A RARE full day-off in Australia with Wales not playing on Saturday - and a cracker of a story to go with it.

We took advantage of the day with an outstanding guided tour of the world- renowned Canberra War Memorial and then Parliament House.

We - the three South Wales evening paper chief rugby writers - were chauffered by the man from The Times, who happens to live in the Vale of Glamorgan at the moment. I call him the high commissioner, because that's exactly the kind of impression he gives.

More of the two great edifices later, but as we were walking in the lovely grounds of Parliament House, we met a Welsh couple who were visiting family who had emigrated to Australia some years ago.

We introduced ourselves and explained we were reporters from the evening newspapers based in Newport, Cardiff and Swansea.

Then we introduced the fourth member of our group as being from The Times. To which the woman replied: 'Which Times is that? The Carmarthenshire Times?'

Poor John, normally assured in the extreme, was for once completely taken aback and rendered speechless, while we pretty much exploded.

But to the main interest. Both visits, preferably with a guide, are a must for the tourist. The War Memorial is surely one of the finest in existence, a tribute to the thousands who have perished in the line of duty, and sometimes beyond, as shown by their number of VCs.

Some of it is inevitably harrowing, but it's a true and revealing tribute none the less.

A drive along Constitutional Way in Canberra provides a wonderful approach to a truly remarkable memorial. And Parliament House is much the same, set in acres of its own grounds, much of it modelled on the English system.

After our rather special day out it was back to the rugby, and that gigantic showdown between England and South Africa.

Never complain about our TV and some of its adverts, which I find infuriating. Here, if there is a stoppage in play or a pause while a player is lining up a penalty, they suddenly switch to an advert. Can you believe it?

For example, while hapless Springbok Louis Koen was preparing for a penalty, up came an advert, and when the rugby came back all we saw was the ball dipping below the bar, none of the preparation at all.

And one of those adverts was for LG, which we know all about in Newport. The ad actually said: 'LG, Life's Good.' There are thousands around Newport who will profoundly disagree with that statement after the whole LG affair went so wrong.

* Breakfast at our hotel - and a meeting with Newport and Dragons prop Rod Snow, the Canadians now staying here along with the Italian media, and some Welsh media.

The Canada squad are sore after their bruising clash with the All Blacks, but Snow said relatively pleased to have kept the score under 100 points.

He will give the Argus his views on the Wales-Italy group showdown next Saturday, after Canada play Italy in Canberra.

And also at breakfast, David Avery, a near-neighbour of mine in Newport many years ago, now living in Hong Kong, where he is working on a major railway project.

He lived in Newport until 17 years ago, involved in the construction industry with Wimpey, before leaving for London and then Hong Kong.