It's nine o'clock in the evening and I'm like a kid in a lolly shop because in an hour from now (1pm British time), Air Force One will be landing at Mascot and there's a 50% chance that the great bird will fly past our window, depending on which approach they're taking to the runway.
The city is ready; there's a steel fence all around the CBD (an idea I've been suggesting they implement in Liverpool for years, though digging a trench around the place would work equally well - sorry Shirl), the roads around the airport closed an hour ago and the traffic lights along the approach to the city centre are fixed to green.
The fact that APEC is happening in Sydney proves to the world what a great nation this is, how important we are on the world stage, how we're up there with the big boys. We're honoured that they've closed the roads and buggered up the lights. It's a compliment; all around the city, Chinese manicurists and Italian traffic wardens stand proud of their contribution to the event (and the brothels down Darlinghurst Road are expecting brisk business as well).
More importantly than that, it's a two-fingered salute to both Canberra (which calls itself the capital) and Melbourne (which would like to). Sydney's the real capital of Australia and I just can't get over myself about it.
No comments:
Post a Comment