It has been a couple of months since my last rant/ confessional…rants come and rants go. so it’s time for another.

Just when I think I’ve been here just 9 short but busy years, and I think I’ve heard all the expressions these Aussies say which are so different to our Kiwi terminology… then someone stumps me again!

Let’s break it down…

Doona – (Duvet – bed cover)…Port (suitcase, NOT a drink, nor where a ship goes, nor where you plug in your USB)… Sweet Potato (Kumera)… too easy (sweet as) arvy /arvo (afternoon)… of an afternoon (in the afternoon)…Donga (sleep out/bach)…chockas (chocka block) admittedly, that’s similar… Get up him or her …or I upped him (tell them off) Whinge (grizzle or grump) I’d never used whinge before moving here…..insert (wood burner) air-con (heat pump)… knocked up (NOT pregnant…but tired/worn out) I heard this one from an 87-year-old and my brows shot up! (Wow, Grammarly does NOT like any of these expressions, and wants to change the spelling on all of them!

There are words I don’t use as my vowels make them sound rude. I won’t elaborate…but there you go. Kiwi v Aussie. We are getting closer to embracing 9 years in Queensland. Every day is a learning curve, laced with laughs, and amazing stories, straight from the heart.

And the best one of all I heard twice last week. Once when showing someone how to fold a fitted sheet and the other showing someone the easy way to empty a contrary barrel of a vacuum cleaner. “I’ll be buggered!” This isn’t strictly Aussie terminology, as my mum and dad, aunts and uncles said “Bugger me” as well, so that’s close enough. It’s a trans-Tasman thing, but it still makes me smile.

Disclaimer: apologies if bugger me is offensive, but it’s what we say, and not to be taken literally…

That’s my rant for this week, if I hear any other pearlers (good ones) fit for a good rant…I’ll be sure to let you know.

Thanks for reading