Well, that is not quite accurate. This morning I went off with one of my hosts to the botanical garden where we had a pleasant lunch and then strolled around through all the different Australian ecosystems, from a small, red outback bit to various eucalyptus/gum tree forests, to a ravine which was a rainforest. Extremely […]
Canberra calling
Today, Saturday, we went to a vineyard for brunch just outside Canberra. Enjoyable, though brunch is not my favourite meal as I can find it a bit samey, but when in Australia. We walked around a bit, looking at sheds and raised containers, all very nice and vineyardy. On the return, I got dropped off […]
Antipodean wedding party
Last night was the wedding. I say last night, but more like all of yesterday and into the early hours. Quite the endurance test but that’s the nature of weddings. With any luch I won’t have to attend very many more of these, certainly not stay for the whole thing. The day started off unfortunately. […]
American wedding party
I am one of only the two relatives of the bride who made it to Australia. The other is my aunt’s elderly aunt who looks and behaves like Lady Catherine de Burgh, so I find her quite funny, though her actual relatives chafe. She has decided she likes me, as she came into my room […]
Escape to the city
This morning I took the metro into the city to meet someone for brunch. It was in Surry Hills, near the train station. Nice to get out and at least somewhat by myself, and a very great relief to have brunch, as I have eaten nothing but biryani and haleem (and yesterday’s cake) since Sunday. […]
Birthday butcher
It was someone’s birthday today and a small group of us went out to have coffee and cake. Despite the renowned coffees of Australia, it was fairly mediocre coffee, and an ok cake, accessed through a miserable mall and a walk along a big road. I was a bit surprised that we went there, but […]
Antipodean wedding party
Here I am, in Sydney. I arrived last night, after a flight from Singapore in which a chorus of children cried throughout all eight hours. I particularly felt for a man with a long-suffering expression who had, in the seat behind him, a screaming toddler, and in the seat in front of him, a shouting […]
Fury at the Australians
Daily Express Sport, 7 January 2022
Cosh to the head
We left our flat to catch a 9.30 flight, forgetting a delicious croissant on the counter so had to buy breakfast at the airport. I was impressed by how well arranged the security and immigration was. Immigration was entirely through electronic gates, I had to place my passport on the reader and go, that was […]
In the garden
I took advantage of the time difference to finish work due this morning by around noon, and then had my first proper day in Melbourne. We went first to the very cool Rose Street with excellent graffiti and the hippest patisserie I have ever seen. We bought three pastries – a plain croissant, a pain […]