulalry just to cope with the pressure from outsiders wanting in....pretending to be mates, to be cool, can say g'day and cobber, so many wannabe's so little time.

Nobody still alive in Australia ever says "cobber" - you are now on my suspect list as a wannabe Aussie Hmmmmmmmmmmm.

CB

Gawd CB, haven't you been to Tassie - 'Cobber' is every second word. But then again, didn't we try to give Tassie to the Kiwis? (They have so much in common, after all.)

Ere , Ere , I heard that Cobber, remember we give an awesome head-butt with our double foreheads.

As far as I am concerned, Ricky Ponting and company have shown the rest of Australians what they are.

World's most small minded bad sports bar none.

Even many of my Australian friends are ashamed of them.

The world's best cricket team, worlds worst sportsmen

No argument.

As for that deadlocked guy called a monkey........ words fail me.

As far as I am concerned, Ricky Ponting and company have shown the rest of Australians what they are.

World's most small minded bad sports bar none.

Even many of my Australian friends are ashamed of them.

The world's best cricket team, worlds worst sportsmen

No argument.

As for that deadlocked guy called a monkey........ words fail me.

Pete, I nearly fell off my chair LMAO: Andrew Symonds in 'Deadlocks'.

Well, when he finishes his cricketing career, he can always get a job on my front door...

A country that has produced so many great people. A country that is so vast, so full of cultural diversity, unique flora and fauna, people with the right attitude to life and a generally free and safe environment.

Many pests and diseases do not exist in Oz.....like WhiningPommius and HygeniusLackius, Obnoxious Yankius, EuropiaObesia, AsianaMinitureDicius, JapanesaPrematureEjaculus, IrishneaStupidia...and the list goes on.

A country that has produced so many great people. A country that is so vast, so full of cultural diversity, unique flora and fauna, people with the right attitude to life and a generally free and safe environment.

Many pests and diseases do not exist in Oz.....like WhiningPommius and HygeniusLackius, Obnoxious Yankius, EuropiaObesia, AsianaMinitureDicius, JapanesaPrematureEjaculus, IrishneaStupidia...and the list goes on.

And they really know how to make themselves loved and respected.

As far as I am concerned, Ricky Ponting and company have shown the rest of Australians what they are.

World's most small minded bad sports bar none.

Even many of my Australian friends are ashamed of them.

The world's best cricket team, worlds worst sportsmen

No argument.

As for that deadlocked guy called a monkey........ words fail me.

I think you are suffering from "Believeeverythingyoureadinthepapers" syndrome, Pete.

This whole row that came out of the 2nd test is not about a couple of crappy decisions by an umpire or whether one player should be allowed, repeatedly (it happened in India too), to call another player a "monkey" - it's really about who holds the power in world cricket.

It's between the establishment, the stuffy old boys of the ICC, and the richest cricketing country in the world, the leader of the powerful sub-continent block.

Their threat of a walkout from the current series, and the subsequent backdown by the ICC with the umpiring apointment (Singh's suspension will be overturned too in my opinion), is just the start of the big picture.

India controls 60% of the money in world cricket and think they should have complete control. They are currently buying players from everywhere for their proposed 20/20 competition this year and that may lead to another World Series type breakaway from the establishment.

As far as bad behaviour is concerned, Indian players lead the world in sanctions against players with a total of 43 infringements against them in the last ten years. They are the arrogant, badly behaved, players in world cricket. Australia is fourth on the list of sanctions with 25.

Yes, some of the Australian players have become somewhat arrogant, and this shows in their, at times, over the top appeals and refusal to walk for basic outs. I think even most supporters agree that they need to pull their heads in a little.

But the furore from the last test was led mainly by the Indians (particularly their extremely biased print media) and their refusal to accept bad umpiring decisions or know where the line is drawn with villification laws. This was the second time in quick succession Singh called Symonds a monkey and he was quite rightly reported for it. He now has a totally of 5 infringements, mainly for abuse. Instead of making him a hero and the Australians automatically the villians people need to think a little more about what is really going on.

