<< yesterday [Poirot & family] went to the beach.It was a beautiful day here in the West...>>

Meanwhile faaaaaaaaaaaaar away on the other side of the country

Joe Blogs and family went to anther beach... it was a beautiful day ... an easterly was blowing so the surf was calm and the aquamarine waters of the [Pacific ocean ] tainted only by the odd oil slick [seem] perfect to take in just how lucky we were to be enjoying this peaceful day in [multicultural] Australia

Joe and his family joined a scattering of other families and singles seated on the sand hoping to do just that. However, a half an hour later --a group who for PC reasons we can only describe as wearing robes and bearded -- begin a stroll along the sand and start likening the bikini clad girls to uncovered meat and making suggestive gestures to them-- adding that they are on a part of the beach declared halal and off limits to infidels. Joe and some of the Life Savers ask the bearded men to move on but are outnumbered and assaulted

The next day New Matilda reports that a group of peaceful middle eastern men seeking only a little R&R after jihading in Syria for six months were merciless attacked by racist Ozzie hoons.

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Note well -- Poirot lives well away from the Muslim dominated suburbs of Sydney's west where gun fights are a weekly occurrence...

Sorry Foxy, I was thinking of the bad joke the Australia Day council, with their choice of Oz day awards in recent years, when I suggested April fools day.

However I don't mind using the good joke of making old Phil an Oz knight be part of the reasoning.

Some suggest a lack of connection with Oz by Phil makes him unsuitable for the role. However, from my reading of his time in Melbourne as a Royal Navy officer, during WW11, it is probable the number of his grandchildren in Melbourne is quite high. It would be possibly more than in the UK, if any of the stories are to be believed.

Yes SPQR, it won't be long before the lifesavers will need to sandbag their watch towers, & mount a few Bren guns at least, to keep our beaches safe from dangers much greater than sharks & rips.

December 03 1854 was the day when the seeds of a decent, democratic, independent Australia were sown at Eureka. The appropriate date for Australia Day.

Dear SPQR,

We should all be concerned about violence in
Australia including alcohol and drug-fuelled
violence resulting in king-hits by our young
men where kicks to the head affect not only
the young people involved but their families
as well. Assaults of this nature are an ongoing
problem in this country.

Dear Hassie,

I worked at David Jones as a uni student during
the holidays - and rumour had it that there
was a "family connection," with Prince Philip.
No surprises - from a sailor, I guess.
However, I'm not sure that breeding "illegitimates"
qualifies him for any knighthoods.

Jayb,

While we were packing up to come home we were treated to the spectacle of ute driving past, positively festooned with large-size Aussie flags - and boxing kangaroo ones as well. It really was a sight to behold.

Seems we experienced lots of different facets of Oz in our outing yesterday.

(Thanks for your latest whacky fiction - you really should get in touch with a publisher:)

I don't know Foxy, it worked for some of the Popes didn't it.

I recall some information that a few of them spawned quite large unofficial dynasties, & they still acquired high honours.

May be that's where we went wrong kiddo, we should have breed more.