With the weather and the shedding of clothes comes the barbecue and, let’s be honest about it, Brits are a bit amateurish when it comes to creating new strains of salmonella on a grill that hasn’t been used since last year.
This is understandable. We have cold and wet summers.
In contrast, Australians are viewed as kings of the barbie. However, reader Peter Foster sent me the lyrics to The Aussie Barbecue Song which intimates a rather different perspective and suggests they are not as proficient as we think.
Here’s a sample:
When the summer sun is shining on Australia’s happy landRound countless fires, in strange attire, in many solemn bands of glum
Australians watching, as the lunch goes up in flames
By the smoke and the smell you can plainly tell, that it’s barby time again.
When the steaks are burning fiercely, when the smoke gets in your eyes
When the sausages taste like fried toothpaste and your driven mad with flies
It’s a national institution, it’s the aussie thing to do
So come along mate and grab your plate, let’s have a barbecue.
There’s a lot more, and very funny it is too, but go to www.ericbogle.net to find it. Eric Bogle wrote it.
He was born in Scotland and emigrated to Australia in 1969 when he was 25. Now he’s acknowledged as Oz’s best known singer songwriter.
Among his catalogue of music are two particularly pertinent and emotive pieces for the anniversary of the World War One commemoration: The Band Played Waltzing Matilda and The Green Fields of France. Discover him: his music is pretty good.
