Hello Sailor

With the USS Kittyhawk, spearheading a number of American navy vessels visiting our city, for the next few days Sydney will have 7,000 American sailors in town.

Authorities refused to announce details of the time of the Kittyhawk's arrival, citing security reasons - which is fair enough. However, if you really wanted to know, you could log on to the Port Authorities website and see full details of her estimated time of arrival!

American warships come in three sizes; Big - Huge and Bloody Hell, and this ship is definitely in the last category. How the authorities thought they could keep secret, the arrival of a ship with more planes than the Australian air force, is somewhat of a mystery. Once the ship is on the far off horizon, it's bloody hard to miss!

Amidst tight security, she pulled into her berth, right in the heart of the city, overlooked by beautiful vantage points along the Domain and Botanical Gardens - hundreds of cameras aimed in her direction.

My mind started clicking over and I thought, "I could make a quid out of this - 7,000 sailors with money to spend!". Yep, I know what you are thinking but I'm a guy remember! Perhaps I could buy myself one of those corked hats and pop along to Circular Quay and sing a few genuine Australian songs.

Songs such as "Waltzing Matilda" about a sheep stealer who evades the police by committing suicide, and is the first song little kids are taught in school - which explains a lot about Australian boardrooms. Then there is, "I still call Australia home" written by Peter Allen who lived in America.

Of course I would have to include, "The Humming Song" otherwise known as our National Anthem. Everyone sings, "Australians all let us rejoice, for we are young and free..." and then starts humming. There is a bit of a revival when they reach "Our land is girt by sea" (we like that because we don't know what it means), but that's about it.

My former fiancee, (who is still a very special friend) is American. When she came over for Christmas and New Year, we attended the New Years Eve Gala at the Sydney Opera House. After the concert we were gathered in the foyer for drinks and things on sticks. The time came when the anthem was sung and sure enough, everyone sung the first verse with gusto - then started humming. Mel however, kept going! The only one around us who knew the words was an American! I loved her to bits for having the courtesy to find the words, knowing it may be needed at some time.

I will try to get down to Woolloomooloo (yes - that is the correct spelling) and take a few photographs. If any of you have loved ones on the ships, I can assure you they are not only very welcome - but will be well looked after.

Footnote: I only recently discovered this, and don't know the full details. Apparently there is an American "ghost squadron" on the bottom of Sydney Harbour.

During WWII, room was needed to take US soldiers home, so a number of planes were pushed from aircraft carriers into the harbour. Divers who have seen the planes say they are in pristine condition.