AUSTRALIA will be a sadder place without the Italians and their classic press conferences.

I have referred to them more than once, but we all look forward to them so much for the massive authority and the sheer competence of John Kirwan and not least for the comic capers of the renowned media manager Giacomo Mazzochi, who we now call Mad Max.

Kirwan himself accepts it with good grace so that yesterday, far from showing signs of stress at the rapid approach of the big game (unlike Steve Hansen), he came up with 'Bravo' after one capable piece of translation for a change, and 'Let Giacomo answer it and see how we go' and 'Go, Giacomo' after one long answer not in his native tongue.

* The man from The Times who was caught so cold when a Welsh woman visiting family out here asked if he was from the Carmarthenshire Times is back on his lofty perch where he belongs.

John had his accreditation card around his neck, giving the identity which we must all have at matches, as we were leaving the Italian Press conference yesterday.

We passed a lovely little Italian trattoria and a woman from the country spotted this identification. With just the right amount of dignity, she said: 'Ah, The Times, a wonderful paper and London, what a beautiful city.'

Our man was positively beaming and immediately turned to me and said: 'There's another one for your diary - two in one week.'

* Canberra's water shortage has become even worse and the city has now been put on Stage 3 in the water restrictions.

That means sprinklers are not permitted, watering by hand held hoses and buckets allowed only from 7-10am and 7-10pm on alternate days, no car washing except by commercial car wash that recycles water, swimming pools and spas can't be filled or topped up without written exemption, and a target of 40 per cent reduction in water use on lawns and plants at parks, sports fields, etc, must be met.

* AUSTRALIA has benefited handsomely from the visit this week of American president George Bush and Chinese president Hu Jintao.

The biggest single export contact in the country's history has just been announced - a $30billion liquid natural gas deal with China.