The Labour Day weekend in Sydney was a relaxing affair, although I did walk my socks off (and have a huge blister to prove it). I met up with Orlando on the Thursday evening at his hotel on the North Shore. The Vibe Hotels are good value, less stuffy than your usual mid-priced hotel with … Continue reading sydney autumn weekend
australian life
sydney winter weekend
Australians are fond of looking down their noses on people who choose to settle in Victoria. They smugly announce to us newcomers that Melbourne is the only place in Australia where you actually need an overcoat. We have just spent a winter weekend in Sydney, and I am here to tell you that this assertion … Continue reading sydney winter weekend
culture shock – popular music
We have not found any radio station we can listen to on a regular basis as we recognise about 20% of the music (and that’s stuff we would switch off anyway). Spicks and Specks is the Aussie version of Never Mind the Buzzcocks: because we don’t recognise either the famous contestants or the songs they … Continue reading culture shock – popular music
culture shock – tv & celebrities
Celebrity TV shows and gossip magazines are totally lost on me. We have no idea who these people are. There are famous people doing TV and billboard ads for stuff like All Bran and Nurofen but we didn’t realise they were famous people – we thought they were just actors. There is a “Fifty Years … Continue reading culture shock – tv & celebrities
Máiréad Doyle 