Oz in Spain

An appeal has been lodged in the Northern Territory Supreme Court against a coroner’s ruling that a dingo was responsible for Azaria Chamberlain’s death 32 years ago. […]

Splendid pageantry… or obsolete pomp? Two differing views of the celebrations to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s diamond jubilee – and (at least in Australia’s case) the more pressing and pertinent issue of republicanism.

Michael McGuire: No crowning glory in right royal farce (The Punch)

Jeremy Paxman: We’re all monarchists now – even me (The Telegraph)

Competing at the same venue where his father Seve made his professional debut, 21-year-old Javier Ballesteros finished a creditable 14th in his first appearance in a pro event. […]

The design maestro responsible for putting the soul and heart into one of the Mediterranean’s most chic, and state-of-the-art, new marinas was the guest of honour at a lavish weekend of inauguration celebrations.

[…]

The humble and dignified Australia way…

After making derogatory remarks about Canberra on a US talk show, actor Guy Pearce responded to the outrage (at least by Canberrans) by penning a letter to the Canberra Times: “I stupidly ran with a joke which I took too far for no other reason than to get laughs and I know I’ve offended many Canberrans and Australians in general. I feel horrible about myself for doing this and I’m truly very sorry. In the few times I’ve been I’ve really enjoyed it and found it to be extremely beautiful, so I’m so sorry for being such a dickhead.” Imploring Canberrans to accept his apology, he added, “I give you permission to abuse me in the street and tell me my films are crap.” […]

A friend “very high up in the media world who has been tapping the phones in Australia House for many years” gave Barry Humphries an inkling. “I can’t tell you his name; he is married to a Chinese girl. He said it was between me and Julian Assange and it turned out to be me.”

[…]

One-time world record-holding boozer Bob Hawke (aka as Australia’s Prime Minister from 1983 to 1991) couldn’t resist the challenge. And, to be fair, what true blue Australian could! Hawke, who recalled in his memoirs that he had once set a world speed record for drinking two and a half pints of beer in 11 seconds while studying in Oxford, was walking through the stands during the second cricket Test against India in Sydney when offered a plastic cup of beer. “One for the country, Robert!” he was encouraged by a voice in the crowd, and the Rhodes Scholar patriotically obliged – the moment being caught for viral posterity on a mobile phone.

HER RECORD label describes the sound as “tropical pop” but Hollie Cook’s self-titled debut album covers a far wider genre – a melodious and hauntingly captivating mix of dub, ska and reggae.

[…]

The 2011 Miss Universe pageant in Brazil became more interesting than usual (i.e. mildly interesting) when, in the endless round of mostly meaningless lead-up events, Miss Colombia Catalina Robayo was snapped in a short dress inadvertently (or not) minus knickers.

Oh yes… and the winner was Leila Lopes from Angola. Miss Australia Scherri-Lee Biggs, who was also reprimanded by the organisers for an “offensively see-through” evening gown and a “way too sexy” bikini, finished in the top 10.

…and then there’s furrowed

IT MIGHT be a mystery for the Punch columnist but here in Spain we are all-too familiar with the dear soul with the “furrowed” lines. It’s the indomitable Doña María del Rosario Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart y Silva, 18th Duchess of Alba de Tormes, a grandee of Spain and current head of the House of Alba. According to the Guinness Book of Records, she is the aristocrat with the highest number of titles recognised by an existing government.

[…]