So the US Aircraft Carrier Kitty Hawk has arrived with other ships that make up the fleet, which means there will be about 7000 male and female US sailors on downtime in Sydney over the next few days. Sydney has long had a tradition of these folk coming into our ports at different times and letting their metaphorical hair down. Sydney during World War 2 was particularly frequented by yank sailors and with the amount of Aussies overseas fighting they would have had their pick of it you would imagine.
Personally, I think it is the best reason to stay in this weekend one can think of, but perhaps I am missing something when it comes to Americans...
I don't know what it is with Sydney and their obsession with big boats, but combined with a train issue on the Harbour Bridge, it seems it causes havoc and not joy with locals. Sometimes you should just stay at home.
So the bulk carrier that gave Newcastle an accidental tourist attraction is no longer in the place it had made home on Newcastle's Nobby's Beach. I'm sure this is pleasing to many locals sick of the amount of people that have poured into the steel city from out of town, but those who were making a buck out of visitors and those who hadn't gotten a chance to see it won't be as happy. Nonetheless, it is gone and Newcastle goes back to being a nice, relatively quiet coastal city.
The attention will turn to Sydney this weekend with a fleet of US Military ships coming into Sydney. From Thursday to Sydney these ships will enter Sydney Harbour, with the highlight supposedly being the Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier, which is huge, by all reports.
There is a fear from some quarters that the same problems with Sydney transport will be encountered as when the QE2 and the Queen Mary came in earlier in the year. Personally, I don't think there will be the same amount of interest because even though it will be school holidays, Australia doesn't quite have the same connection to US military ships as they do with the cruise ships that were named after the Royals. Leave your car at home all the same though.
A regular to Australian shores, the cruise ships of all cruise ships, at least once upon a time, the QE2 is being retired. The ship that drew hundreds to the foreshore of Sydney Harbour when it joined the even larger QM2 earlier in the year, will not be seen in Australia again.
Instead, you will have to visit to Dubai to see the ship, where it will have a permanent home. It will become a part of a new resort in the UAE, marking a new period in world tourism.
One has to ask whether this is the place of it? Sure Dubai is the place that can demand the sort of money traditionally required to stay at the QE2, but some have suggested the glitz and glamour of the Arab destination doesn't fit with the tradition assoiciated with the famous cruise ship.
Personally, a big ship full of people makes me think of a shopping mall on water, but it is part of a history of global travel that many think fondly of.
The huge rains that fell in the Newcastle/Hunter and Central Coast areas, not to mention Sydney last weekend are repeating today it seems. In quite a serious period of water shortage, it may have come as quite a surprise, but it shouldn't have. It wasn't very long ago that Wollongong faced similar conditions and there's a certain poem that reminds us that Australia is a nation of extreme weather.
A section from Dorethea Mackellar's, A Sunburnt Country
I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of droughts and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons,
I love her jewel-sea,
Her beauty and her terror -
The wide brown land for me!
It clearly sets out, in a most vivid fashion, the nature of Australia. Yes it is the bronzed nation many tourists come here for, but not all the time. The extremes do make up a large part of its beauty. I am very much enjoying the rain, from inside the comfort of my house of course.
I am reading a book at the momenet about larrikins in Australia. The book deals mainly with these blokes from the late 19th century, but does suggest that this type of person's characteristics rubbed off on many Australians since that period, including some Prime Ministers. It gave Australia somewhat of a reputation for having this type of character in society.
I don't think this is the case any longer. The growing atmoshphere of political correctness in this nation and the fact the leadership is made up of those from dominant classes or lawyers or others from white collar background, means there is little room for the larrikin. When John Howard romanticises on Australian values, I don't think he does so considering whether they are present in contemporary society. Rather, they are historical elements of our society, which are no longer there.
The thing is however, that with a free market individualist society having formed in the last 12 years, there is every chance that the old larrikin image could emerge as a counter culture. Afterall, the larrikin originally emerged from the slums of the rocks and other urban suburbs, so as we see a return to a widening gab between rich and poor, a similar environment may serve up a similar type of character.
But if you're a tourist heading to Australia expecting a country full of larrikins, you will be disappointed. You may well get a chardy swilling yuppie instead.
Although it isn't actually the Queen's Birthday, it is the long weekend in recognition of her having a birthday. Whether you're a fan of the royal family or not, it means you get an extra day off and this generally leads to an increase in people going away.
I realise the extra day does allow for more holidaying time, but there are down sides to heading off at this time of year.
1 - Horrible traffic. Can you imagine how many people will be leaving Sydney tomorrow afteroon? As though it isn't bad enough on a normal Friday.
2 - The petrol prices. The petrol companies may say different, but we all know petrol is more expensive around this time.
3 - If you're flying, you probably had to pay more for your flight due to the increased demand.
4 - Whereever your going to stay, I bet it is costing you more this weekend than it normally would. That's after you not having gotten the top three favoured places.
So perhaps consider staying in your own community this weekend. Enjoy what it has to offer.
3000 people should suggest something, right? Well not according to Qantas, who were recently rated the worst airline by the readers of consumer magazine, Choice. They've shrugged off claims they are the worst, saying that customer satisfaction has never been higher.
I think you can have a combination. The main criticism of Qantas was in the service and to be honest, it reflected my feelings last time I was on a Qantas flight. I was only flying to Melbourne, but even in that short period I got the impression flight attendants thought they were pretty damn special. There was definitely the feeling they thought they were spectacular for working for Qantas and I remember thinking, you are only working as a domestic trolley dolly, what makes you so special?
But would that stop me from flying with them? It might, but I don't think it would stop others. Qantas is something they know, they get what they expect for the most part and above all they generally feel safe. I don't know how long that feeling will last however. The close shave that was the attempted sell off to a private equity firm can only make it more clear that Qantas is no longer as Australian as it once was, and if it isn't Australian, I am sure some people's allegiance to flying Qantas will wane.
Be warned!
This suburb in the inner west of Sydney has the atmosphere of one of the Blue Mountains villages, yet it is only ten minutes from the city. Many who have been there will know it as the home of Monica Trapaga's shop Reclaim. The Playschool star and notable Jazz singer is seemingly a huge drawcard for the area, but there is more to it. Cafes, op shops and bakeries make it a hive of activity. They also make it a bit flash, but the village atmosphere is fantastic and it isn't as pretentious as some of the eastern suburbs of Sydney.
On the weekend it is a great place to do some shopping or sit on the footpath watching the world go by. There is a mix of cultures and backgrounds to surround you, and with that comes some great eating. Like every good village there's a pub on the main drag and park smack bang in the middle of the village.
If your visiting Sydney and just want a relaxing day amongst some locals, get along to Summer Hill.
I am back after a short hiatus, being pretty focussed getting through a teaching prac.
Anyway, I feel a good way of coming back is to discuss the APEC meeting in Sydney this year. In the past this Asian Pacific meeting has been held in places that aren't a nation's largest city, but not Australia. We're taking one of biggest tourist destinations out of action for the weekend, not to mention taking the money away from the businesses based in and around the city.
