h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

So why exactly is everyone over there called Bruce or Sheila??

Gosh, I'm going to e yet another "joke" - apologies in advance, but I think maybe your other half will enjoy it

Sheila is an Australian generic term for females. In real life, most Aussies of a certain age are named Kylie or Jason.

And New Zealanders are called Wal or Dolly.

Not any more. Over here in Helengrad* the farmers, along with most males, have been sidelined.

*Named in honour of NZ Prime Minister, Helen Clark

Errr ...... OK..... thanks for answering my question so ....... clearly

Is the NZ v. Oz thing, a bit like English v. Scots or is it friendlier?

Ajopolies for quizzing you both like this, but a girl's gotta know these things!

The Aus, NZ relationship has been likened to squabbling siblings. Australia likes to think it is New Zealand's big brother. As in any family, little sister often upsets big brother.

Away from home, especially in Britain, it's Downunder v The Rest

On various battle fields the NZ and Aus armed forces have been fighting side-by-side for over 100 years. From the Boer War to (currently) East Timor.

As Looney says, it all depends on who we are being compared to. I would say that we are not like England and Scotland, who have gone to war with each other, and have a long history of antagonism. Oz and NZ share the same national day of rememberance for fallen comrades - i.e. ANZAC day. So, we are more similar, and are more like siblings.

That being said, my impression from an Aussie point of view (admitting I have an NZ mother and brother) is that NZ has a bit of a younger child syndrome: wanting to be heard above the older sibling. So, when we were O/S a few years ago, on hearing our accents, every one asked first if we were from NZ, rather than Oz. When we asked eventually, we were told that NZers don't like being mixed up with Aussies; whereas the Aussies don't really care that much. Its not that much of an issue for us as NZ is just another state of Oz ( ); but the NZers want a separate identity, just like a younger sibling.

(I have resisted jokes about cables holding NZ to Australia, in the event that NZ drifts down to the Antarctic - as I live in Tasmania, similar jokes could be made about us!).

That is my take on the matter!

Cheerio
Bran.

Or to put it another way, when America says jump, Australia says "how high".

In NZ the same question results in a great debate about how and why we should be sucked in by the perfidious Yanks. People say things such as: "We are a soverigen nation and we will decide what we want to do". Obviously, the debate is lead by old-style feminists and Maori radicals (often the same people).

In short, sadly, Australian leaders grovel to the land of the free, where everything (including democracy) has a price.

Meanwhile, back in Helengrad....

Alas Looney, I must agree with your assessment of our sad and pathetic political leaders. Where Lange when we need him?

Down with those nuclear warships and up the Rainbow Serpent!!

Back to the sheep-trials ...

When Lange (Point of information for our foreign correspondents - he is an ex NZ PM) retired from politics he also dumped his wife.

Nowadays, resplendant with new wife on his corpulant arm, he is making megabucks on the Aus/NZ speaking circuit. He also stars in dodgy TV commercials. Politicians, don't you just love them

Point of fact. There are more sheep in Australia than New Zealand. Makes them easier to catch I suppose.

Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport probably says it all.

While you two get tangled in down-under politics, we here in GB have today celebrated "Jedi Day":

May the 4th be with you!

Sorry, I heard it & it just kinda struck my funny bone

Any of you remember Stingray? We've just had a re-run of the "digitally re-mastered" version of Thunderbirds & now it's: Stingray ... Stingray. Still enjoy it - shows my level of intelligence huh?

"Anything can happen in the next half hour"

If you enjoy Stingray then may I "humbly" submit that you will love reading my h2g2 Edited Guide article about the programme

It lives at http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A536519

Hey thanks Loony - just been there and putin my input!!

Ooh, you were rather harsh about the prog - in it's day it was totally new technology - without it we might not have progressed to ... hmm .... Star Wars?

Let's face it, I reckon it was the next step on from Bill & Ben - which has also been resurrected. Although it's nowhere near the same.

Don't you lot think I sit around all day watching kids progs - I just like to see some of them for easing the brain - ha!!

In the Kiwi vernacular "trash classic" is high praise

Uh, ha,! Methinks I am corrected - or .... are you having me on?

Tell me: if "trash" is a fairly "high" word, what on earth is the lowest? Or would the moderators xxxx it out?

When talking about TV programmes, "American crap" is about as low as it gets.

Ah well, "American" sums it up!!!