dr. sb returned from australia bearing baskets of chocolate, including a blast from the past in the form of freddo the chocolate frog. the occasion, (as if you need one for chocolate), was an early celebration of australia day (jan 26), which is not, as you might think, the date of their independence, but the date when the bloody british came and claimed the continent as their own. as with guy fawkes day, therefore, the holiday is either a day of celebration or mourning, depending on your sympathies.

also learned today (by one, several or many):
1) new zealand is not north-east of australia
2) nor is it a part of australia, although some may wish it were.
3) the closest living relative of the dodo is the nicobar pigeon, native to south-east asia, and
4) bananas contain melatonin