The government, both at the state and federal level, are trying to convince people to go away from Sydney for the weekend. There really isn't any incentive to though. I do wonder how the powers in this country think they can take away public space from locals and tourists alike, all in the name of an alliance that could have taken place anywhere - perhaps our national capital for instance? But then Howard doesn't really like Canberra - he has chosen to live in Kiirabilli for his 12 years in power afterall.
I really don't think he has the right to claim the whole city in order to entertain a few elite guests. A public holiday is a public holiday however, and whether you are going to use it go away for the weekend or it has given you a day off to attend the protest that is bound to happen, it can be seen as a positive thing. Too bad for those tourists who had planned to see Sydney for those three days! Too bad indeed.
Offsetting your carbon emissions isn't anything new, but going on holiday seems the latest scheme to get in on the act.
I don't know if every airline is doing it, but Virgin Blue allows you to offset the carbon emissions for your seat on a plane. Of course this means paying a cost, but if you're lucky to be wealthy enough and are concerned about your impact on the environment, you may want to consider purchasing credits.
The money goes to one of a few programs, including such things as avoidance of deforestation. For a flight to Melbourne and back, the cost is $1.49 to offset my carbon emissions. Not very much, and perhaps something to consider when flying.
What annoys me about it is 13 cents of this is GST. Hang on, surely I shouldn't have to pay tax on offsetting my carbon emissions! That's not even something the government has to do to reduce the nation's emissions, but they are taxing it.
That aside, next time you go on holiday, think about offsetting your carbon emissions.
As I was working at the election I didn't hear the result until about ten thirty pm. Of course it wasn't a shock to hear that the ALP had won government as the polls predicted. I was hoping for a greens win in my seat of Marrickville - perhaps the place one expected the party to do the best in, but unfortunately it wasn't to be. That being said, I do prefer Marrickville to have a Labor candidate than a Liberal and the Libs don't even bother handing out how to vote cards!
So the Liberals did have a swing towards them for the first time in a long time, but I really don't think they should take too much from that result. When you think how many people were dissatisfied with the current government, a small protest vote was expected. There was a huge undecided vote for the Libs to grab and they really didn't get much of that.
Goulburn and Newcastle were tight seats and both can really be put down to major party mistakes. Pru Goward was to run in Epping and would have won it easily, but because pre-selections are highly influenced by the Christian right, she didn't win pre-selection because she didn't fit the mould. This despite her profile and popularity. Instead, she had to run in the seat of Goulburn. A difficult task to run against an independent who actually lives there. The ALP made a similar mistake in Newcastle. Jodi McKay replaced Bryce Gaudry as the ALP candidate, but Gaudry ran as an independent and is highly popular. Both examples show party politics can often be detrimental to the overall cause.
In terms of the opposition, we know today that Barry O'Farrell will challenge Peter Debnam as leader of the state Liberal Party. Although not based on anything but my hunch, I think Barry O'Farrell would do a lot better than Debnam. He has a bit more charisma, which isn't hard when you think of Debnam and he doesn't tend to whinge as much as him either. Whether the party room agree with me we will have to wait and see.
I enjoy eating well enough, but even those times where I convince myself I actually enjoy cooking, quickly give way to an attitude of I can't be bothered.
I think I prefer working in the garden more than cooking.
I do like the food I cook sometimes, but the feeling that "someone else could have done that a lot better" usually dominate my thinking.
Having said all that, I'm off to eat my Spaghetti Bolognese then hitting the sack.
Make sure you vote tomorrow.
So this Saturday it is the NSW election and I've been keeping up quite a bit on how each of the parties are going.
The consensus seems to be that despite the fact that everyone is sick of the ALP Government, they have no intention of voting for the Peter Debnam led Liberal/National Coalition. There is a big chance that the small parties and independents (particularly) will do quite well and it may even result in a minority government.
The failure of the opposition to strike a chord with the electorate has largely been blamed on Peter Debnam, but I would suggest federal polls that see the Liberals at the federal level becoming less popular could also be linked to the state party's showing. Also, saying you're going to sack 20 000 people isn't especially popular at the moment (or ever) and neither is spending 9 billion dollars without including a major plan for transport.
Anyway, I am an election official, so if you're in the seat of Marrickville, come on down to Australia Street to cast your vote and say hello.
If you've watched any news over the last few days you'll know Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer died following their shock loss to Ireland in the World Cup.
The latest news is that Jamaican police are treating the death as suspicious, meaning there is enough in the case to fully investigate the case. They aren't saying much, but it does seem as though there is the suspicion he was murdered or I suppose that perhaps he committed suicide.
I'm going to speculate, when perhaps I shouldn't, but if it is murder, the chance the Woolmer was murder by a Pakistani, must be something to be considered. They are obsessive about cricket and burnt effigies of some of the players following the loss to Ireland. Obviously, I hope it wasn't or anyone for that matter, but it is definitely something that came to mind.
Pakistan are also considering not playing their next match, due to the situation they have faced over there. They are out of the tournament, anyhow.
It will be interesting to see how this develops!
Round one of the Rugby League was this weekend gone and the return of Monday night football saw the Sydney Roosters play the might South Sydney Rabbitohs.
We headed down the local to watch the game and I'm sure Rabbitohs fans alike would agree it was their best performance for many years. They were deserved winners, with defence being the key to their 18-6 win.
Souths new signings have made a huge difference. We've always had some flair, but the Kiwis we bought in the off-season made sure that we didn't concede more points than this flair could manage to score, which sounds obvious, but when you think about it, it was always Souths problem.
Despite the wet weather last night, they dropped little ball and didn't always throw the pressure pass they may once have. Jason Taylor is an excellent addition as coach and will hopefully keep the pressure on the boys to concentrate on the simple skills knowing the points will follow, as they did last night.
Early prediction: 21st premiership for Souths? Probably not, but a finals berth would be good.
Although it was quite humid today in Sydney, weather lately has suggested colder times are coming our way.
I love Winter and we're not far off from jacket weather, where you get to wear smart clothes and not sweat as you walk down the street.
It can't come fast enough.
I wouldn't vote for someone strictly on their musical taste, but I woke this morning to Adam Spencer's radio show and him playing The Jam's Going Underground as request by NSW premier, Morris Iemma!
Now never in a million years did I think the NSW ALP's leader was a mod at heart. Of course I don't know that for sure, but it is still great for a politician to like a song like this. I can't think of any other politicians, except for perhaps Peter Garrett, that would request a song as good as this one.
Adam Spencer said he was going to invite opposition leader, Peter Debnam, to request a song too. I would be very surprised if he comes up with a song as good as The Jam's, Going Underground. I bet he has his staffers brainstorming the safest choice of songs possible. Quite a challenge though, as it has to be cool with 18-30 year olds, but released long enough ago to appeal to older members of the electorate.
I don't think the Libs will be up for it though. I think they will go with Guy Sebastian or The Bee Gees. At very best they might pull out The Animals, or maybe they will go down the modish line as well and try The Who or the Small Faces...
Another little environmental message today. A friend of flatmate brought round a bucket today to put in the shower. She bought it from Watershed, which is a source for sustainable living supplies, but any bucket can be used.
So when I have a shower now, I put the bucket in there, letting the water run in there until the water gets hot. I think some people move the bucket then, but I leave it in there and just stand over it.