As far as I am concerned, Ricky Ponting and company have shown the rest of Australians what they are.

World's most small minded bad sports bar none.

Even many of my Australian friends are ashamed of them.

The world's best cricket team, worlds worst sportsmen

No argument.

As for that deadlocked guy called a monkey........ words fail me.

I think you are suffering from "Believeeverythingyoureadinthepapers" syndrome, Pete.

This whole row that came out of the 2nd test is not about a couple of crappy decisions by an umpire or whether one player should be allowed, repeatedly (it happened in India too), to call another player a "monkey" - it's really about who holds the power in world cricket.

It's between the establishment, the stuffy old boys of the ICC, and the richest cricketing country in the world, the leader of the powerful sub-continent block.

Their threat of a walkout from the current series, and the subsequent backdown by the ICC with the umpiring apointment (Singh's suspension will be overturned too in my opinion), is just the start of the big picture.

India controls 60% of the money in world cricket and think they should have complete control. They are currently buying players from everywhere for their proposed 20/20 competition this year and that may lead to another World Series type breakaway from the establishment.

As far as bad behaviour is concerned, Indian players lead the world in sanctions against players with a total of 43 infringements against them in the last ten years. They are the arrogant, badly behaved, players in world cricket. Australia is fourth on the list of sanctions with 25.

Yes, some of the Australian players have become somewhat arrogant, and this shows in their, at times, over the top appeals and refusal to walk for basic outs. I think even most supporters agree that they need to pull their heads in a little.

But the furore from the last test was led mainly by the Indians (particularly their extremely biased print media) and their refusal to accept bad umpiring decisions or know where the line is drawn with villification laws. This was the second time in quick succession Singh called Symonds a monkey and he was quite rightly reported for it. He now has a totally of 5 infringements, mainly for abuse. Instead of making him a hero and the Australians automatically the villians people need to think a little more about what is really going on.

My comments are governed by having seen many games played by OZ cricket teams in recent years.

The foul language used by the OZ team, in particular, Warne, fantastic bowler he is, was about #1 as far as foul mouthing goes........ he mellowed eventually.

I have nothing against sledging in principle. Lot of it is quite funny and witty.

Symonds called a monkey.....I have called my kids, monkeys... so what. Very mild, just Symonds is small minded.

What about Hobbs and co using "Bastard", that is OK? Get real, far worse.

I agree, lotsa crap in media.

I totally agree, the Indians are not any better.

Fortunately, much of what they say is lip, unreadable.

I am hard of hearing, and being able to lip read to a certain extent, I get quite a few laffs.

Indian fans ARE world's worst, they have the grounds in cages, so to speak, to keep them, and their missiles off the pitch.

Croc, I watch all the cricket from OZ live, love it, neva miss a game.

The BCCI, is NOT involved in buying players for Twenty20.

Nutha lot, like Packer did waaaaay back.

NZ cricket.........<deleted>, best forgotten.

Cheers matey, take no personal offence.

Great to be an Aussie !!

If you laugh at this, you are one sick individual

From the BBC;-

Man saved from croc shot in error

A man has been accidentally shot by a rescuer who was trying to free him from the jaws of a crocodile in northern Australia.

The victim, in his late 20s, was attacked by the reptile near a popular tourist spot on the Mary River south-east of Darwin.

He was flown to hospital by helicopter for emergency surgery for bite and bullet wounds.

He is currently in a stable condition in hospital.

Crocodile attacks and shootings are rare in Australia.

To suffer both at once is - to say the least - unfortunate.

Jason Grant was collecting crocodile eggs at a remote reptile farm when he found himself locked inside a giant set of jaws.

For a few terrifying moments the animal wildly shook its victim before the intervention of a fellow worker.

He fired two shots at the saltwater crocodile. One hit the target, while the other struck the arm of his stricken colleague.

It was enough though to bring the drama to an end.

