While listening to “I am Australian”, I also remembered another Australian song which is in fact the country’s best known folk song that almost became its national anthem back in 1974.
The song is called Waltzing Matilda and it is briefly about an itinerant worker who camps by a creek and steals a sheep. When the sheep’s owner arrives with three police officers to arrest him, the tramp commits suicide by drowning himself in the creek.

Whenever and wherever Australians gather to celebrate, Waltzing Matilda is being sung. Stirring up patriotic feelings, it is played at special ceremonies like football or rugby matches and it is quite likely that more Australians know the words to this song than the national anthem
I had a little search on U-Tube and found several clips playing the song in various ways. This one feature also a nice explanation of some terms but it also gives a brief summary of what the song is about.

Some terms that may need to be put in plain words to understand the song better:
Matilda is a romantic word for a swag, and to waltz Matilda means to hit the road with a swag on your back
swagman
a man who travelled the country looking for work. The swagman’s “swag” was a bed roll that bundled his belongings

billabong
an oxbow lake (cut off river bend) found along the side of a meandering river
coolibah tree
a kind of eucalyptus which grows near billabongs
jumbuck
a sheep. A “jombok” is a large, fluffy cloud that drifts across inland Australia
billy
a can for boiling water in, usually 2-3 pints
tucker bag
a bag for carrying food (“tucker”)
troopers
policemen
squatter
Australian squatters started as early farmers who raised livestock on land which they did not legally have the right to use, but in many cases later gained legal use of the land even though they did not have full possession and became wealthy thanks to their large land holdings.

 I’m not Australian and yet this song brought tears to my eyes. Do listen to it as it sums up this wonderful country in mere 5 minutes. As it is a patriotic song, its lyrics are filled with many historic and cultural references like Albert Namajira and Ned Kelly. (The first being one of Australia’s most acclaimed visual artists and the second  Australia’s greatest folk hero).

It mainly celebrates the diversity of Australian society – the lyrics to the chorus emphasize the following: “We are one, but we are many, and from all the lands on Earth we come, we share a dream and sing with one voice – I am, you are, we are Australian”.

Once again, I spent a splendid Thursday evening at the Prince Charles Pub. As the hour of my oral exam is drawing nearer and nearer, I made an effort and tried to speak as much as I could. I mean… where can you practice your spoken English best if not at the Stammtisch. At the time of my arrival, there was only a small group of regulars, but soon the pub filled with new faces and ended up so crowded that some people had nowhere to sit.

I had the luck to speak to an Austrian expat who moved to Australia 20 years ago. I really got curious and asked him al kind of questions about the country and his impressions and experience he has made there. I also asked him what the Australian public opinion was regarding the Queen as Australia is still a constitutional monarchy with the Queen as Sovereign. He told me that the Australians have mixed feelings towards the monarchy and that some polls even show that a majority of Australians support the creation of a republic. We also exchanded few words about Australian beers, the people and their food and cuisine (BBQ!!!

(My uncle and my dad in one of the oldest Australian pubs)

The world’s biggest island and smallest continent or in other words: Australia is a great country with a diverse culture and one of the highest standards of living. I have learned few things about it from my father who spent there 6 years of his childhood and can still remember almost every day. His elder sister still lives there and she and her family visit us once in a while. It is so interesting to have relatives on the other side of the globe where there is night when we have day I would really like to visit them and am planning to do so next summer or in February (when money lasts) . Just imagine…strolling around Sydney, driving with the monorail around the main shopping district, being photographed in front of the Opera House or soaking one’s bare feet into the warm sand of Bondi beach …This will definitely be the trip of my life and I am so much looking forward to it.

The Stammtisch is a great opportunity to speak to people from so many different backgrounds and to learn more about their cultures. The mix is always changing and you can never know whom you will get to know next. (Hope to see Aussies there more often.) I am really glad to have stumbled across a place like that and will definitely drop in next Thursday as well. See you there!

It seems like Northern Ireland can now look forward to a smoke-free environment in public places since the new smoking ban has recently come into force (30th of April). The Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales already have smoking bans in place; England’s starts on 1 July.
I myself completely support the idea of banning smoking in public places as non-smokers (second-hand smokers) should not inhale other people’s smoke against their will. We should finally face the facts and admit that smoking really is harmful and not just debate around the issue. Research has produced scientific evidence that second-hand smoke causes the same problems as direct smoking, including lung cancer, and other diseases. Smoking is said to cause 3,000 deaths in NI each year, with one death every fortnight due to second-hand smoke and I really think that the ban might reduce these numbers.
Furthermore, I have to mention two additional positive aspects of the ban . First: families are able to go to bars and restaurants without worrying about their children inhaling smoke; and second: non-smokers can finally visit pubs and clubs without getting ill, their eyes smattering and having their clothes stink like an ashtray.