Once my shower is finished, I take the bucket and water the front garden, which is doing very well. Thanks for asking.
Can I suggest everyone does this? It may seem like a hassle, but once you have it in your normal routine, you won't think twice about using it.
Okay so I don't strictly mean agoraphobia, but at uni today I was reflecting how much more comfortable I feel being at home, still doing things, than I do at uni. To be honest, it could just be that I don't like uni, but I generally don't like crowds - music festivals, airports and shopping centres all make me feel uncomfortable.
Don't get me wrong, I do like to socialise - I like to go to gigs, to the pub and generally spend time outdoors with friends and family, but this move towards large groups of people just doesn't seem natural to me. Even within a city, I think it is more natural to have smaller communities within this city. It definitely makes me feel more comfortable to be a part of this community rather than surrounded by a sea of unknown faces.
So is it strange to take comfort in being at home, with simple pleasures such as books, radio, coffee and the computer at my disposal? Obviously we have to go out to work, but apart from that, isn't it great being at home and just popping down to the local shops when you need to, skipping the need to deal with thousands of annoying people. Am I sounding old?
In what I am hoping is the worst political move Howard has ever made, US Vice-President Dick Cheney arrives today to meet with both the PM and the opposition leader, Kevin Rudd.
His arrival has meant a step up in seccurity in Sydney, which to me means plenty of people must want to kill this idiot. Iraq policy isn't so much what today's blog is about though but rather it is about the undermining of Australia's gun policy by Cheney's visit.
The NSW government has accepted a request to change the NSW act regarding guns, in order for Cheney's personal guards to be able to carry guns, without licences.
Citizens of NSW aren't allowed to have guards carry guns without licences, but the man who is so gunhoe he would send over 3000 US troops to their death is? I think if anyone shouldn't have access to a gun, it is him. Remember, he was the guy that shoot someone else while hunting last year! I realise he isn't going to carry the gun, but still...
Reflect also, on the years it took Australia to get to a point where gun laws really are extremely tight. Sure there is still the odd illegal gun floating about, but guns, for the most part, have been taken out of Australian life.
One rule for me and another for a Dick.
I personally don't get too excited about cruise ships, whether they are on the other side of the world or in Sydney Harbour, but it seems the same can't be said for Sydney folk in general, who are going mad for the two ships.
The two ships are of course the QEII and the even larger QMII. The QMII actually arrived in Sydney Harbour today, to reportedly, large crowds of well wishers. It can't make it under the harbour bridge nor into circular quay, so it docks at Garden Island. Later this evening the smaller QEII will enter Sydney Harbour, making it the first time the two ships will be in Sydney at the same time.
Apparently, the Queen Mary II is 23 storeys high and almost the length of four football fields. I do get the idea it is a big ship, but the use of football fields to describe length is a strange thing to me. For one, football fields vary in length depending on the code and even the ground a particular game is being played on. It is also strange in that I don't understand why they can't describe it in metres. If they say 350 metres, I know that it is is 350 metres, and therefore very long. It also means I don't have to understand football (though I do) to know how long the ship is. I am sure not all lovers of cruise ships are football fans.
Anyway, it is big. I am informed they are built this big because they can pack on more passengers without having to have many more crew, therefore saving some money in wages. Personally, I wouldn't want to be on a boat with 5000 people and pay $35 000 for the opportunity. Maybe that's just me?
I visited Hunters Hill for the first time today, and was surprised with how enormous the houses were, but also how old they are as well.
For those not aware of the suburb, Hunters Hill is a suburb over the Gladesville Bridge, in the outskirts of Sydney's inner west. It is about a 10-15 minute drive to the middle of the city. It also must be said, that it is on the foreshore of Sydney harbour, though not as well known as other harbour suburbs like Mosman or Balmain.
So I got to Hunters Hill today and was immediately surrounded by huge, what I am guessing are early 20th Century houses. There are more contemporary houses going up, but the majority are from years past. They are probably what I would call mansions by today's standards and I imagine would cost a pretty penny. They are however beautiful and so is the area, with the shop fronts keeping to the feel of the region.
It reminds me a little of the houses in Habberfield, another inner-western suburb of Sydney. Set-back houses with large front yards and verandahs. Definitely a good period in Australian development. Can't see me ever living in a house in either suburb though!
If I was speeding and was fined then I would be happy to cop it on the chin, but being done by the parking police (poor man's policeman) when I don't think I should be, then I am mighty unhappy.
I was at uni for maybe 10 minutes to get my student card, so instead of parking way across campus in the motorcycle section, I parked in a push bike section. When I was coming back, a ticket for 77 bucks was being written out for me. Normally I wouldn't do this, but there was one bike in these racks - uni is really quiet at the moment, and I wasn't disrupting anyone.
Of course there is no pleading with these guys because they are the scum of the earth - revenue raisers if you will. I have a few problems with what happens.
He said I can't park on the footpath, but I wasn't. So he said, well you aren't a bicyle, you can't park there. Nowhere did it say the spot I parked was only allocated for bicycles and not motorcycles. The spaces fit motorcycles, so why can't I park there?
Another problem I have, is that the state government are not encouraging the use of vehicles with low emissions such as motorcyles by making it a bitch to park anywhere.
Look, this is about to be another Castle - I'll probably just pay the fine, but I bloody pissed off all the same.
So even the biggest sceptics of the possible impacts of climate change are finally realising something has to be done otherwise we're all going to be fucked.
Of course, it is probably too late and warnings and reports issued to the PM years ago, which he ignored, went to waste.
So it is going to get hot. I hate summer as it is, and find myself sitting indoors in the cool rather than going out too much, unless there is a good reason.
So when it gets even hotter, what will Australia become?
-A nation with a population packed to the coast to avoid drought and bushfires, but threatened by rising seas. Great, I hate people as much as I hate the heat.
-No longer a sporting nation - too hot to go outside. Indoor sports not an option either - a complete ban on any air condition not being powered by pedal power.
-Leaders in research into placebos. No water to cool you down so placebos making your mind think you are cool will be the only option.
-Travelling won't be an option - we'll be restricted to our houses.
-The return of books as the main form of entertainment. No need to use electricity here. The only positive.
The moral of this rant? The majority of Australia currently care more about their personal wealth than the future comfort and welfare of the whole nation. The same majority elected the Liberal/National Coalition. Get rid of them next election by voting for someone different (that doesn't give their preferences to the libs or nationals).
The title is directed at those renting. And it doesn't just apply to Sydney folk, but people Australia wide.
At the moment, friends of mine who have just moved back from Brisbane are looking for a rental property to, well, rent. They aren't having much luck and warning from others looking for places are seemingly a reality as the rental market in Sydney town is dry.
This doesn't just mean that prices are high, but there is a general shortage of good properties available. The thing is, people with investment properties renting them out are selling up and putting their money into their superannuation.
Why is this the case? Because at the moment you only lose 15% of the amount in tax. A great government incentive you may think.
The thing is, baby boomers will have money for their retirement, but what about people trying to live in an affordable fashion now? How am I going to contribute to my super when I am paying through the arse for rent or can't even find a place to live. Or if I can, have my health put at risk because it is in such a dodgy state no-one else is competing with you to move in there.
