I've waited a while before to responding on this thread as I wanted to let the initial euphoria die down.
So, after a couple of days my thoughts are:
YES!!!!!!!!!!!! Right up 'em!!!!!!! 
:thumbsup:
Back to a touch of seriousness now...
I do think that the true quality of cricket within the series was not too good. Yes, there was some excellent individual performances but, with the exception of Mr Flintoff and <spit> Mr Warne, no consistency amongst the players.
No player from either side notched a ton until test 3. An awful lot of catches were dropped (by both sides) and the wicket-keeping was not of the standard I would expect (again, both sides).
But, as an old yorkshireman once said to me, "Winners can laugh and losers can suit them ******* selves."
Now for the gloating bit. Here's a few comments made by Aussies prior to the commencement of the Ashes series:
Terry Alderman (ex-Aussie bowler)
"I definitely believe if any of our batsmen get out to Giles in the Tests
they should go and hang themselves. But I'm confident that won't happen."
Giles took 10 wickets in the 5 tests and hit his highest ever test score (59) in the final English innings of the series supporting Pieterson when he scored 158.
Glenn McGrath (current Aussie bowler)
"I think I was saying 3-0 or 4-0 about 12 months ago, thinking there might
be a bit of rain around. But with the weather as it is at the moment, I have to say 5-0."
You know the score :-) Neil Harvey (ex Aussie batsman) on going through undefeated.
"With Steve Waugh's team and during the last ten years when England have been down, they still weren't able to do it and I'm not sure why. They should do it this year, I reckon. They are not playing many games, let's face it."
Australia lost the Ashes test series, Lost by 100 runs to England in a twenty/20 game and even Bangladesh beat them in a one-day game. Darren Lehmann (ex Ausssie batsman)
"Harmison and Flintoff have looked the part in the one-dayers, but on
Test-match wickets I don't see England having enough firepower to take the 20 wickets. Matthew Hoggard has to come into the equation, but if England are going to stand a chance, Flintoff and Harmison not only have to have a good series with the ball, they have to have an unbelievable series."
No mention of Simon Jones and Ashley Giles who took something in the region of 28/30 wickets between them Ian Healy (ex Aussie batsman and wicket keeper)
"This England team, while they are better and on track, I can't see them
beating this Australian team in a game."
You know the score :-) Jeff Thomson (Ex Aussie bowler)
"England will lose the five-Test series 3-0 and the margin will be worse for
them if it doesn't rain. If you put the players from Australia and England
up against each other it is embarrassing. There is no contest between them on an individual or team basis."
But for rain, England would have already won the Ashes before the final test at the Oval. But, of course, you already knew that :-) Terry Alderman (Ex Aussie bowler)
"If Australia get away to a good start then England have got no chance. They have got to be competitive in that first Test at Lord's or else it's goodnight."
England batted very poorly in the test at Lords and still rolled 'em over :-) If, indeed, Mr Flintoff had a couple too many the other day then all I can say is he was very restrained. He earned every drop of whatever he was drinking and, unlike Mr Rooney of Manure, he didn't make an idiot of himself on the field of play!!!
Last but not least, I'm one very proud Lancastrian. Proud of the England team and their attitude throughout this series and also very proud of our two Lancashire born members of this team, Man -of-the-series Mr Flintoff and the England team Captain, Mr Vaughan.