Monday 30 June 2008

Crikey, Bruce!

Defence officials have had to allay the concerns of Sydney office workers, who watched as an air force fighter chased what appeared to be a passenger plane.

Some people thought Australia's most populous city might be coming under attack.
It was just a flypast, to bid farewell to a retiring aircraft, and the ‘fighter’ was just a Hawk trainer shadowing it for photos.
One eyewitness said the sight and sound of the planes was "terrifying".

Another said he'd never been so scared.
*Sigh* Are we all wimps now, after 9/11…? Even the Aussies….?

2 comments:

John M Ward said...

"Struth, Cobber!" might have been a more appropriate title :-)

(I've never heard an Aussie say "Crikey" for a start...)

I don't think the antipodeans have quite the stiff upper lip, take it all in our stride outlook that we Brits have -- as I have noticed in London, and as has been reported in the media.

Personally, I'm well prepared for such things, as I live close to a small airport that also houses re-built fighter planes and has the local police helicopter stationed there.

Thinking about your use of the word 'wimps' in connection with Aussies...

In Australian culture, there once were (apparently) just two types of adult males -- designated 'blokes' and 'wimps'. A few years ago, in acceptance of the more modern domesticated fellows who bath the baby and do the washing-up (and all that), a third category was devised, the 'guys'.

Anonymous said...

Oh, but the late, great Steve Irwin did it all the time! Suely he wasn't just a 'TV' Aussie... :)

"In Australian culture, there once were (apparently) just two types of adult males -- designated 'blokes' and 'wimps'. A few years ago, in acceptance of the more modern domesticated fellows who bath the baby and do the washing-up (and all that), a third category was devised, the 'guys'."

Lol! Now I've got the 'Shiela's Wheels' advert playing in my head...