We need a policy that is all encompassing, that helps all levels of society. Providing incentives is fine as long as the possible consequences are looked at. The band-aid response approach to policy making only creates more problems. Let's have a government in that can look more broadly!
Just got back from going into the city, Sydney city that is. The need for a long-sleeve shirt with french cuffs for a mate's wedding dictated going in, otherwise I would have avoided it.
There are a few things that makes going into the city frustrating. I only live 10 minutes from the CBD, so it isn't by any means the time it takes to head in that gets to me.
The people are up there too. The sheer number of them for starters, but also the not standing on the left on esculators, the techniques of sales staff, the lunchtime rush, the inflated prices of everything and the huge range that is seemingly there without being able to find what you want, despite how simple it is.
It was hot today and the heat just drained my energy away. I was glad to get out of there, thinking to myself, it will be some time before I head back in there. I also wonder how some do it day in day out, surrounded by people and skyscrapers and shop after shop that looks the same as one another and sells the same thing.
Some people have to I suppose - I am just glad it isn't me. At least at the moment.
Many people would have started their Australia Day long weekend a day early with The Big Day Out. Personally, people aren't really my thing - well not THAT many people. So I didn't go.
We (The Signals) are playing a show tonight with the Currency at the Sando in Newtown. The Sando or Sandringham Hotel to give it its' full name is on King St south of the railway station. It is a decent pub that does food and has live music upstairs.
On Friday (Aussie Day) there are a few things on. The Currency are playing at the Lansdowne, Eddie Current from Melbourne are playing at the Annandale and Dynamite, which I am DJing at, is at Spectrum. There is no doubt heaps of other stuff on too all over the city.
Saturday I am heading to a pub in East Sydney, which is a funny little suburb squeezed in between the city and Darlinghurst.
Sunday, sleeping could be on the cards, but who knows.
I was upstairs doing something today when I heard a knock on the door. If I'd known who it was I would left them to knock until they had bloodied knuckes, but I am expecting a parcel so I scampered down the stairs with cries of, "I'm coming".
I opened the door to an old lady, probably 70 - 75 years of age and a younger woman in her fifties. The older woman, almost mumbling, starts to tell me they are walking around speaking to people about the grave situation the world is in. Huge problems and injustices facing humanity.
"What do you think about that?" she asks me.
Before we go any further, I am on to them. I answer, "Before I detail my feelings about the shite state of affairs the world is in, who do you represent."
"We're Jehovah's Witnesses," she replies.
That's as far as we're going. "I'm an aethiest, I don't really want to discuss this with you. Have a nice day."
I was polite as I am to most people, but the problem I have with these people is that their ultimate aim is to bring you to their way of thinking, but instead of coming straight out with it, they try to come through a side entrance by playing on my concerns for the world, as many of us have. Religion is mostly to blame for said shite state of affairs so the last thing I want to do is discuss it with those who are obsessive about religion.
So if any of the Jehova's Witnesses are reading this, please stay away from my house, I don't want your watch tower. So you know, it is the one with the nice front garden.
You can say what you like about the Krauts, but they have to be given credit for these ALDI supermarkets. I'm not on the best wicket at the moment, studying and all that, so I am often looking for a good deal.
The shops near where I live in Newtown include a number of little supermarkets, but their prices are getting up to convenience store prices. You take in a 20 buck note and don't get much more than bread, milk and toilet paper. Then there is Woolies at Marrickville Metro and despite the fact they have the best in choice, you still find yourself coming out with either not very much money or not very much food, or both.
The alternative then of course is ALDI, also at Marrickville Metrol. Heaps and heaps of food for not very much cash - and I am talking close to half what you would spend at Woolworths. They have the odd brand name and the obscure brands are obviously brands repackaged for a different market. Yes you have to pack your own bags and be careful of pallet jacks, but it is well worth it.
I have told my flatmate the next stop is Campbell's Cash & Carry, but I am not quite there yet.
I'm off to eat, drink and be merry.
At the moment the NSW Police and Justice Museum, on the corner of Albert and Phillip Streets in Circular Quay, have an exhibition running called City of Shadows. This particular exhibit has been running some time now and will end on the 11th February.
It features photographs taken by police photographers between the period of 1912 and 1948.
I have been meaning to check this out for a good while and finally got down there today. I will say, I did think it would be bigger, but there were fantastic recreations on video with commentary by author Peter Doyle. Some very interesting locations and people shown. It is really interesting seeing Sydney's seedier suburbs in a different era. Part of me did however want to be inundated with old photos on walls, but it wasn't to be.
The rest of the museum was good as well though and it included uniforms, police weapons, weapons confiscated by police (such as home made knuckle dusters), court room recreations etc etc.
It cost $4 for a student/concession and $8 for a full adult to enter, which isn't too bad. At the moment it is open every day, but generally only open weekends.
I look forward to seeing what their nect exhibit will be.
I love the idea of moving away from Microsoft whenever I can, particularly when it is free. I love Firefox for a browser - I think it is the best thing since sliced bread. Microsoft are fucked, let's face it.
Anyway, when I had my old laptop - before the bastard pinched it, I tried Mozilla Thunderbird, the e-mail program. It was going to replace Outlook, which I actually quite liked. Anyway, I went to import all my old emails and for whatever reason, Thunderbird just couldn't hack taking all those emails. I was pretty disappointed. I had big hopes.
Anyway, having the computer stolen may have brought one single positive. I no longer had email to import. So I have installed Thunderbird. Right from the start it felt more comfortable. Similar enough to Outlook, but things are more often in places you expect to find them. It just seems Mozilla have a focus on being user-friendly, not just using the quickest possible method for a solution.
I love the idea of having the best programs for every task I want to do on the Internet. I don't want excess, just everything to work reliably and do simple things the right way.
So there's a recommendation for you. Mozilla Thunderbird. I am just so glad I am no longer having to use webmail. Although webmail is good for travelling. There you go, I didn't forget this is a travel blog.
My new laptop computer arrived today resulting in much excitement on my part. Last year I had some junkie come into my house while we were all asleep and steal my laptop, with all the data. Since then I have been using my flatmates, which despite her kindness, is a little restrictive. You can't have your own settings, I was reluctant to install programs and in general it was just shit.
Now I don't have to worry and after I finish writing this, I am going to spend an enjoyable afternoon being a nerd and getting my computer back up to scratch. No more webmail, days and days of music at my disposal again and a firewire port for my video camera.
Add to that the fact my folks came up and fixed up my front garden, with a little help from me, and you have yourself a pretty happy blogger right here.
1 - Beers down the Carlisle Castle in Newtown
This is the best pub in Sydney, no question. It also happens to be just down the road from house. Summer sees it frequented and when I took some Melbourne folk there over the weekend, they were more than impressed. Sitting at the front bar with a few ales, good music on the stereo, friendly bar staff and if it coincides, cricket on the telly makes all in all a pretty good package for me.
2 - Reggae dances
This could be in the number position to be honest (actually this is equal first). Reggae and ska gains popularity of the summer in Sydney, which isn't really surprising and this summer is no different. There are plenty of reggae dances on all over town, so get along to one.