Some bar owners are still worried that the ban will hurt their business. It is argued that smokers will choose the venue where smoking is allowed, or decide to not go out at all. However, I think that the ban will encourager the non-smokers to visit pubs more often. They might even outnumber those who will leave and gather at places where they can smoke. There are definitely more people unwilling to go into the smoke-filled bars and restaurants than there are smokers unwilling to go into smokeless areas.
It might be indeed a way of limiting public freedom of choice as some opponents of the ban tend to claim. However, when it comes to health, I think that non-smokers have the right to be protected from the harm of second-hand smoke at work and in public places. And after all, smoking has not been banned completely. Smokers can still take up their “habit” and light up at home or outdoors.

Another reason why you should give up smoking

I have just read one of Pam’s posts reporting on her regular fish Wednesday and I can tell you that my mouth watered immediately. Her cooking totally suits my taste as I just love seafood and all the spices she mostly uses. The dishes look so fantastic on the photographs that I wish I could just reach into the screen and try them.

She prepared Tilapia fillets which were served on bean thread noodles sprinkled with an exotic sauce (mango, red onion, and ginger) and a little bit of soy sauce and cilantro. I will definitely try to prepare it myself; however, I will serve the fish on rice noodles as my local shop doesn’t hold the ones that Pam used (she also wrote herself that it would probably be better with rice noodles). Instead of Tilapia, I will maybe try to prepare the dish with shark fillets but for the first time, I will try to stick to Pam’s receipt as it is bound to be a hit! She really did inspire me

Dogged determination: very determined to do something, even if it is very difficult:Her ambition and dogged determination ensured that she rose to the top of her profession.Due to her dogged determination, she gaduated even thow her friend had doubts.  

alien: strange and not familiar:When I first went to New York, it all felt very alien to me. A the beginning the new people felt alien to me.  

Throw down the gauntlet to sb. to invite someone to fight or compete with you:

A price war looks likely now that a leading supermarket has thrown down the gauntlet to its competitors.

The dangerous looking man has thrown down the gauntlet to the police officer. 

An elective: a chosen subject

At will: If you can do something at will, you can do it any time you want:  He can cry at will. 

Resounding : loud:  Supporters gave the team three resounding cheers.  I think the answer is a resounding yes.                                        

The most hilarious little poem that I have ever read:)  Quite an optimistic attitude!

One day, I looked up in the sky.
A bird came by and shit into my eye.
I didn’t laugh. I didn’t cry.
I was just happy, that cows can’t fly

In the first half of the book there are two thrilling anecdotes that I would like to tell you about:

The first anecdote is from McCourt’s class and is about two lovers: Sal Battaglia and his girlfriend Louise. He is Italian and she is Irish. Though they are both Catholic, their parents disapproved of their relationship. As soon as they finished high school, they planned to marry and start a life together. One night in the park, Sal is attacked by members of an Irish gang who disagree to his dating an Irish girl. They beat him and even hurt him with a knife. After he returns to school, he won’t even look at Louise. He wants to distance himself from all things Irish, even if that means the love of his life or his English teacher.

In another anecdote there is this rambunctious Kevin Dunne, an unfocused kid who no one at McKee wants in their class. They give him to McCourt since he is the new teacher. McCourt somehow inspires the boy to express himself through art; however he soon drops out of school. When Kevin enters the army and is lost in combat, his mother gives McCourt a piece of his art -a large jar filled with his paints mixed in with some of his own hair. McCourt feels very sorry for the boy and keeps the jar on his desk. He also feels guilty as he had let him drift out of school so easily.

I must admit that I purchased this book only because all the other books from the list were already sold. The author’s name rung a bell as I have already read his bestseller Angela’s Ashes in which he wrote about his wretched childhood in Ireland. After taking a glace at the synopsis I thought that I should give it a try and, lo and behold, it turned out to be one of the most gripping books that I have read for a long time.

Teacher Man is a bittersweet look back at McCourt’s not entirely successful career of teaching at the New York City Public High Schools.  The book is full of hilarious anecdotes about the goings-on in his classrooms and about his life out of class.
Frank McCourt is honest and admits at the beginning that he lacked self-discipline. But what should one expect from a young fella with such horrible memories from childhood and low self-esteem. His alcoholic father walked out when Frank was ten. Three of his siblings died. In school he was beaten and he had hardly any food to eat, let alone his worn-out clothes, lousiness and bare feet. Finally, he left school at fourteen and fled to America, where he worked as a manual labourer.

After he served a stint in the U. S. army, McCourt scraped his way to a college degree from the New York University on the GI Bill. For quite a long time he couldn’t impress any schools enough to get a job. Next, he worked on the New York docks, where he didn’t really fit in because he was educated.  At the age of twenty-seven, he became a teacher after barely passing his licensing examination. (He told the professors that he would ask children to write a suicide note).

