Flies are of course always irksome, but the Australian variety distinguishes itself with its very particular persistence. If an Australian fly wants to be up your nose or in your ear, there is no discouraging him. Flick at him as you will and each time he will jump out of range and come straight back. It is simply not possible to deter him.
Bill Bryson In a Sunburned Country
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In "In a Sunburned Country," Bill Bryson humorously describes the particularly annoying nature of Australian flies. Unlike other flies, these persistently invade one’s personal space, headstrong in their pursuit of landing on humans. Bryson notes that no matter how much one tries to swat them away, they quickly dodge any attempts and return to annoy their target.

This depiction conveys not only the tenacity of these flies but also highlights a broader challenge of dealing with persistent irritations in life. Bryson's anecdote uses this experience to illustrate the unique character of Australia, blending humor with a touch of frustration found in everyday encounters.

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In a Sunburned Country
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Bill Bryson
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Other quotes in In a Sunburned Country

I bought a morning newspaper and found my way into a café. It always amazes me how seldom visitors bother with local papers. Personally I can think of nothing more exciting-certainly nothing you could do in a public place with a cup of coffee-than to read newspapers from a part of the world you know almost nothing about.
Bill Bryson In a Sunburned Country
I bought a morning newspaper and found my way into a café. It always amazes me how seldom visitors bother with local papers. Personally I can think of nothing more exciting-certainly nothing you could do in a public place with a cup of coffee-than to read newspapers from a part of the world you know almost nothing about.
Just to ease you into a sense of perspective here, Australia is the least wooded continent {Antarctica excluded, of course} and yet it is also the world's largest exporter of woodchips
Bill Bryson In a Sunburned Country
Just to ease you into a sense of perspective here, Australia is the least wooded continent {Antarctica excluded, of course} and yet it is also the world's largest exporter of woodchips
Life in Australia would go on and I would hear nothing, because once you leave Australia, Australia ceases to be. What a strange, sad thought that is.
Bill Bryson In a Sunburned Country
Life in Australia would go on and I would hear nothing, because once you leave Australia, Australia ceases to be. What a strange, sad thought that is.
We were looking for the "real" outback where the men are men and the sheep are nervous.
Bill Bryson In a Sunburned Country
We were looking for the "real" outback where the men are men and the sheep are nervous.
An expedition was organized at once, but despite the most scrupulous searching no one could find the Cape Arid colony. Subsequent searches came up equally empty-handed. Almost half a century later, when word got out that a team of American scientists was planning to search for the ant, almost certainly with the kind of high-tech gadgetry that would make the Australians look amateurish and underorganized, government scientists in Canberra decided to make one final, pre-emptive effort to find the ants alive. So a party of them set off in convoy across the country.
Bill Bryson In a Sunburned Country
An expedition was organized at once, but despite the most scrupulous searching no one could find the Cape Arid colony. Subsequent searches came up equally empty-handed. Almost half a century later, when word got out that a team of American scientists was planning to search for the ant, almost certainly with the kind of high-tech gadgetry that would make the Australians look amateurish and underorganized, government scientists in Canberra decided to make one final, pre-emptive effort to find the ants alive. So a party of them set off in convoy across the country.
I would sooner have bowel surgery in the woods with a stick.
Bill Bryson In a Sunburned Country
I would sooner have bowel surgery in the woods with a stick.
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{...} what I wish for Chizalum is the following: that she is full of opinions, and that her opinions stem from a well-informed, humane, and open mind. That she have health and happiness. That she have the life she wants to have.
«In memory of the countless men and women of all creeds, nations, and races who fell victim to the fascist and communist belief in the Inexorable Laws of Historical Destiny.»
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«In memory of the countless men and women of all creeds, nations, and races who fell victim to the fascist and communist belief in the Inexorable Laws of Historical Destiny.»
"That's a huge gamble." "We're long past the time for careful certainty."
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When had it become so ingrained in her to apologize whenever she wanted something for herself?
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Relationships and marriages are hard enough, but you add war into the mix and small fissures become gaping wounds. No one sees what you're seeing - again that clear-eyed, unbiased thing - except your fellow soldiers. It's like one of those movies where only the hero can see the ghosts and everyone else thinks the hero is crazy.
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Relationships and marriages are hard enough, but you add war into the mix and small fissures become gaping wounds. No one sees what you're seeing - again that clear-eyed, unbiased thing - except your fellow soldiers. It's like one of those movies where only the hero can see the ghosts and everyone else thinks the hero is crazy.
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