for our friends across the seas, today's lesson in local traditions and culture:

Down Under
by Men At Work

travelling in a fried-out combie
on a hippie trail, head full of zombie
I met a strange lady, she made me nervous
she took me in and gave me breakfast
and she said

do you come from a land down under
where women glow and men plunder
can't you hear can't you hear the thunder
you better run you better take cover

buying bread from a man in Brussels
he was six foot four and full of muscles
I said - do you speaka my language?
he just smiled and gave me a vegemite sandwich
and he said

I come from a land down under
where beer does flow and men chunder
can't you hear can't you hear the thunder
you better run you better take cover

lying in a den in Bombay
with a slack jaw and not much to say
I said to the man - are you trying to tempt me
because I come from the land of plenty
and he said

oh, do you come from a land down under
where women glow and men plunder
can't you hear can't you hear the thunder
you better run you better take cover

Hi, gtho. That's brilliantly funny!

I suppose I finally have to break down and ask. It has been floating around the forums so much now I feel like I need some translations. Now you need to read this in very small letters..... what is vegemite?

Vegemite is a yeast extract spread for toast but it has other uses such as putting some in a casserole.

Click here for all you've ever wanted to know about vegemite but were afraid to ask.

Well I certainly learned about Vegemite! Can it be purchased in new Zealand? I have a friend who visits there occasionally and maybe I can get her to bring some home. I'd like to give it a try.

I'm not entirely sure but I think it is pretty popular there too. just remember not to put to much on the bread, you only need the smallest scrape ... it is a pretty strong flavour.

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what is vegemite?

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June, me old mate, it's the Australian version of this (i.e..........Marmite), but with considerably less meat content!

They both taste bloody horrible!

wez

As the site says, you either love it or you hate it. lol
Also, it states it is a brewers yeast -- used for turning sugar into alcohol. Hmmmmm. could that be the same yeast that is sometimes added to grape juice to encourage fermentation? If that is the case, then that is the form I would prefer!

And thanks for all the info.

Do you think it tastes like Miso? That it the Japanese fermented paste that you use in a broth type beverage and I like the taste.

wez,

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taste bloody horrible

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and this is from a country that drinks hot, flat beer?

Vegemite is bloody lovely!

In reply to:

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(i.e..........Marmite), but with considerably less meat content!

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Wez love - I think you'll find that Marmite is suitable for vegetarians!!

We have a trick in our house when the Oz National Anthem is on - we've figured it's got bits of music nicked from other songs in it. So when it's coming to the end and the big finale it sounds just like you should sing "oh come let us adore him....God bless the Prince of Wales". Try it it works....it did every time I heard it at the Commonwealths....and that was plenty!!

Did you know that the words of 'Advance Australia Fair' can be sung to the tune of 'Gilligan's Island'?