Shortening words is commonplace over here, we're are a lazy lot. Probably comes from our convict background :D

What did your ancestors do to land there?

Not totally sure. I've never traced myself too far back.

My Grandfathers family on my fathers side were apparently fairly wealthy printers from the Ballarat area of Victoria. My Grandfather was ex-communicated from the family after refusing to become a concert pianist as his parents wished. The money pit dried up with that boneheaded decision. I met my Great Aunts once or twice when I was real small. I recall them handing out lavish gifts for birthdays and Christmas. Who knows, one day some weird inheritance may turn up? As we had very little contact with this part of the family, I have no idea what their origins were.

My mother's side were German immigrants in the late 1800s. She always said to us that somewhere way back we had a link to the Vikings - that's where the pirate thing comes from? She also told us that we are related to an Irish immigrant called Peter Lalor. He was one of the leaders of a miners rebellion at the Eureka Stockade (pretty famous part of Oz history) in the mid 1800s. Although, apart from the German link, I've never verified any of it.

No mass murderers, eh?

Sounds like an interesting history.

Na, not on my side. Now the missus, that another story. She's from the famous Kelly family. Ned is a not too distant relative. There's convict blood in my kids.

Ned Kelly - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!

That is one long Wiki entry!

That is funny...I met a guy called Wei Dong once. Had to giggle inside for a while. Always wondered if his brother was called Hung Long?

He was a busy lad ;)

Looks like ol Ned got "black-balled" on at least one occasion. :D

Wow! Ingenious use of body armour.

Hell, it is a long read. I'm going for a beer, want one too?

Just grabbed one. :)

Cheers

edited.

Cheers!

OK, nevermind. That version sucks.

Yeah it does. :)

This has much better music:

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Z_t5GPbp5IY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Thanks Max, got a dancing and clapping baby on my knee now :D