Status Updates From En las antípodas

The last hundred years in Australia have been the most phenomenal opportunity for immigrants.

Even the hundreds of British orphans shipped there, on the assumption that--having no families or people who cared about them, the kiddies would do just fine. As if to say:

"Australia is bigger than England, so the orphans lives would be better."

Seems to me, Bill is at his wittiest and most engaging when telling tales from his life as a journalist, as with his hypchondriacal friend from their days with The Times, in London.

Bill's friends must be so lucky!

Finally, I learn from Bill Bryson that both his parents were professional writers, journalists.

One more impressive thing about him!

Fascinating, how people in Australia used to look noticeably happier in the 1950's. I'll bet that was true in America, too, except for the victims of systemic racism and bigotry.

More delightful writing today from Bill Bryson!

Do you know about the rabbit problem in Australia?

I first learned about it when in high school, in the 60s. Until today I had no idea the problem is back, or why.

Trust Bill Bryson, when he isn't making me laugh-laugh-laugh, he's making sense out of things that have happened. Even if those things may not make much sense at all!

To my Australian friends, however, please skip over his remarks on Canberra. I feel a little embarrassed, how funny I found them. Particularly his evaluation of the potential cost, vs. the benefit, of skateboarding.

When Bill reads his own travel books, I laugh far louder.

Today may have amounted to a record, from all his travel writing. I laughed so long, so loudly.