An Interview with Anne Dixon.

Do you, Anne Dixon, promise to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you, your best friend, the Lord?Oh! Don't say that!Well he is isn't he?Yes he is.Ok. So.....Do you, Anne Dixon, promise to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?Oh, I liked the other bit but make sure you are not taking the mickey out of things.........Oh, honestly........ I don't know why I am sitting here.So, what brings you, Anne Dixon , to the continent they call Australasia?A plane.....(laughs). No don't put that....I was made to come by my very persuasive friends Nicholas and Will.We didn't make you come. We said that it was a good time to come if you were thinking you would like to come.You dropped it on me like a ton of bricks and I went into starvation mode for two weeks! I went into panic mode!But why did you come?Because it was the chance of  lifetime and everyone said you have to go.How was your journey here?Oh heck!.... I have forgotten.......... Actually, it went like a dream. It was trouble free. The Lord was helping me. It seems like a million years ago.......Oh heck! Who would want to read this nonsense.....but not the bit about the Lord that was not nonsense.How did you manage to get so many outfits in to so small a suitcase?I don't have many outfits....... they are just shorts. Crikey! I could have brought a lot more........Oh, what are you putting? Its your double entendres and little asides that make me look silly.....make sure you put 'don't believe everything Nick writes!'Now you are here on the other side of the World far from the small farming village of Lessonhall in Cumbria, what are your impressions of Australia?These are too hard! .........I think I fit in very well and I think the accent has some cumbrianisms in it........ Fair Dinkum? (laughs). Honestly only you could come up with an idea like this.....Oh, I think I am going to have to lie flat here to get under my chin done......Don't put that!But how do you find Australia compared to the UK?Much more free and easy, more friendly and hotter.There are lots of free things like barbeques and the Government seems to be for the people rather than against them.Can you name the Prime Minister of Australia?Er.....somebody Turnbull..........Malcolm Turnbull.Oh! That was Will mouthing the answer behind me!Oh, I got Turnbull.....and the one before was Tony Abbott.Well, I am very impressed because most Australians don't know who it is as they change Prime Ministers every week here.What impressions do you have of the city of Brisbane?It has a nice feel to it. It is very clean. The young people seem to enjoy themselves and seem to have respect for their beautiful city. The river is a particularly lovely feature and at night the city is lit up and is quite breathtaking. It has a good range of culture and respects its Aboriginal history.Can you tell your fan back Up Over some of the things you have been doing while you have been here?Whose my fan? ..............Ooooooh!Someone in Bowness?.......Sheila will say I live at West Whitrigg why did she not put me down?You haven't asked the question what do you not like about Australia?OK, what do you not like about Australia?The mosquitoes (with no hesitation)....it's the only thing I would say I disliked.So what have you been doing while you are here?See the blog!.....(laughs)......but you've said everything in the blog. I am not repeating what you have put in the blog.What has been your favourite experience so far?I think walking up the bald pyramid.......... noooo,........ well, not walking up........ struggling up....the Girraween National Park and the views at the top were majestic and just reinforce my view of how it was the Lord's handiwork and don't make it 'tung in cheek!'Can you name some of the Australian fauna you have seen?Kangaroo (laughs)...... Bribie? no ....brilby?..... wallaby, wombat? Corrawong?..... no, what is it? Bellbirds...... no, bell bird. Don't put bellbirds they will think it is a group ....No don't put that!....... A noisy mynah bird......... that keeps waking me every morning at 4 o'clock....... a kookaburra...... a koala ....Oh stop!Can you name any Australian flora?Oh heck!............. Oh, he is writing 'Oh heck'!......... silky oak......er...... is it dogwood? Oh, I should know more than this..... gum trees..... fig trees,....... Oh loads Will has said and I can't remember.....I think I would fail this test....Help me out here....( I don't)....masses of wonderful flowers.Have you picked up any Australian phrases or words?Fair dinkum....spewin', galah or 'you stupid galah', 'how you goin, mate?'......no, not mate.You have very recently returned from Frogknot haven't you? What were your fears about visiting the place before you went?Too many to tell you now...(laughs).....mainly the toilet and the shower......and the bath on the rock....... and the insects.What was it like to actually experience it rather than just looking at photographs of it on the entertaining and hugely popular blog, "Possum Galore!" ?(laughs) Say the beginning of the question again......Oh ,you are not putting that are you? "say the beginning of the question again?"What was it like to actually experience it rather than just looking at photographs?Most of my fears were groundless...as I lived most of my time up in a tree....(laughs).....No! Don't put that it .....It is a stupid comment...... (she chokes and coughs).....Oh, I have swallowed a fly!How did you find life at Frogknot?Very peacefull and relaxing apart from when I thought something landed on me in the night and I cried out in horror! It was like going back to nature. It was really....... it was very........no pressure whatsoever.Any comment upon the toilet?Well, I was just glad to get there sometimes.......it was very back to nature but there was a certain amount of privacy and a good system with the 'vacant' and 'engaged' sign......... if you remembered to use it.You demonstrated some resistance to having a bath upon the rock but having relented how was it for you?It was wonderful actually....... under the stars.During your visit you have met a wide variety of Australian people, can you name some of those who have made a lasting impression upon you, bearing in mind that many of them will read this interview and be offended that you have missed them out?Oh thats not fair!........... I liked them all.....but I did say to someone they were top of my list and they will be wondering who it is........No! Don't write that!.......... No, they were all very nice and very friendly and made me feel welcome.What can you say about your accommodation whilst here?Ooh!    I have had a private bathroom, very comfortable sleeping quarters and masterchefs to 'cooooook' for me....(laughs). I would recommend it to everyone.How was the food?The food was magnificentHave you eaten anything unusual?(Distracted) Oh, I have just had 'de ja vu' seeing that yam........er........What were the vietnamese....Wraps?No, not them. Well have I (eaten anything unusual)?......... Everything is very multicultural.......Oh, yes the only thing I didn't like was that slimy chinese we had the other day........Don't put that!I hear you were involved in purchasing a ticket for the Australian Lotto. Why do you think your best friend, The Lord, did not let you win?Oh No! Now don't put that!....... Because I didn't purchase it actually....... you just said choose some numbers Anne!Where are you off to next?The loo.....(laughs).......Oh no!.........Oh, dear me!........Outer Mongolia ....not!No, really.....where are we off to tomorrow?Sydney!....... Oh yes! I thought you meant for my next holiday!Is there anything else that you would like to do here in Australia before you go?I don't believe there is. I have done everything .....Swim with sharks?...........I swam with jellyfish....Is there anything else you would like to say to your fan out there who is reading this?In Bowness? I don't have a fan in Bowness!.....Please stagger your visit to me as there will be so many people coming to ask me about my wonderful experiences .......No, don't put that!....... Just say Nick has made me silly answering silly questions.Thank you Anne Dixon for taking the time from your sun bathing to answer these questions, now turn over the back of your legs are very white!(laughs)........Now let me read what you've put!