In one of those strings
of emails at work, I spotted what I thought was an idiom - “...Waltzing Matilda by Frank”. That phrase
made absolutely no sense to me. Hang on I thought, Frank (my colleague who sits
on the next table) was going to waltz Matilda? That name doesn’t ring a bell.
Oh yes! Again I thought, Matilda is my boss’ energetic and amusing little
daughter whose presence in the office doesn’t go unnoticed. But still, what’s
special about Frank waltzing little Matilda? She definitely must have been very
good at it at an early age.
Over lunch, just to satisfy my
curiosity I asked Frank who Matilda was, just in case there was a Matilda around
that I wasn’t aware of. At first he was puzzled, then shortly he recalled the
email that morning; he laughed at me first before explaining; of course Google
and Wikipedia did the rest.
How could I have spent one year
in Australia and not know “Waltzing Matilda”, a
very popular song widely regarded as the “unofficial national anthem of
Australia”? At least now I know, although not without a little embarrassmentJ. And by the way the
“Frank” referred to in the email was also one of Australia’s celebrated country
singer, Frank Ifield.
Students who have come to Adelaide and gone and even those (exchange students) about leaving at the start of this break might not have been bothered
about that phrase “Waltzing Matilda”; but I bet you would definitely fancy the song ;)!!
Waltzing matilda, waltzing matilda,
la la la la...
Good day mates, nbsto!! J