3 - Porch drinking
Few friends on the front porch drinking and watching the world go by. Nuff said.
4 - Sydney Harbour Cruise
I started off this summer with an exceptional cruise on Sydney Harbour. With music, beer and a great backdrop, it is a great way to spend a summer day.
5 - Day at the cricket
All the test matches are over for the summer, but there are still one dayers to come. Unfortunately they only serve light beer @ one dayers, but get a few in on the way to the ground and you're set for a good time.
I have to say, there really shouldn't be any order placed on these, as they were just included in a sequence as they came to my head.
I have come to a point in my life where meat just isn’t interesting me. No I am NOT going Vego! It’s just that I have decided that only when others are cooking for me or if I really crave something, will I eat meat. When I am cooking myself or eating out, I now choose the vegetarian option.
I know for many this isn’t that big a deal, but I am not willing to go entirely vego because my heart really isn’t in it. I don’t mind meat, it’s just I think you can live a healthy life without your diet being dominated by it. I am slowly coming around to all the nice foods there are that aren’t meat based and am really enjoying it.
This decision is probably a good thing seeing as though my old man has the hereditary disease hemochromatosis, meaning your iron levels are unnaturally high and there’s the possibility I also may have it.
I haven’t really been influenced by other people – I’ve lived with people who went vego and never felt pressured, but more recently some people’s recent decision to head down the vego path has got me thinking. I can still see myself eating the odd hamburger or having bacon in carbonara, but I am definitely cutting back.
Shane Warne recently was dismissed chasing his maiden test hundred. Of course it is his final test match and it looks as though the great leg spin bowler will finish his career with a highest score of 99.
It was a shame he couldn’t get his hundred today, as it would have been a fitting element to a wonderful day of test cricket. It was a captivating period of play this morning and after lunch, as a number of things unfolded, with positives for both teams. England had an early wicket with Michael Hussey. Symonds was just short of 50 when he was dismissed and then Gilchrist was given out unluckily after a good innings. It was Warne and Clarke that took Australia well past England’s total, showing the contrast between the Australian and English tail. Warne was well and truly giving it to Collingwood in the field, making entertaining listening. He was out however when he felt he needed to go for it having just McGrath left in partners.
England just went into bat and already they are one wicket down. Strauss also was just hit in the head. All in all England have been dismal and I can only think they have treated the trip down here as a nice little holiday in a pretty decent climate.
A shame really, but one can’t take away from the spectacle, nor the wonderful location The Sydney Cricket Ground offers. The hill is soon to be turned into a big stand, which I am in two minds about, but I am sure it will remain one of the feature grounds in Australian cricket.
I was in Wollongong over Christmas and spent Boxing Day catching up with a couple of school mates, drinking some beer, watching the cricket and catching up.
After some drinking games that had us in hysterics, we headed off to the North Gong Hotel. Now I've been to the North Gong a few times before, when it was just a dingy sort of pub, but it has had a makeover and last night it was pretty awful.
It has been transformed to hold the masses, with a huge outdoor area. There is even an outside bar. I could imagine many a Sydney pub wishes they had the land to set this sort of thing up. The thing is, it was full of thousands of people who all looked the same. There was no effort to be any different - they all the same clothes on, the same sunnies, the same hair cuts.
There was no music playing, which I thought was weird. I failed to understand why so many people were attracted to the pub. I was there because it was two minutes from my mates place, but I was pretty unimpressed. Couldn't wait to get back to Sydney town, despite really enjoying the company of friends and family.
Spending some time in Wollongong has allowed me to get some reading done. I roday finished Irvine Welsh's The Bedroom Secrets of the Master Chefs. I was not especially impressed.
I am a big fan of Irvine Welsh's. Like many people my age, I have enjoyed his previous work, from Trainspotting through to his most recent work, before Bedroom Secrets, Porno. His latest effort seemed to be saying, "I want to break away from the formula of writing I am known for, but not enough that it may risk me losing my trademark and fan base." It is once again set in Edinburgh. It is once again based on addiction and the small pleasures of the "common folk" but it is lacking in the use of the phonetically based writing style, it lacks a decent story and he takes way too long to describe not much at all, as though he is being paid per hundred words.
Let's face it, Welsh have done quite well for himself - even in Australia his books can be found in every bookshop. So surely he has the ability to write something a little bit different, without risking being ignored by his fan base. He has lived in many countries in the world, so why then can he not write about a different city? (I realise he speak of San Fran in Bedroom Secrets, but fleetingly). For such a tallented writer, I think he is really lacking inspiration.
One bad book isn't the end of the world, but I hope his next is a lot better than The Bedroom Secrets of the Master Chefs.
Before I went to bed last night I built myself up for a morning of Xmas shopping today. I thought if we get up and go we can get it out of the way and I can have a relaxing afternoon at home.
Waking up I soon found out other arrangements were being carried out and an early morning quick shop wasn't going to happen. I had to sit about pondering the shopping trip for half the day.
Finally we got out of the house and with the parentals help enlisted, set out to get this buying out of the way.
I really enjoy seeing my parents don't get me wrong, but shopping with them just doesn't help out relationship. I have no idea what I want to buy people and yet I am unwilling to simply browse through shop after shop.
I also can't stand people and people that obviously only venture out of their houses at this time of year. It annoys me as well that shops don't allow for a busier period by having systems in place, such as making it obvious how one will queue when waiting to be served.
I did buy a few items, which I won't mention in case people who are receiving them happen to read this, but I somehow ended up with a couple of purchases of my own. The first was a pair of shoes. The other was a Curtis Mayfield CD, specifically for the song It's Alright, but it also had Woman's Got Soul and People Get Ready, which were a bonus. Just ten bucks too.
I am so glad to be home having a beer though.
As the song goes: "Money's Getting Cheaper, Prices getting Steeper". (At least I'm not at the stage of the song where it says "Found myself a woman, but I just couldn't keep her." It's not that dire yet).
So I've had to escape down to the family home in Wollongong for a while because Christmas is the season of spending absolutely silly amounts of money. It isn't money I necessarily have either.
Of course there is the obvious cost that comes with present buying - but I haven't even started that.
The main draining of funds from my wallet comes from there being so much to do in Sydney at this time of year. I imagine the same goes for most the cities of the world, and although it is a good thing, it isn't easy to deal with.
For the last month there hasn't been a night I haven't gone out to some gathering at someone's house or at a pub, or a DJ night or a gig. It as been fantastic, but it starting to take its toll.
So I have come down to the gong for some relaxation. A country town feel only an hour from Sydney. I rode through the Royal National Park, which is a well enjoyable ride and then along the coast, including heading over the bridge at Coal Cliff. I didn't pick the best day for it - it was windy as hell, but I look forward to pick a great weather day to do it again and stop off in the national park for a swim. Highly recommended.
Or so is the aim for March 31st next year.
Fairfax (who own the Sydney Morning Herald etc) and environmental group WWF Australia have launched an initiative to get Australian business, as well as households, to turn off their lights for an hour on March 31st 2007.
From what I can tell, the idea is to create awareness for the fact that the commercial business sector - read: offices, shops and the like, contribute 10 per cent of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions.