On his first week in front of his own class, a fight breaks out; he eats a student’s sandwich, and makes a joke about the Irish going out with sheep. This almost causes him to be fired but the principal has a heard and turns a blind eye to it. 
Principals and other lecturers told him to never share anything personal and to try to arouse fear and awe but he isn’t that kind of a person. Actually, just the opposite happens. He tells stories of his miserable years in Ireland instead of focusing on grammar and discussing great works of literature. His disinterested pupils easily steer him away from the curriculum by asking him personal questions and he answers them with pleasure.

His teaching methods are quite controversial yet effective as he manages to motivate his students to think creatively. He, for example, instructs one class to write “An Excuse Note from Adam or Eve to God (as the students tend to be very creative while writing them for themselves) or he uses parts of a pen to define parts of a sentence.

If you enjoyed reading Angela’s Ashes, you should definitely read Teacher Man as well. It is completely captivating and full of humour and wit. McCourt has a very fluent and revealing writing style which is easy to follow.  The language is not too demanding, yet you might pick up some new witty informal words and phrases as he uses them a lot.  I would definitely recommend it. You’ll have a teriffic time reading Teacher Man. Trust me!
 

I promised to feature some info about an exotic bird and I have decided to introduce the Cockatiel as I have one at home and am able to provide first hand information. Of course I am not a professional, however I can still give you  some useful tips. There are hundreds of pages on the Internet dedicated to this precious bird so you can research further if you are intending to get yourself a cockatiel:

 http://www.letstalkbirds.com/cockatiels.htm#eight

www.cockatiels.org  (Provides information on the proper care, handling, maintenance and breeding of cockatiels.)

http://www.cockatielcottage.net/
(A nicely done page with lots of useful tips for cockatiel owners)

http://www.bluequaker.com/Art-015.htm
(Advice From A Breeder)

The cockatiel has a reputation as a gentle and docile bird and it really likes to be petted and held. It will even put its head down for you to stroke it! My Koky always wants me to scratch its orange cheeks  and nostrils and then it has hissy fits if I don’t do it just right. He also likes to groom my hair and to sleep on my shoulder. You won´t believe how attached a cockatiel can grow to its owner. Sometimes Koky tries to “protect” me from anyone that tries to come near by biting or hissing.

What you should consider before getting a cockatiel:

-These birds need to be played with, talked to and touched. They will try to get your attention by doing tricks or singing and you should not leave it alone the whole day, especially when you have a single one. A single bird is fine, as long as you spend a significant amount of time interacting with the cockatiel on a daily basis.

- When choosing a pet, make sure that it is hand-fed so that it will be tame and used to people.

-Cockatiels love to chew on all sorts of objects (Wood, dry plants, paper,…my Koky is especially fond of wooden pencils and loves to watch tot pickers falling of the table when he has fun dropping them one by one).
-The minimum size cage for a Cockatiel who should have the opportunity for frequent exercise outside his cage is 45 cm 45cm x 45cm. This allows room for flapping of the wings and moving about. If you intend to keep the bird mostly inside the cage, it should be much bigger. There should also be some brightly coloured toys (mirrors, swings, small bells etc.).

-Also, you will need to decide whether you want a male or female. Females are more nervous than males, but also more friendly and affectionate. Males are a little more aggressive but will talk and sing more than females.
Some quick Cockatiel information:
- Life span: they regularly live 15-20 years with proper care
 - Noise: The distinctive sound is not at all offensive. It is very pleasant chirping.
- Appearance: In the wild, cockatiels are naturally grey with white wing patches and yellow and orange on their heads. There are many colour varieties including yellow, grey and white.
 - Cockatiels are native only to Australia where they are found largely in arid or semi-arid country, but always near water.
 - Cockatiels can be taught to talk and whistle tunes. However, their speech is not as clear as the larger parrots. Males are usually more vocal than the females.
Diet and health 
In order to keep your pet healthy, it is very important that you keep it on a good diet. Do not put your bird only on a seed diet. Try to prepare fresh fruits and vegetables every day. Avocados, rhubarb, leaves from potatoes, tomato, eggplant, sugary, salty and greasy foods are all toxic and can make your bird sick.   
It  will also need a source of minerals and calcium (cuttlefish bone, a mineral block etc) which you can buy in a pets shop for about 1 to 5€. Especially female cockatiels need to peck on it as calcium is crucial to replace the “reserves” she is using up creating all those eggshells. Fresh drinking water is required daily!
Cockatiels need between 10 and 12 hours of sleep every night or they will become ill.

As they are fond of pecking at almost everything, you should make sure to remove metallic objects out of their reach. These are poisonous and can cause metal toxicity and many other injuries.

I would definitely recommend a cockatiel as it can be the perfect
companion pet bird. If you do decide to get one, please take good care of him. If you can’t devote at least half an hour per day of intensive company to your bird, either don’t get it in the first place, or buy it a cockatiel companion. No bird should be purchased to be merely a decoration.