'Ja ja, this is true ja' I have spent some of the past ten days dressed as a german.
But not in the way which got price harry in trouble all those years ago, not the most famous son of Germany but the second most famous, the laderhosen clad people who drink far too much ale and eat way too much deep fried snchitzel and crumbed mushrooms, that even Dr Atkins would disagree with! These are the people that are the stereotype of germany, much like the garlic and baguette man of france, or the man with corn in his mouth ( devon/cornwall i think) or the ...ah forget about it. I dont care, and im sure you dont care how many stereotypical dress types there are.
Its not the start to Sydney i was expecting, lets put it that way.
Sydney is currently in the grip of the coldest spell ever, or for 15 years or something, England is in the middle of a heat wave. Its all a bit backwards. And why not top it off with dressing like a german and working in a little bit of bavaria in the middle of sydney for 10 days @ the
Sydney winter festival . We travelled all this way to go to a colder place, have our second winter in one year, and then i end up spending 12 hours a day listening to rita and bjorn ( or whatever their names) playing the organ and accordion, singing the bavarian national anthem 100 times a day. I don't think ive listened to the English one that many times. Its the most expensive and long winded trip to Germany i think i will ever do. But i think the best!
I have had the best commute to work i think i will ever have. Getting the ferry from mosman to circular key in sydney is an amazing ride. In the daytime the water is deep blue, and crystal clear and is topped off with the Sydney harbour bridge and world famous opera house rising out of the water as you sail out of the bay and across the water into the CBD ( Central business district) Its incredible. And just as good at night, even if you are shattered, been one your feet for 12 hours and told by middle class woman with far too much makeup on (but not enough to cover up the botched botox or hung over eyes) that they cant believe you dont have marsh mallows for their precious little jimmy's hot chocolate and wondering ' how many people does it take to make hot chocolate'. But that is all forgotten on your way home, on a deserted ferry, with just the the view of the lit up sydney skyline stuck in your mind.It is one of the greatest in the world. Ill get a picture some day, and you can see it for your self. Or just come out here and see what i mean.
I'm amazed i have managed to write this as i don't think my brain is functioning correctly today. Im shattered from the lat ten days. My body clock is all wrong, my eyes keep closing, my feet hurt and the guys are playing rock band on the Ninteno Wii,. Or tryignt o anyway! But one day of discomfort is nothing. Sydney has been most welcoming and Im glad to be here. My job is great, the people ( apart form the moaning woman, and anyone from germany- sorry just give me a few days to get over it) are great. Its an amazing place, and i hope the next few months will be just as good.
One final thought. Ausies don't understand bars. They queue in a line, like they are waiting for a bus. Its most strange to see it, and when a pom ( english gentleman) just walks up ( as they understand how bars work) and get served straight away, it makes me proud, despite our world cup performance, to be English! But ill put up with being and english man in sydney for a bit longer tho please!
Gut Nacht.
jonny xx