By creating this awareness, businesses will hopefully start to think of ways of using energy more efficiently, such as using sensors to turn off lights if no-one is in a room or on a floor.
This initiative is not limited to business and households should think about turning off their lights for the hour on that date and help show how much energy can be saved when people get in on the act.
Closer to the date I am sure we will hear more on this.
In a way it was already in private hands, despite this idea of it being a publicly listed company. It wasn't owned by the entire Australian population, so in my opinion, it was privately owned. The move by a Macquarie bank consortium to buy Qantas at $5.60 a share is still quite significant however.
One has to ask, is this something that should be stopped by the Federal Government in an effort to keep some Australian business owned by Australians, or should it merely be seen as a natural part of the move towards a global community?
See not all of the consortium is Australian, despite Macquarie Bank's involvement. So there is the fear that at some stage Macquarie Bank could be bought out or at least they could sell their share to someone from overseas. So at the moment it isn't too dire a situation, but one can't predict the future. Even if it is going to happen though, is it that bad a thing? I am still undecided. I suppose the main fear is power to regulate Qantas by the Federal Government could be lost.
Another fear is that loyal customers with frequent flyer points won't be seen as so loyal, but merely just another customer in the whole scheme of things.
My main fear is that super business powers are growing and no-one should have too much power. It should not be centralised and Macquarie Bank is getting way too big. For whose benefit? The already rich who don't need anymore money, so why allow it?
Another rant about the Federal Government today. This time it concerns their love of deregulating markets, including the telecommunications market.
The idea is to give us choice, right? Through choice we have lower prices because companies have to compete against one another for our choice. So why is it that telecommunications companies can get away with charging fees for doing fuck all.
Recently, we decided we'd make the move to broadband, and as AAPT was the only carrier offering no lock-in contracts and a free modem, we decided to go with them. The only problem was is that we were on Optus lines - yes one of the streets that has both optus and telstra lines available. Due to this, we were not able to go on AAPT because they Optus don't allow 3rd party companies to use their service. This is despite the fact that Telstra have always had to let Optus (and others) use their lines!
Anyway, it was decided we would change back to Telstra lines so we could go with AAPT. This cost nothing - Telstra wanted us giving them money. The problem is, now I have received a bill from Optus that includes a service disconnection fee! They want me to give the $45 for doing absolutely nothing! It was Telstra that did the work, they're just sitting back collectiong some cash! Unbelievable. To add it to it, I just got a bill from Telstra requesting money I paid only a couple of days ago.
I hate telecommunications companies and I hate the fact the Government ever deregulated the market and sold off Telstra.
I am on a pretty small budget at the moment. Finding food at a small price then is quite necessary.
Today I had two decent feeds for quite a small price.
The first one wasn't somewhere I would normally go, but I saw the 5 dollar meal sign and recalled someone telling me it was okay, so I headed in. Scruffy Murphy's in the City was the place and I had a chicken schnitzel for a fiver. They do a fish and chips and a steak for a fiver too. There is also a selection of other more expensive options, including the chicken parma - something not especially common in Sydney town. Anyway, it was a decent meal and got be going for today.
On my way home in Newtown this evening, I also stopped off at Indian. 5 bucks for 3 vegie options and rice. It's called Indian Diner or the like and is across the road from Tamana's - which is better, but more expensive.
All in all, not too shabby me thinks. I'm thinking 5 dollar thai could be on the cards for tomorrow night.
Connection to travel today? People to avoid while in Australia.
I don't know why the media give Pauline Hanson any attention whatsoever. Today, while launching her book - and wouldn't that be a great book - she announced she may make a return to politics in time for next year's federal election.
Hasn't she failed enough times? She's even been in gaol, surely not even the most unintelligent bigot would vote for her anymore. Not a bad platform to make an announcment though - she got straight on radio.
What did she have to say? We need to be careful of letting in Africans who may be infected with HIV from entering Australia because of the huge risk to Australian health. What the fuck? This is not her Australia and anyone who meets the set criteria should be welcomed into our country. She is the last person who should decide. If it was up to me she'd be sent off to an oil rig off the coast of the top end. We just shouldn't give her the time of day and it annoys me there is the prospect of her receiving electoral funding again.
I would like to say this woman, who also warned of the danger of the muslim population down under, is the only person in Australia with this sort of view, but right now I don't think our Federal Government is much better.
Community NOT Capitalism. Social Inclusion NOT alienation. Vote left next election.
Well Morris Iemma has surprised me. The NSW premier has just announced there will a network setup in 7 CBDs across the state which will allow people to access wireless internet without paying. I haven't looked into the details, but service providers have been asked to express interest in maintaining the networks, I'm assuming in return for some kind of payment from the NSW government.
The reason for setting up such a network would be to allow tourists to access maps and accommodation/transport/event information from their hotel rooms as well as encourage business to set up. With one less cost for a business, one can believe that it definitely would help new business. So is Morris Iemma more forward thinking than I first thought?
Personally, I am interested to see how far out the broadband stretches out. I would like to see students and low income families who live in the inner city, and many do, be able to access such a service. I know many people who make use of other people's wireless networks on the sly, so a service such as this will mean they no longer have to sit in someone's back lane, ripping them off.
I hope I can get it here in Newtown! I am glad we just signed up to broadband that doesn't have a lock-in contract too because if we can get free broadband, I am going to make full use of it.
In many locations in Australia at the present time, particularly in Western Australia and Queensland, there is a construction boom. Houses are going up where the work is or at least where the lifestyle is.
In Sydney a different picture is painted. Housing prices are big, interest rates are high and construction is at a bit of a low. Go out to the mortgage belt of Western Sydney and many of the houses being sold are a result of defaulting mortgage repayments. Sad for those people, but bad luck - try renting, it won't kill you.
The same can not be said for my area of Sydney however. Next door, they have been renovating their fucking house for the last 6 months. The builders are the slowest I have ever seen. They began by fucking up my side fence (so that I don't have one now). They also have left the property unsecured meaning someone found a great access point into my house, through the non-exsistent side fence!
It has gotten worse though. All day today we were subject to what sounded like someone hitting a stake with a metal mallet over and over again. All bloody day! Understand that it is terrace house living, so this is happening right outside our house. I just wish they would fuck off to Queensland and build something up there.
So the first test is over and Australia won quite easily. I am not going to get too excited though because Australia took a one nil lead after the first test two years ago in England.
The win aside, I am going to talk some more about the fallout from the Gabba's stupid decision to disrupt the Barmy Army and their exploits. It seems it has resulted in so much public annoyance that other grounds around Australia, including the SCG, have made it clear the Barmy Army will be able to operate as old. Thank goodness.
I heard one caller today on 702 ABC say that the trumpet player who had his trumpet confiscated, was actually quite a good player and only played it infrequently, not in an annoying fashion. The same cannot be said for the stupid Aussie oi oi oi yelp.
So it is good news. Sometimes it takes the stupidity of one to make others reflect and this seems to be one of those cases. Cricket doesn't have the hooligan element of football, so groups like the Barmy Army don't need to be shut down. Even if it did have a hooligan element, we should be free to go to our sporting events without a million restrictions placed upon what we can and cannot do.
