This is my first time using this forum and I have to say how extremely disappointing it is to read these posts. What narrow minded people can read this piece of writing and come to the conclusion that Cassandra is bashing Australia and promoting America, it's beyond my understanding. Come on people are you serious? I mean really? I also have commented over the years about our children missing out on playing under the sprinkler. Is this the most critical of our concerns regarding the current water crisis of course bloody not, does she suggest it is? But yes you are right...how dare she even consider to share her romantic childhood memories...curse her to hell, or to America as you suggest. In contrast, I particularly liked the piece about the charm bracelet. It's an insightful observation about human behavior. We do tend to collect iconic images from our travels or places of exotic 'otherness' and it's interesting to consider, whether migration then turns those notions of other to the home country. This is a lovely piece of writing and all you idiots who offer nothing of a professional or even mildly educated critique other than to personally slam the author, really guys GET A FRIGGIN LIFE! And next time, try to read a little between the lines, you might find there's a whole new world there.

pax

Well said! Cassandra is not dumping on Oz at all - if anything, she is torn between her man and her love for Australia. I can only wish her well.

Unfortunately, some 'grumpy old OLO farts' have lost their comprehension skills, or have no capacity to see and judge beautiful prose for what it really is - sad really, but ... Welcome to OLO!

Dearest pox and panda

Cassie's female status is neither relevant nor an excuse for her abuse of the country we live in.

And panda - we so called "OLO Farts" trail a certain redolent fragrance that we will never bestow on youse.

Yours

Poida

Dear pax,
Good post.

plantagenet - what abuse?

platagenet

I lived for a couple of years in the USA and understand fully the complexity and contradiction of emotions a person feels on moving to another country.

Australia is what it is - both wonderful and terrible, welcoming and racist, accepting and ignorant.

I love my country, but it is not the only nation on this extraordinary planet.

I'm guessing that you don't understand if refugees still get homesick even though they are making new lives for themselves here.

Poiret

If you can't see the many instances of abuse by now I won't be able to persuade you. Its all yours to resolve.

Severin

I think "refugee" (forced to leave or can't return on pain of death etc) doesn't fit except on illegitimate economic refugee grounds.

However the complexity of feeling about two countries is very interesting. I lived in the US for about 2 and half years - loved parts of that experience and some Americans, liked other things but I never used the US or Britain (stayed one year) as a flail to hit Australia before I left it - or while away, or now.

Cassie's motivation in deciding on an anti-Australian tack appears odd and passe given Humphries and Greer have done it before.

It might have been Louella Parsons who said "Intentional bad publicity can be good publicity, but unless you're Paris Hilton this is a fib."

Maybe not.