Aussies

For all my ranting about the government here, I have to say, the people are almost without exception delightful. Helpful, friendly, inclusive, outgoing, real. True blue, as they say. We have made some great friends.

Their submission to the government, though? They need to work on that.

I can only speculate that the original convicts and all the many support service personnel sent over from England were accustomed to a very harsh, rigid society and this deference to government domination stuck. And also maybe that newer immigrants have arrived from countries with more dictatorial laws and consider this relaxed.

A new acquaintance, who has since become a good friend, no doubt in part to his spot-on powers of observation, had a real sparkle in his eye when he greeted us with, "Ah! Rebels, are ya?!" instead of using the more common term "Yanks." We were quite pleased.