The injured man was flown to hospital in Darwin, where he is recovering.

Just a memory prompt... it's Australia Day tomorrow.

What the he11 is that Brit flag doing in the corner?!?

ps Have a great day.

Happy aussie day to all you aussies.

Beer & barbie today!

Yes.......must admit the p-ss taking with Aussies is often based on jealousy, have a good day lads and lasses.

Yes.......must admit the p-ss taking with Aussies is often based on jealousy, have a good day lads and lasses.

I have only ever come across good-natured banter.

Yes.......must admit the p-ss taking with Aussies is often based on jealousy, have a good day lads and lasses.

I have only ever come across good-natured banter.

You obviously don't know too many Aussies...

Hi Jai Dee,

Posted the same "Australia Day" in the "General Section" a few days ago and it went down like a "Lead Baloon" . At least me heart was with all of you.

Kan Win

Yes.......must admit the p-ss taking with Aussies is often based on jealousy, have a good day lads and lasses.

I have only ever come across good-natured banter.

You obviously don't know too many Aussies...

Never met a bad one - must have just been lucky!

Yes.......must admit the p-ss taking with Aussies is often based on jealousy, have a good day lads and lasses.

I have only ever come across good-natured banter.

You obviously don't know too many Aussies...

Never met a bad one - must have just been lucky!

That or drunk

happy aussie day people

gosh...the streets are filled with drunken aussies all over thats when the cute boys no longer look appealing

but gotta say...teh patriotic spirit is VEWY strong here in sydney...aussie flags all over the place...guys and girls in their aussie tshirts or walking around with flags...... good stuff

Yes.......must admit the p-ss taking with Aussies is often based on jealousy, have a good day lads and lasses.

I have only ever come across good-natured banter.

You obviously don't know too many Aussies...

Never met a bad one - must have just been lucky!

That or drunk

You may have hit upon something there!

happy aussie day people

gosh...the streets are filled with drunken aussies all over thats when the cute boys no longer look appealing

but gotta say...teh patriotic spirit is VEWY strong here in sydney...aussie flags all over the place...guys and girls in their aussie tshirts or walking around with flags...... good stuff

Say what you like about Aussies, they know how to party! Enjoy yourself with them...

Hi Jai Dee,

Posted the same "Australia Day" in the "General Section" a few days ago and it went down like a "Lead Baloon" . At least me heart was with all of you.

Kan Win

Sorry Colonel... I missed it.

Thanks anyway for your sentiment.

Happy belated Aussie day to all..

In the beginning God created day and night. He created day for footy matches, going to the beach And BBQ's

He created night for going prawning, sleeping.

And BBQ's, and God saw that it was good.

On theSecond Day, God created water - for surfing, swimming and BBQ's on the beach ,and God saw that it was good.

On the Third Day God created the Earth to bring forth plants - to provide malt and yeast for beer and wood for BBQs, and God saw that it was good.

On the Fourth Day God created animals and crustaceans for chops, sausages, steak and prawns for BBQ's, And God saw that it was good.

On the Fifth day God created a Bloke - to go to the footy, enjoy the beach, drink the beer and eat the meat and prawns at BBQ's, and God saw that it was good.

On the Sixth Day God saw that the Bloke was lonely and needed someone to go to the footy, surf, drink beer, eat and stand around the Barbie with. So God created Mates, and God saw that they were good Blokes,and God saw that it was good.

On the Seventh Day God looked around at the twinkling Barbie fires, heard the hiss of opening beer cans and the raucous laughter of all the Blokes. He smelled the aroma of grilled chops and sizzling prawns and God Saw that it was good ... ...

Well .. Almost good.

He saw that the Blokes were too tired to clean up and needed a rest.

So God created Sheilas - to clean the house, to bear children, to wash, To cook and to clean the Barbie, and then God saw that it was not just good. It was better than that, it was

Bloody Awesome!

IT WAS AUSTRALIA !!!!!

Another cracker! Thanks. Very funny.