Well he was past his best anyway. As well, it was obvious he had his mind on being a show pony anyway. Hard to be that while watching a black line day in day out.
I'll be honest, I've never really considered swimming to be a proper sport anyway - it just seems way too ridiculous for me. He is our greatest Olympian ever in terms of medals won, but considering all the events he has been able to compete in, I think his achievements are viewed in a more respected light than they deserve to be. If you look at someone like Rachelle Hawkes, who won a bundle of gold playing a team sport, which means you can only win one gold per games, and there are other equivalents, then you'd have to say she was probably a greater Olympian.
It amused me that prior to his decision to leave swimming, he had been seeing some kind of life coach recommended by Shane Gould. Shane Gould, the woman who retired at 18! What other decision was he going to be pushed towards. It's like Pol Pot being given advice from a mate of Hitler's! Okay maybe not quite, but it was always going to happen.
Anyway, let's get on with the cricket season! A true sport in every sense of the term.
Once again I am going on somewhat of a tangent with the old Travel Australia blog. The link: the fact most people on holidays will watch some TV.
So, SBS have ads in the middle of their programmes now. With the ABC, SBS remained a saviour for those of us who seek content not commercialism. It was bad enough when they put ads between different shows, but it is just insulting having to watch shows with ads in the middle.
There are claims it isn't turning away viewers, but it is turning me away. Am I not a viewer? OZ is one of my favourite shows at the moment. It is an intense show with some quite full on moments. The intensity is now impossible to maintain because it is interrupted by ads for cars or more annoyingly, their own shows!
What is the point of having 2 of 3 ads in a break about ones own shows? There isn't any income in it, which completely goes against the reason they brought in ads! I know the powers would be would argue it will attract viewers to higher rating shows which means advertisers will more likely want to have their ad or SBS. That's bullshit, because I'm not watching anything but OZ anymore.
Even the news next year will have an ad break! The news will go for an hour and have ads, that's the latest news I've heard. Why is SBS going down this dark track? A sad time we live in.
Down in Wollongong for my sisters' wedding and enjoying it already. The weather has improved significantly and is looking fantastic.
The Gong is an excellent setting for a wedding in truth - great climate, with the beach on one side and the escarpment on the other. A lot of the guests are staying right on the beach at Bulli Caravan Park. I say Caravan Park, but the trend of these parks is more towards self contained cabins and less towards caravans.
The wedding is at the Rhododendron Gardens and the reception is on top of the escarpment at the Panorama Restaurant. Both have some excellent views and hopefully some decent grub and grog (at least at Panorama).
So the rest of weekend will involve me basking in the sun, casting my eye over the gong, getting drunk and I've a small part being the MC. Can't wait!
Five to ten years ago I noticed a number of pubs in Sydney going for a new look - rennovating their old historic interiors and putting in a stripped-back cocktail bar. Pretty quickly, particularly in certain areas, they realised they had destroyed their pubs by pushing away all their locals and making it a place where yuppies came. The problem with yuppies is they drink far less than your average Sydney punter.
Why this is relevant to today is that it is clearly happening again. The number one example is the Bank in Newtown. Okay it was pretty cocktail bar already, but it seems as though they spent millions of dollars pushing the cushions around. While Newtown has a plethora of pubs, last night I saw people lining up to get in to the Bank! Get a life people. Of course the fanfair of their reopening will subside and they'll have to try just as hard as any pubs to get people in.
Another example is the AB in Glebe. It was always a locals pub and then they spent a fortune redoing it. It is the most souless place ever - simply a little bit of Las Vegas without the appeal. It seems they didn't have quite enough cash to get everything done. The huge water feature was empty and dirty, the bathroom didn't have soap dispensers, but simply your home bathroom soap bottle and there were just a pile of paper towels placed in the corner.
The Coopers Arms is being rennovated at the moment. Here's hoping it doesn't go the same way!
Perhaps Newtown isn't the best place to live in Australia.
On Sunday night while my two flatmates and I were asleep, some bastard came through my back door, hunted about a little, including opening my flatmates door and then stole my laptop. I woke the following morning to find no bloody computer where I had left it in the loungeroom. Look I know I shouldn't have left the back door unlocked, but there was no reason for the person to think the place wasn't locked tight.
Needless to say I have lost a lot of data and an important way for a student to function. The hock shops are hopeless, not wanting to give anything away and the police and forensic mob said I didn't have much chance at all.
The weird thing is they left everything else alone.
Everyone I now see in the street is a suspect in my eyes.
Hope you won some money on the cup.
Not a travelling subject today as such, but rather a vent about my day. It entails a mode of transport though, so in a way it is related to travel.
I did my first aid certificiate at the St John Ambulance centre in Surry Hills today. The course went quite well and seeing as you pay and support St John, they make sure you pass. You'd have to be pretty incompetent not to pass.
A good enough day today anyway. I passed the course and the company was good enough. I had to go into the city, but it was painless enough. Never eat anything but the Thai food at the Macquarie Hotel. Just a little tip there.
So I finished the course and went to ride off on the Vespa and I discovered I had a bloody flat tyre at 4-30 pm. The luxury of the original Vespa models are of course a spare tyre so I got to fixing it. Not the easiest of jobs if you don't want to scratch the paint work. I lay it down on some towels I'd brought for the first aid course and changed the tyre. Every man and his dog passed, some offering help, while others offered their advice.
Work leaving time is not the best time to have to change a flat in the city. What a shit way to end a good day.
Apparently Sydney was named the number one city in the world by a magazine by the name of Conde Nast Traveler out of the USA. It has held the title in this magazine for the last ten years, which is quite surprising to me.
Another popular travel magazine, Travel and Leisure, has recently demoted Sydney to number two, with Florence taking the number one spot. I've never been to Florence, so I wouldn't like to comment on whether or not this was deserved. I also don't really care.
I am not sure what criteria these decisions were made on. Having not been to that many cities in the world, I don't know whether there are better cities or not across the world.That said, though I haven't lived there, I would think Melbourne was a better city and that is just within this country. Okay it doesn't have the harbour or beaches Sydney has, but surely there are cities across the world which have more arts, culture, food, nightlife and provide more value for money than Sydney does.
Not very patriotic of me is it?
I took the old Vespa (Niamh III) to Surry Hills tonight, leaving Newtown for one of the few odd occasions. I was pole postering, the apparent eye sore certain councils whinge about. Sometimes it has to be done though and I chose Surry Hills tonight.
I went over to Crown Street, which is a street of fashionable shops and the closer to Oxford St, still quite busy, even late on a Thursday night. I try to get my thing done quickly and get out, but you see certain things, sometimes strange.
I walked past a group of people milling about outside a restaurant, peering in through the window. For starters, this seems a little unusual - the last thing I would want when I was eating in a restaurant is people peering in. That said, under the circumstances, I don't suppose it was unexpected.
Inside the restaurant, entertaining the diners, were a couple of men dressed as women doing a strip show. Tasteful, no doubt. Anyway, I think it was probably part of an overall dinner show, which again is strange to me. I don't know that I need entertainment during dinner - of any kind! That said, the restaurant was packed and so the motivation for the dinner show probably made perfect sense.
