Happy Australia Day!

Happy Australia Day to everybody! January 26th.

Well, it's the 26th of January and here in The Land Down Under that means it's Australia Day and we get to go a little bit nationalistic and wave the Australian flag and set off lots of firework displays all over the country. I thought I'd start my post with this lovely picture of Busselton, which is a short drive from our home and a popular spot with tourists visiting the south west of Western Australia......and yes, our beaches are beautiful!

Australia seems to have taken it's time catching on to all the patriotism that America has abounded in for centuries. We have always been too laid back to be bothered with much in the way of getting excited about somebody discovering us back in the 1800's. Things have changed a lot over the last several years and now we celebrate with gusto.

I think world events have led to us being more appreciative of the lifestyle and freedom we have taken so much for granted in Australia. Now days we see so much on the news about atrocities and terrorism and we are grateful for this wonderful country that we call home. The fact that we are so far away from the rest of the world used to be a problem, now most of us see it as a blessing!

So, as we take the day off to enjoy the sunshine and a barbeque and maybe even some fireworks, I'd like to wish the rest of the world "Happy Australia Day" from the Great Southern Land. I was going to put up a music clip of the Australian National Anthem because it would be the patriotic thing to do, but I thought it would be more appropriate to choose something a little more upbeat and fun.

So here is the song by Ganggajang called "Sounds of Then (This is Australia)" and it has an accompanying slideshow of some iconic Aussie images to make everyone feel like they are down under in the Summer sunshine "slipping an extra shrimp on the barbie" as Paul Hogan once said.


And if you don't know who Paul Hogan is, or what a shrimp on the barbie is, then you can watch this (you're welcome!):



24 comments

  1. Visiting Australia has been a dream for me since I was a little girl. The first video was beautiful. It would be so different from anywhere I've ever experienced. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com

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    1. It is the same as some bits of the world, and vastly different in so many ways Alana - I think it's the isolation that has allowed us to keep our identity relatively intact (although America still sneaks in at times!)

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  2. Happy Australia Day! Have a wonderful time Leanne! Hope to visit there one day before I'm too old.

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    1. Thanks Laurie - I'm sure you'd love it (once you recovered from the jet lag!)

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  3. Happy Australia Day!
    Must. Go. There . . .

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    1. Hi Diane - I'm saving you a place at the barbeque in your honour when you finally get here :)

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  4. I could go for some shrimp on the barbie...but I'd have to dig out the barbie first! Happy Australia Day :) #abitofeverything

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    1. thanks Jen - nothing like a barbie to make everyone feel loved :)

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  5. As I sit here in my sweater and sweat pants with 21 inches of snow outdoors your picture got my mouth watering! The color of the water and the white of the sand. Gorgeous. Happy Australia Day. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE to visit Australia. Did I mention I'd love to visit? Yup. P.S. I remember that ad because Paul Hogan was popular from Crocodile Dundee!

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    1. I keep looking at the snow that people are posting on facebook Cathy and it is just beyond my comprehension to live in a climate that does that. Even more mind blowing is seeing all the gardens come back afterwards! And let me know if you ever make it down under :)

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  6. Happy Australia Day! The beach looks inviting. What is the Australian cookie? An Aussie cafe/pub here serves it today. They make the best pot pies. It is a young husband and wife and he is Australian and she is American and they were both Rhode Scholars and decided to settle here in Portland, Oregon and open a pub and restaurant. They started selling their savory pies at Farmers' markets then a food cart then one cafe and now 2 cafe/pubs!

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    1. The Aussie meat pie is a staple of our diet here Haralee - we love a good pie (and sauce/ketchup) Any term that has cookie in it has been translated to American because we don't have them here. Our cookies are all called biscuits (and your biscuits here are called scones!) I love hearing stories of people who have been successful following a completely different path to what was expected! Say g'day to them and watch them groan :)

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  7. Hi Leanne!
    I received your notification,and I am stumbling your article. I also followed you back at SU. Thanks for the help today stumbling mine. Thank you for subscribing. So glad you are part of the group. SU has become my leading referrer of traffic!
    Janice
    Janice

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    1. thanks Janice - it is my biggest referrer too and I love that we've connected up properly x

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  8. Awww I would love to be lucky enough to go to Australia, maybe one day. I really hope you had a great time. Happy Austrailia Day! #BloggerClubUK

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    1. thanks so much - you never know what life holds - one day you might be down under and enjoying a barbie with the rest of us - plenty from the UK have done that over the years! and some even stayed permanently :)

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  9. Happy Australia Day to you Leanne!
    You always make me miss it so much and the movie didn't make it any better (on the contrary - it made me miss it even more)! It's one of the most beautiful corners of the earth. The nature is breathtaking and the people are some of the warmest (and most relaxed) folks I've ever come across. I'll come to visit there with my family at some point when the kids are a bit older to enjoy this amazing country. xx Abby

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    1. I hope it gave you a little bit of sunshine in your soul and it would be lovely if you make it back one day Abby - I think we are such a young county in comparison with Europe and we are more cruis-y. x

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  10. Happy Australia Day Leanne. I'd love to visit your amazing country one day. It looks so wonderful and reading your blog has made me want to travel there so much more as I think the people are lovely too.

    Sally @ Life Loving
    #LifeLovingLinkie

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    1. If you're ever popping over Sally let me know and I'll throw a snag on the barbie for you :)

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  11. Happy Australia Day :) sounds like a great celebration. One day I hope to visit and bring our family with us maybe we will experience our own Australia Day, its my Hubbys birthday on the 27th so would be a great start to a party or a big birthday! Thank you for joining us at #BloggerClubUK hope to see you again next week xx

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    1. You and your family would love it here in the sunshine and with the beaches - it would be a birthday to remember for you hubby :)

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  12. Happy Australia Day, Leanne! I hope that you had a good time and enjoyed it.

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    1. Thanks Regina - it's always nice to have an extra day off to enjoy Summer :)

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