From @theathleticfc.bsky.social: Canada men’s national team manager Jesse Marsch has a message for President Trump: “Lay off the ridiculous rhetoric about Canada being the 51st state.” nyti.ms/3ER27Dm

Bidding so long to balmy Canberra and g’day to familiar snow stormy Ottawa.
First of many round trips to come. All in all, far so good.

In the white sandwich bag was what I thought was going to be cinnamon danish. Turned out it was a vegemite danish :).
While this Quokka would have been perfectly happy with the salty pastry, I was a bit disappointed thinking only in the land down under…

Weekend in beautiful wine country, Margaret River, Western Australia. Just 50km from the city of Augusta - Ottawa’s antipode (the town closest to exactly half way around the world from the NCR).
Wondering if it could be moved a bit closer.

Sydney has it all. Truly world class. Almost makes you ok with a Xmas without snow.

Return to Canberra and a good bye for now to the province of Victoria. The word Canberra comes from the First Nations peoples living in the area - and means “the meeting place”. Parliament is resuming this week, and the plane is full. Meeting place indeed.

As it happens, once a year, Dunkeld swells from a population of 500 to plus 5000 on Country Racing Day. Who knew?

3 hours North West of Melbourne get you to here. Dunkeld.

Melbourne (Mel bun)- yes, I absolutely get it.

Ozzie Ozzie Ozzie! Oi Oi Oi!