It is the unusual that sometimes makes pole postering bearable.
Travelling Australia is great most of the time, but staying in has its benefits. I don't just mean staying inside, but enjoying where you live is pretty important.
Today we sat in the (overgrown) backyard drinking coffee in the great sun. Actually it got a bit too hot and we moved back inside, but it was good to have a bit of sun to begin the day.
I also went to and from uni three different time and enjoyed the ride in the fantastic Sydney weather. Shortsleeved vintage vespa rides are not for everywhere, but in Sydney town at this time of the year, it is the go.
After class this evening we sat outside and enjoyed a some beers. 8-30 at night during Spring in Sydney and you can sit outside drinking the great stuff, Tooheys Old if you will, with no discomfort. You have to love it, particularly as it gets towards the good end of the year - where the holidays reign.
Isn't insurance just the most exciting topic? It seems you can pay a premium to insure oneself against any possible ill-happening these days. Insurance is big business and nothing new, but is it necessary?
Personally I hold no insurance policies that aren't compulsory, but I am poor, young and prefer to spend my spare cash on things that give me a tangible return. For older people with more to lose though, insurance is a maybe, but it will also cost you more.
The travel insurance game is a bit of an interesting one. If you are travelling overseas everyone recommends you take out a policy and let's face it, you are going to face more problems when you are away from your family or in a country where their people have more to worry about than your lost luggae.
Is it worth getting a policy for a domestic trip. Not in my opinion. The average rate is about $65 for a week, no matter what your age, with one of a large number of companies offering the service. This is $65 better spent on anything. This sort of service is for those who are hypochondriacs, but with so many insurance agencies offering the service, you have to wonder how many hypochondriacs there are in Australia.
September 29th 2006 05:26
So it is grand final weekend and although it is probably a little late to travel to the respective cities to watch whichever code you fancy most, I am going to offer a little social commentary.
How strange it is that in the traditional Melbourne game of AFL there is no Melbourne team, but rather the Sydney Swans and the West Coast Eagles. That league has been dominated by non-Melbourne teams in recent years, but with credit, the Melbourne folk keep turning up to watch the GF.
Then on the other hand you have a Rugby League GF, the much better game of course, with no Sydney teams. It is the first one to ever happen like that! Shocking really. Of course all the Sydneysiders are going for the Melbourne Storm because the Broncos are everyone's most hated team.
The storm will trounce the broncos.
I am annoyed that the Rugby League GF will be held during the night. It really is ridiculous when money dictates sport to the extent that ad revenue can change the time a match is held. We have the state of origin at night, I want to go down to the pub and enjoy my GF in a sunny afternoon setting. Something has to change!
September 27th 2006 08:03
To begin with, what is a grey nomad? It is an older person, usually retired, who takes to the caravan or campervan mode of travel. Frequently they are on a small budget, particularly if they are only on a pension, but sometimes they are cashed up retirees with assets. It varies case to case.
Anyway, there has been a bit of criticism about they silver haired travel bunnies from local councils across Australia of late. It is about the fact some of them turn up to public land in some pretty spectacular places and set up camp for a few weeks. By the time the council or police have the ability to do anything about it, off they head to the next local.
Now I am in two minds about this. When the people of Dover Heights are whingeing about people who are mostly doing the right thing camping in public places I say bad luck, you are just complaining because you paid through the arse for where you live. However, when it isn't in prime real estate and their is a local family running a caravan park nearby and your cashed up whities decide they are going to camp for free down the road then that just isn't the go. Particularly when these folk don't respect the environment.
One of the problems the grey nomads talk about is rising caravan park fees and this is something that needs to be looked at. Caravan parks used to be a cheap way of low income earners taking holidays and enjoying Australia just as anyone else should. They used to be mostly Government run. Since the increase of privitisation and their movement towards 4 star accommodation, they have changed their role and this is a problem. Price ceilings should be placed on these sites. We need to give everyone the option to enjoy our public land and not force people to find places to unlawfully campy.
September 22nd 2006 05:59
If you read yesterday’s blog, you’ll know there is now a test to enter Australia set by me. Actually there isn’t, but should I be approached to contribute some questions to the citizenship test (personally I’d make everyone coming into Australia - tourists, diplomats, even returning Aussies should sit this test) then I would offer a few, shown yesterday. Today, the answers:
Cricket
Q - Who is my favourite player?
A - Damien Martyn at present.
Q - What form of the game I prefer?
A – Test matches, hands down. (you need to put the hands down for full marks).
Q – Best match I have attended?
A - Sydney test, Steve Waugh’s last home game, scores 100 in a session on the second day.
Pubs
Q - What is my local?
A - Carlisle Castle.
Q - Where abouts do I like to sit? Perhaps a multiple choice question. a - at the bar. b - out the back. c - at the bar. d - at the bar.
A – At the bar.
Q - What beer do I drink?
A – Tooheys Old, Reschs, Melbourne Bitter, but most beers really.
Q - What other pubs in Australia do I also enjoy drinking at when my local isn't at hand?
A – The Duke, The Hero of Waterloo, The Empire.
Mixed Bag
Q - Where do I sit when I get in a taxi?
A – Upfront of course!
Q - When walking on a footpath, what side should one stay on?
A – The left. This must be demonstrated for full marks
Q - How did I feel when I found out David Boon might be running for Parliament as a member of the Liberals?
A – Gutted. (Only answer accepted)
Q - Knowing the above information, who would drink more in a trip from London to Sydney, David Boon or former Australian PM Bob Hawke?
A – Bob Hawke. The good days of the ALP, when sinking tinnies meant everything.
Q - Who came before Steve Irwin in terms of TV men in khaki knowing our country?
A – The Bush Tucker man. Steve Who???
Q - Even though I don't like him especially, who should one listen to on the radio of a Sunday morning, if listening to anything?
A – Macca on a Sunday morning. ABC 702.
Q - Why do I go for the South Sydney Rabbitohs rather than St George Illawarra Dragons, when I originally supported the Illawarra Steelers?
A – I am not a traitor. How can someone support the enemy?
You need to score 98%. Which means you could have left out the added hands down part in the cricket section, but no more.
September 11th 2006 11:56
Since I moved to Newtown a year or so ago, I have rarely left the area. I have everything I need in Newtown really. It is a community, there is no doubt about it. That said, I do want to get away. Responsibility can be a real problem sometimes. Getting stuff done, making the cash and getting qualifications so that you can go on holiday or go travelling.
I have a few places I want to go when the next round of this responsibility has been achieved.
The UK beckons and has done for a long while, but parts of Australia do too.
Melbourne is always a favourite, perhaps because of its similarities to Newtown, but on a broader scale.
Perth is increasingly somewhere I want to head to, due to its good weather and because I am quite interested in how a place quite removed from much of Australia can still retain many of the same feelings as the East Coast cities.
The Great Ocean Road while the weather is good. I'd like to ride it on a Vespa or Lambretta.
The North Coast of NSW. I have spent enough time in the Gold Coast, but northern NSW appeals to me at the moment. A bit more quiet.
For now though, Newtown will have to do.
Oracle of Delphi
KC Hill
Paladin
Craig Hill
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