The local yokal

Great pic my dad took of the dam at our place.

Easter this year was the first one in years that I haven't had to work for all four days and be bombarded with noisy children or minority groups of interesting dining habits. While the kidletts were still present at work, to some extent I could block them out and rest assured that I'd done my part when I stopped the two 3 year olds from bashing the croquet mallets against the posts of the main homestead.
My parents and 3 sets of their friends came to visit, and stayed at work in one of the cottages. These people are the ones who were my friends all year last year and covered up the fact that Michael and I had no life. So it was pretty exciting to see them again and to be able to show them all the local 'sites' and wildlife.
Sadly we are not surrounded by an abundance of wineries, gourmet food stores, amazing national parks or spectacular water vistas (well not within an hour's drive).
What we do have is an abundance of cane toads, frogs, snakeys, cows, birds, kangas and amazing sunsets. You get the picture. What they didn't expect however was the local colour at the local pub.
They had been pestering me to guide them to the local pub for a meal - they wanted authentic country town pub. I had already ruled out the actual local local for its front drive of carpet (yes, outdoor carpet in an indoor pattern) and we had ventured 10 minutes over the hill to the next town.
Our local is the place we go for huge cheap dinners, pool table and beer and is basically the only place within half an hour except for our hotel that serves food.
When we walked in, I saw it through their eyes - the resemblance to the bowling club on roast day, the pokies, the entertainment.. OMG, the entertainment.
I dont know what her name was, she sat in the corner with her synthesiser and yodelled. yes yodelled. I am not averse to some yodelling here and there. I like the Sound of Music more than most people and like to sing along. My family and friends thought it was a great experience - a true country pub kind of thing. I reminded them that this is the place that we go to because it is better than the blood and guts up the road or the carpet showhouse in town. This is the best it gets!
They loved every moment, especially when the crowd of Easter Sunday diners burst into song along with the yodeller. The ladies were drinking diet cokes, the men on lite, and still - they sang along in broad daylight.
The mortification has not worn off. The only reassurance is so at least they didn't do the true local test - climb the fake horse outside Das Neumann Haus. Luckily it has been removed - probably out of shame.