BL> I used to think that Australians were too cynical to be taken
BL> in by advertising, but I was given a terrible shock at the
BL> *last* election when they bought a pack of lies, hook line and
BL> sinker.

BK> Ordinarily the proof of a lack of cynicism would be a good
BK> thing...hmmm...

 Beign Australain, I've always thought a cynical disrespect of those
in authority is natural, and essential. They talk such crap!

BL> BTW, here in Sydney we've just had the mildest winter on
BL> record, with an average of 20C (68F) and hardly any rain. Now
BL> it's Spring, it's cold, and it's hailing! The lawn has gone
BL> under an inch of hail stones (little ones, thank

BK> Read this to my wife and stepson and his fiance. Was really
BK> good.

 It was good for me, too... but it *destroyed* my roses. I know how a
farmer feels when he sees his crop attacked by nature. I prune the
roses in July (midwinter here) for the first bloom in early October.
They had just put out all the soft new growth and the hail took it
right off! All I've got is sticks, and leaves with holes in them.
The big hibiscus survied, but the big soft leaves are full of holes.
The hedge is okay, just thinned out a bit, and the lawn under 2 inches
of hail survived quite nicely. All the shrubs look sick, but it's just
that they've had half their leaves knocked off... they'll come good.

 It was my best Father's Day for years!

 I took Jess for a walk in the "snow" and she was unhappy about the
whole thing. She kept stopping to look at me and say, "This isn't
right."

Regards,
Bob
     

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