I can't think of a better way to spend the Australia Day weekend than on the roof of Australia. With Australia Day falling on a Thursday this year, Andrew and I decided to take the Friday off. A road trip beckoned and we decided to cross "Climb Mt Kosciuszko" off our "Things to do before we die" list.

On our four day weekend, we played Taboo, Poker and Round the World Table tennis with the Forsyth Crew on Australia Day, on Friday we drove to Jindabyne, we climbed Mount Kosciuszko on Saturday, and on Sunday we browsed through the National Museum of Australia in Canberra. (photos)

Things we learnt on our weekend:

	From weakest to strongest, the ranking of Texas hold 'em poker hands is: high card, one pair, two pair, three of a kind, straight, flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush, royal flush.
	As the highest mountain in Australia, Mt Kosciuszko is one of the 7 summits, the highest mountain on each of the seven continents. However, at only 2,228m (7,310 ft) it's more of a hill than a mountain. Some argue that Kosciuszko should be replaced with Carstensz Pyramid (4,884m / 16,023 ft) in Indonesia. Carstensz is the highest mountain in Oceania.
	The spelling of Kosciuszko was changed in 1997 from Kosciusko. Imagine how many signs they would have had to correct!
	Jerrabomberra is NOT pronounced jer-rah-BOM-ber-rah. Andrew spent his teenage years in the Southern Highlands and loves to laugh at my pronunciation of the towns in the area.
	There are 51 "big" things in Australia according to the National Museum of Australia in Canberra. This includes the Big Merino in Goulburn.
	During WWII, Vegemite was rationed to ensure that there was enough to send to the troops. Back home, Australians were asked to deny themselves the yummy, black stuff, "unless you required it medicinally". If so, you could get a prescription from your doctor. Who needs Vegemite medicinally?
	Andrew said I had to say that "I've taken my frisbee playing to new heights". Yes, we carried a disc up to the top of Mt Kosciuszko. We are dags...

Our Australia Day festivity this year was a BBQ at Sarah and Duncan's house. It was their very first AusDay and we celebrated in style. I think we managed to accomplish all the necessary Australia Day duties. We BBQed; we listened to Triple J's hottest 100; we ate sausages, lamingtons, violet crumbles, fantales and timtams; and most importantly we got rip-roaringly drunk. (photos)

(If we had comments, Sarah would point out that it was not her first Australia Day as she was born here and lived here for the first few years of her life. So maybe I should qualify that with, the first Australia Day they can both remember. But then again, with the amount that Duncan had to drink, I'm not sure that's true either.)

Sadly, I was not a very proud Australian this year. I've recently finished reading Not Happy, John! by Margo Kingston and... I'm not happy John! I'm ashamed of our Government and their dodgy dealings and lack of respect for the Australian people. In 2000, the Sydney Olympics were on and we were all fiercely proud to be Australian. Fosters released a commercial which explained what it meant to be Australian. I think that commercial needs a few alterations for 2005.

G'day... uh, I don't have a kangaroo for a pet I don't wrestle with crocodiles (because they are all extinct from global warming because we won't sign the Kyoto protocol), and I don't wear a cork hat. I'd fight wars, but never start wars (but we do go to war at the drop hat to look for imaginary weapons of mass destruction). I would rather like peace (except when we're looking for weapons of mass destruction). I can wear my country's flag with pride (not anymore!). I am a rock. I am the ocean. I am the island continent. My brothers are the Smith's, the Wilson's, The Santarilli's, The Vikosky's, The Wong's and the Jagamaroe's (except when they're looking for refuge within Australia. Then we lock them up and throw away the key or send them back to the volatile and dangerous country they were escaping from). I play football, without a helmet. I LIKE betroot on my hamburger. I ride in the FRONTSEAT of a taxi. I believe this is a PRAWN not a SHRIMP. I believe the world is round and DOWN UNDER is ON TOP. I believe Australia is the best address on earth, and Australians, brew the BEST BEER on EARTH. Cheers.

Well, it's been a bit quiet on the FuShMuSh front lately. Mainly because our site has been down *sigh*. Andrew and I had a very relaxing january with only a couple of events.

• In-Hee's Baby Shower - In-Hee and Andrew Kleemann are expecting their little bundle of joy in early March. At the moment they are hoping the baby will arrive on the 3rd of March (03/03/03) - a very cool birthdate. We all put our votes in on what we think the baby will be - Girl: Karen, Linda, Annie and Janis/Boy: Valda. I have no idea! (Photos here)
  
  
• Australia Day - Australia Day was a scorcher this year! The temperature reached the high 30s, the pool was definitely the place to be. Sue had a BBQ at her house and we spent the day swimming, eating and listening to the Hottest 100 on Triple J. Sue and J made satay, I made thai chicken sausage rolls and Luke cooked vegie burgers. Not your traditional Australia Day fare :D. Nat saved the day with lamingtons for dessert! I must say that I was completely unimpressed with Adam and Wil's Salmon Hater efforts. They corrupted the Hottest 100! I'm tempted to switch over and listen to Breakfast with Merrick and Rosso on Nova969. (Photos here)