Home Again and last tid bits

We got home about 11pm on the 8th, been trying to get caught up on tons of stuff and learn to sleep at night again.  The flights on Quantas to and from were a little shaky, used to love to fly them.  I think we will look at alternatives next time before we book the flight. I had tid bits that didn't get posted before we left so here they are: They want to use smartcards and tellers at the slot machines to help control how much people blow at the machines.  They have big binge drinking and gambling problems. They wanted to start pre-pay gas pumps but were afraid it would slow down the lines.  Gas pumps are sometimes called "bowsers" I have no idea why. They are talking about making pubs "no smoking", possibly starting to use machines to rent movies from like "Red Box".  I had to laugh when they said they were afraid it would put the movie stores out of business.   Australia has the largest number of single women since WWI.  They say most girls are choosing the "Sex in the City/Bridgett Jones" life style. They are talking about de-regulating shopping hours so places can stay open past 5 or 5:30pm more than one day a week and some places can't even open on Sunday at all. Coles there is a major grocery store chain along with Woolworth's.  Red Rooster is a chicken place.  Here Coles is a hair salon, we no longer have Woolworth's and when we did it wasn't a food store, and our Red Rooster is a car parts place. Drivers have letters to put on their cars to let others and police know to watch them.  Red "P" is permit, green "P" is probation, I think the "L" was for learner. When you see a new item in the store it has a sign on it saying "new item-Give it a go!" In July the baby bonus goes up to $5.000.00, they are thinking of giving problem parents coupons (vouchers) for baby items instead of cash to help make sure the money is spent on the new baby instead of booze etc. Taxi drivers are going to start charging $5.00 more to mother's who need them to provide a car seat for their baby.  They also call car seats capsules. IGA is offering 10% discount to pensioners to help them buy food at their stores. Umbrellas are also called Brawley's. Green onions are called spring onions and some lettuce is called Rocket. Rentals are at 1% or less in some areas due to foreclosures.  They are building a high rise apt building across from where we stayed and it won't be finished for 6 to 7 months and it's already completly rented out. They had a sale on Coke for Easter weekend, $9.99 for a 15 can pack with a voucher for $4.32 off. They now show on tv every morning what you should pay each day for gas as gouging was getting so bad.  Some stations were even caught staying closed on days the prices were down and only opening when the prices were high.  Some were caught selling 12% higher than it should have been.  Still you pay a min of $6.00 a gallon. My latest favorite store name........A joint near Bondi Beach called Bite Me burgers. I'll update on my brother after I talk to him again. So glad the weather is nicer than it was the end of last week! 

Welcome back! That was quite the update!

Welocme back.  Sounds like you had an interesting time their and learned alot about the culture. I read your posts most everytime. it's always nice to get back home though. Kelly

Welcome back and thanks for all thw wonderful info. Glad you are safely back home!

Hugs, connie d

Good to have you back in the States - look forward to seeing you at a coffee group soon!

I've lost track of when and where coffee is!  When is the next one and at what location?

Welcome back home Gwen!  Glad to see you are back in MN safe-n-sound. Hope to see you soon!