With the Sydney Harbour Bridge turning 75 this week, here's my favourite yarn about the bridge ....

They were on the ferry from Manly, which goes across Sydney Harbour to Circular Quay, just near the bridge.   It was a beaitiful day as it is so often in Sydney.   The sun was glistening off the deep blue water, the sky clear and the sun shining.  Jack was enjoying the warm breeze in his face when a tourist stepped out of the interior and came to stand by the railing next to him.

"How ya doing?" the loud tourist asked.

"G'day," the aussie responded.

"Whats that over there?" asked the tourist, pointing to one of the huge waterside mansions that perch on the hillsides around one part of the harbour.

"That would be John Symonds new home.  It cost mllions - took him 3 years to build.  Amazing place."

"Back where i come from," the tourist scoffed, "we would have built it in a year!"

They travelled on in silence for a while, taking in the atmosphere.   Then the tourist pointed at another landmark, one of the world's most recognisable landmarks.  "Whats that?" he asked.

Jack answered, "that's the Sydney Opera House- one of the most amazing buildings in the world.  Did you know the archtect has never seen the finished building?"

"How long did it take to build?" the tourist enquired.

"It took about a decade, longer than it took to pay for believe it or not,"  said Jack.

Again the tourist scoffed, "Ah!  we'd have put that up in a year back where i come from."  Then the tourist looked to his right and saw the Sydney Harbour Bridge.  "What about that - how long did that take to build?"

Jack looked surprised.  ""Jeez I dunno.   It wasnt there this morning!"