A birthday walkabout:

SMH - PM greeted by fans on his birthday

Prime Minister John Howard began his 67th birthday in Melbourne with a kiss on the cheek and a rock star welcome from adoring teenagers on his regular morning walk.

And as he powered through the three-kilometre walk under grey skies beside Melbourne’s murky brown Yarra River this morning, he was greeted with affection by other early-morning walkers.

Read the whole thing.

Curtsies go to Brett McS for the link. When I got back from Vegas, where I was in the company almost exclusively of nearly a dozen Australians, I did a little pouring out about being surrounded by nice people, but total lefties, and me trying to keep the conversation from turning to something serious to prevent myself a) from boiling with rage and thus ruining my festive mood or b) outing myself as a Nazi Fascist Jackbooted Baby Killer and instantly losing my new friends. He’s been very supportive.